Denis St-Jules (March 12, 1950 – February 26, 2024) was a Canadian writer and broadcaster, most noted as a key builder of Franco-Ontarian cultural institutions.[1]
Background
editBorn and raised in Sault Ste. Marie, Ontario, he moved to Sudbury in the late 1960s to attend Laurentian University.[2] While there he became associated with the Coopérative des artistes du Nouvel-Ontario, an arts collective that played an important role in developing new Franco-Ontarian cultural institutions in the early 1970s.[2]
Career
editWith collaborators including André Paiement, Gaston Tremblay and Robert Paquette, he was one of the creators of Moé, j'viens du nord, 'stie!, a stage musical about Franco-Ontarian life and identity in Northern Ontario which led to the creation of the Théâtre du Nouvel-Ontario.[2] In 1973, he played a key role in the establishment of La Nuit sur l'étang, a Franco-Ontarian music festival,[2] and was one of four poets whose work was anthologized in Lignes Signes, the first book ever published by the Prise de parole publishing house.[3]
In 1978, when the Radio-Canada network established CBON-FM in the city, St-Jules joined the station from its inception, spending much of that time as an on-air radio host until his retirement in 2008.[4] After his retirement he moved to Ottawa to be closer to his children and grandchildren, but regularly returned to Sudbury to participate in and support cultural events and organizations.[5]
He was awarded an honorary doctorate from the University of Sudbury in 2010.[1]
Death
editHe died in Ottawa on February 26, 2024.[6]
He was posthumously awarded the Prix du Nouvel-Ontario for his contributions to Northern Ontario life and culture, with the award presented to his widow, Carmen Vincent, in a ceremony at Sudbury's Place des Arts on May 4, 2024.[7]
References
edit- ^ a b Alan Freeman, "Broadcaster was a champion of franco-Ontarian culture". The Globe and Mail, March 8, 2024.
- ^ a b c d Julien Cayouette, "Les héritages de Denis St-Jules". Le Voyageur, March 14, 2024.
- ^ Claire Pilon, "Publishing house marks 30th year". Sudbury Star, May 21, 2003.
- ^ "Denis St-Jules à la retraite : le dernier tour de piste d’un grand communicateur". Ici Radio-Canada, November 28, 2008.
- ^ "Denis St. Jules posthumously awarded Prix du Nouvel-Ontario". Sudbury.com, May 14, 2024.
- ^ Mickael Laviolle, "Décès de Denis St-Jules : l’Ontario français perd une de ses voix légendaires". ONFR, February 26, 2024.
- ^ Donald Dennie, "Denis St-Jules fait toujours salle comble!". Le Voyageur, May 11, 2024.