at age 19, while working at a restaurant in mid-town montreal, a patron had seen some of the sketches she was working on when business became quiet and was struck by her talent. practically insisting she enrol in the école des beaux-arts (of which rita had never heard), he picked her up at home, took her to the school and stood at the bottom of the steps ensuring she entered, then continued to stand there long enough for her to be asked if she was enrolling – the answer was "yes". after several questionnaires and a practical exam she was accepted. it was there that she met friends gilles groulx, and ulysse comtois who was to be her boyfriend and partner for over 15 years. there she worked in a very academic atmosphere for a year and a half. in 1950 she went to view an art show "l’exposition des rebelles" (despite being largely condemned by her professors) and befriended the show organizer jean-paul mousseau – this was her introduction to the circle of borduas and the automatistes. soon thereafter, she left l'ecole des beaux-art.