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.
Background
Born and raised in Sault Ste. Marie, Ontario, he moved to Sudbury in the late 1960s to attend Laurentian University. 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.
Career
With 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. In 1973, he played a key role in the establishment of La Nuit sur l'étang, a Franco-Ontarian music festival, 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.
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. 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.
He was awarded an honorary doctorate from the University of Sudbury in 2010.
Death
He died in Ottawa on February 26, 2024.
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.
References
- ^ Alan Freeman, "Broadcaster was a champion of franco-Ontarian culture". The Globe and Mail, March 8, 2024.
- ^ 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.
- 1950 births
- 2024 deaths
- 20th-century Canadian dramatists and playwrights
- 20th-century Canadian poets
- 20th-century Canadian male writers
- Canadian poets in French
- Canadian dramatists and playwrights in French
- Canadian male poets
- Canadian male dramatists and playwrights
- CBC Radio hosts
- Franco-Ontarian people
- Laurentian University alumni
- People from Sault Ste. Marie, Ontario
- Writers from Greater Sudbury
- Journalists from Greater Sudbury