William Arcand is a Canadian photographer and visual artist based in Montreal, Quebec. He is best known for his work in documentary photography, which often focuses on the lives of marginalized communities.
Arcand was born in Montreal in 1975 and grew up in the city's east end. He began taking photographs at an early age, and by his late teens he had developed a passion for photography. After graduating from high school, he attended Dawson College where he studied photography and film production.
In 2000, Arcand began working as a freelance photographer for various publications including The Globe and Mail, The National Post, and Maclean's Magazine. His work has also been featured in numerous exhibitions around the world including the Museum of Contemporary Canadian Art (Toronto), the Musée d'art contemporain de Montréal (Montreal), and the International Center of Photography (New York).
Arcand's work has been recognized with several awards including the Prix Pictet (2009) for his series "The Forgotten", which documented life on Canada's First Nations reserves; the Grand Prix du Conseil des arts de Montréal (2010) for his series "The Other Side"; and the Magenta Foundation Flash Forward Award (2011). In 2012, he was named one of Canada's Top 30 Under 30 Photographers by Photo Life Magazine.
Arcand continues to explore themes of identity, culture, and social justice through his photography. His work has been published widely both online and in print media outlets around the world.