When you first speak of Claire Pilon, journalist, activist and champion of Sudbury’s Francophone community, there are a surprising number of words that start with "F."
For instance, ‘une femme francophone.’ Also ‘focussed.’ A focussed femme francophone.
What about ‘force’?
“A force to be reckoned with,” said Lyse Lamothe, friend and colleague of Pilon, as well as coordonnatrice en développement communautaire at the Centre de santé communautaire du Grand Sudbury and president of l’Association canadienne-française de l’Ontario du grand Sudbury (ACFO).
And finally, ‘fun.’
“She was always fun,” said France Gélinas, MPP for Nickel Belt as well as long-time friend and colleague of Pilon’s. “She was driven every minute of her life, but she always focused on positivity and it was fun to be with her.”
But sadly, another "F" follows now that the community of Greater Sudbury has lost this French-language champion: funérailles. Pilon passed away Dec. 16, 2020 at the age of 68 after a long struggle with health issues, but behind her is a legacy that every Francophone can be proud of; a woman who through her work ensured that the French language would not just live on, but thrive.
“For her, the main goal was that the Francophonie would have a chance to bloom, to expand and to flourish,” said Gélinas. “Whether it be services in French, Francophones being recognized, even French being spoken more. That’s what drove her: her friends, her family and her roots in the Flour Mill.”
Le Moulin à Fleur is not only the home community of Pilon, but also the source of inspiration for her book by the same name, published in 1983, and considered by many to be the defining work on the community and its Francophone history.
As a journalist, Pilon let her writing speak for the many Francophones who needed language services that could meet their needs and the right to speak in their first language. She wrote for La Voyageur, Lavoixdunord.ca, and she was a columnist at The Sudbury Star, covering the Francophone and French-Catholic communities.
She also worked to ensure that every generation that followed would have access to French-language education. Not only did she hold the position of school board trustee with the former Sudbury District Roman Catholic Separate School Board, but she was the first chair of the Conseil scolaire catholique du Nouvel-Ontario (1998-2000).
Of course, those accolades do not include every board she has ever been a part of; every endeavour, initiative, idea and necessity that she discovered and solved. She was a fixture of activism and the support of the French language, even from her hospital bed.
“It was about three years ago,” said Gélinas, “and she called me from her hospital bed. She was sick enough to be admitted. I went to visit her and she greets me with this huge smile. And she has ideas.
“She has her little notepad and notes about what has happened to her and how we could work to make it easier for other Francophonie to get their services in French.”
Many of the ideas that Pilon had that day have since been implemented.
Lamothe also said there were several ideas she watched come into practice thanks to Pilon. “When she had an idea, she wouldn’t let it go,” Lamothe said. “And most of the time, she got it done.”
Lamothe said whenever she had a project or idea that she wasn’t sure how to accomplish, she knew that she could have called Pilon at any time, day or night, and find the support she needed. “I knew that I could call her and say ‘Claire, I need help,’ and she would help,” said Lamothe. “She was a very special woman.”
Her ability to take an idea from birth to fruition required determination, diligence and drive – traits that don’t always point to someone who is light and easy. But even with these traits, Pilon’s friends, family and colleagues all agree that she was an absolute joy to be around.
“There was power in everything she did,” said Gélinas. “But it was the power of positivity. She could always find what was wrong, what needed to be fixed, but she never focused on that. She always focused on the solution. She focused on making little steps to improve and then making those steps bigger.”
Gélinas said she was “assertive without ever being aggressive; she always laughed, she smiled, she saw the positive no matter how bleak things were.” She was well-known for her actions behind the scenes and liked to act from behind the curtain as well, preferring to draw attention to a project, not herself. Gelinas said that was just Pilon’s way.
“She may not always be leading, but she was always supporting,” said Gélinas. “She was a mover, a shaker, and always focused on positivity.”
After her passing, several Francophone organizations spoke of her accomplishments and flags around the city were held at half mast. Mayor Brian Bigger released a statement as well.
In it, he said, “On behalf of city council, I would like to express my sincere condolences to the family and friends of Claire Pilon on her passing.
“As a long-time journalist, Francophone and educational leader in our community, Claire was well-respected and undoubtedly made a positive impact in our community and will certainly be missed by many. My heartfelt sympathies go out to the family, friends and loved ones of Claire at this time.”
But both Lamothe and Gélinas feel that the best tribute to Pilon is the continuation of her work, her passion, and the language and culture she loved.
“I would like people to know about her drive and her passion,” Lamothe said. “And I’d like them not to forget all she has done for us – and to keep it going.”
Gélinas agreed. “It doesn’t matter what Francophone steps were made in the last 40 years,” she said, “Claire was a part of it. She was proof an ordinary person can do extraordinary things.”
For the safety of all mourners, a service for Claire Pilon will be held in Spring 2021 with a date to be announced. Any donations can be made by cheque to the Centre de santé communautaire du Grand Sudbury.
Jenny Lamothe is a Local Journalism Reporter at Sudbury.com, covering issues in the Black, immigrant and Francophone communities. She is also a freelance writer and voice actor. Contact her through her website, JennyLamothe.com.
