Born in Sturgeon Falls Ontario in 1950 to a musical family, André Paiement showed early signs of the creative genius that would later provide the driving force behind Cano. Jimi Hendrix and The Beatles were several of his initial musical influences, while the plays of Parisian playwright Molière gave André a keen appreciation for the written word.

André completed three years of studies at the School of Translators and Interpreters at Laurentian University where he also performed as an actor and musician with La Troupe.  He was a co-founder and director of Le Theatre du Nouvel-Ontario.  He co-authored "Le Septieme Jour" and authored "A Mes Fil Bien-Aimes", "La Vie et les Temps de Mederic", "Boileau" and "Lavalleville".  He also adapted Molière's "Le Malade Imaginaire". 

André co-founded "Le Moulinet" cultural centre in Sudbury before co-founding CANO in 1975.

André passed away on January 23rd, 1978 at the age of 27. He has long been considered one of the fore-fathers of Franco-Ontarian culture, and his family continue to receive posthumous awards honouring André's tremendous contribution to the arts.