Winners 2011
Montreal, November 4, 2011.- On November 3, 2011, in Longueuil, Me Denis Roy, Chairman of the Commission des services juridiques, proudly handed out the 2011 Robert-Sauvé Awards. The award in the General Public category was conferred posthumously upon Father Jean-Louis Morin for over 30 years of work providing a more compassionate living environment for homeless people suffering from mental health problems, alcoholism, drug addiction and chronic social disorganization. The winner of the Robert-Sauvé Award, Legal Aid Network category, is Mrs Suzanne Pilon for her contribution to promoting the rights of the disadvantaged through her work in the Research Department of the Commission des services juridiques and through her involvement in community activities aimed at the social reintegration of adults with limited intellectual abilities.
« General Public » category
Father Jean-Louis Morin |
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Photo: Paul Ducharme
Mrs Jacynthe Potvin director of Centre Kogaluk, M Armand Lelièvre chairman of the Centre Kogaluk and Me Denis Roy, chairman of the Commission des services juridiques, Father Jean-Louis Morin (photo) Robert-Sauvé - General Pub |
Father Jean-Louis Morin
Father Jean-Louis Morin became a parish priest in 1954 and passed away in 2005. In 1971 he became a community worker and noticed the difficulties faced by homeless individuals and the lack of resources for providing them with assistance. Between 1975 and 1982, he was involved in establishing various organizations offering services to the homeless, such as Ivresse secours, the centre Entre-amis, the shelter Le Gîte ami, the organization Les Voisins and the Centre Kogaluk where he welcomed marginalized individuals suffering from mental health problems, alcoholism and drug addiction. Le Centre Kogaluk, located a few kilometres outside the City of Gatineau, is well known and established in the Outaouais and continues the humanitarian mission initiated by Father Jean-Louis Morin.
« Legal Aid Network » category
Mrs Suzanne Pilon |
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Photo: Paul Ducharme
Mrs Suzanne Pilon, recipient of the Robert-Sauvé – Network award and Me Denis Roy, chairman of the Commission des services juridiques |
Mrs Suzanne Pilon
Mrs Pilon joined the legal aid network as a lawyer in October 1977 and was the director of the Longueuil legal aid bureau until 1978. Thereafter, she was a lawyer in the Research Department of the Commission des services juridiques and subsequently served as its director until 1999. From the outset of her career, she showed an interest in family law. She was one of the pioneers in the development of family law in Québec. Through her numerous articles and reports, she helped establish family law as a separate recognized area of practice. Despite an onerous workload, Mrs Pilon was involved in community activities. For five years, she was a member and secretary of the board of directors of Le Fil d’Ariane, a workshop for the social reintegration of adults with limited intellectual abilities. She was a member of the board of directors of the Canadian Human Rights Foundation and, for more than 15 years, she has volunteered at La maison de répit gardiennage l’intermède.