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Jean Paul St. Pierre’s memory lives on in Russell
VICKY CHARBONNEAU vicky.charbonneau@eap.on.ca
On Saturday June 3, Russell Township paid a special tribute to the latemayor Jean Paul St. Pierre (“JP”) by naming the building that houses the Russell Library branch in his memory. Henceforth, bright golden letters now overhang the building and a special matching plaque summarizing his achieve- ments has been installed for all to read. Family, friends, dignitaries, colleagues and neighbors gathered for this special ceremony, during which Russell Township mayor Pierre Leroux and chief administra- tive officer Jean Leduc testified of St. Pierre’s achievements, on behalf of all township council members and employees. “Dedication is why we are here today”, mentioned Leroux in his speech. “Not only to honor an individual known to all of us here, but to allow the ones who’ll never have the pleasure to see his smile or have an op- portunity to understand what he did for us.” After workingmore than 30 years as a ci- vilianmember for the RCMP, St. Pierre acted as Police Village of Russell Trustee from2000 to 2006. He then became councilor for Rus- sell Township for four years before becoming mayor on October 25, 2010. In the midst of running for a second term, JP St. Pierre passed, and was buried four years to the day of his election, on October 25, 2014. As mentioned on the plaque, located be- side the entrance of the building, JP played an important role in the development and construction of this building for the Russell Library, as well as the Embrun Fire Hall and theMunicipal Dog Park. He was also there in the early discussions about the sports dome. “His dreamwas to bring the communities to- gether”, said St. Pierre’s 26 years-wife Jocelyn. Although he was known in different ways, whether as a father, husband, brother, friend, co-worker or boss, Leroux also praised St. Pierre’s community involvement as a volunteer, a gatherer, a leader and of course, a mayor. “For me, he was many of those things as well, he also became a confident, a second father, amentor and an inspiration.” St. Pierre’s wife Jocelyn also took the op- portunity to thank and address the fifty-some people that had congregated for the occa- sion. “It is fitting that (Russell Township) they came up with the idea, to name this building after John, a beautiful way to perpetuate his memory here in Russell, a town he loved,
Le samedi 3 juin dernier, laMunicipalité de Russell rendait un hommage particulier à l’ancienmaire Jean Paul St. Pierre, en nommant le bâtiment qui abrite la bibliothèque de Russell en sa mémoire. Désormais, son nom en lettres dorées surplombe le bâtiment et une plaque spéciale située à l’entrée résume ses différents rôles et réalisations. Par l’entremise des vies qu’il a marquées et de cette attribution de nom, l’héritage de M. St. Pierre continuera de faire écho aux générations à venir. Sur la photo, on retrouve les conseillers de laMunicipalité de Russell, Cindy Saucier et Jamie Laurin, lemaire Pierre Leroux, l’épouse deM. St. Pierre, Jocelyn, et leurs enfants Jeff, Steve et Tracy (leur fille Ruth n’a pu se joindre à la cérémonie), les conseillers Amanda Simard et André Brisson, ainsi que Jean Leduc, le directeur général de la Municipalité. —photo Vicky Charbonneau
along with all its people.” As Mayor, he also became Warden of the United Counties of Prescott and Rus- sell in 2014, and during his tenure, he be- came Chair of the Eastern OntarioWardens’ Caucus. “He was so proud to represent our township throughout Ontario, and a great representative he was”, she added with a smile, before thanking the members and organizers for the recognition. A light snack followed, during which a lot of memories of JP were shared. “It’s gratifying to see so many people come out, two and a half years later and recognize the contribu- tions. So as friend and a close confident, I’m proud”, expressed KinsmenDoug Anthony, who was also St. Pierre’s campaignmanager. “He reached to us greatly”, added Lt Bruce Woolsey of the Russell Firefighter depart- ment. “He helped us immensely to get what we have”, he continued, before Fire Chief Bruce Armstrong, a close friend of the fam- ily, added: “He was very dedicated to his community. “I did not knowMr. St. Pierre personally, but I knew his life of representation through events and shows”, explained François Ba- zinet, president of the Conseil scolaire de district catholique de l’Est ontarien (CS- DCEO), who attended the dedication day. “When he gave a speech, for example at the graduation ceremony, he exuded respect.” The project itself represents a year in the making, from inception to creation, starting with the proposition and council members
voting unanimously to have this project put through and then choosing the building.The library was a “logic choice”, explained Jean Leduc, as St. Pierre played an important role in the development and construction of the building. “It takes time, just to choose the right words, the style of lettering, the placement on the building”, said Tina Collins, Russell Township Strategic Communication and Marketing, who led the project. St. Pierre was a proud contributor and supporter of local groups and associations,
such as the Lions, the Kin Club, the Opti- mists, the Russell & District Horticultural Society and the Embrun and Russell Fire- fighters, just to name a few. His departure has since been qualified as “a big dent” that has gone. Nonetheless, by touching the lives of so many, St. Pierre created a legacy that will now continue to echo to generations to come.
* See all pictures on our website at www.refletnews.ca.
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