Jacques Hébert – Ideals and action (1923-2007)
| 
| A man of ideals and action, Jacques Hébert, O.C., founder of the Katimavik program, has dedicated his life to justice, education, equality and rights. Katimavik is an incarnation of the values that its founder has defended all his life. | A native of Montreal, Hébert has made his living as a journalist, author and editor. He was a contributor to the Montreal daily newspaper Le Devoir (1951-1953), and created the publishing companies Éditions de l’Homme (1958) and Éditions du Jour (1961). Hébert is also a prolific writer of testimonials, editorials, investigative pieces and travel stories. In 1963, with his friend Pierre Elliott Trudeau, he founded the League of Human Rights (now the Civil Liberties Union), and was its President until 1972. Many struggles to defend basic rights originated with the League, even before the charters of rights were adopted in Canada and Quebec. In 1977, he created Katimavik. How would he describe Katimavik’s beginnings? “Once upon a time there was a simple little idea, a tiny spark that set off a lovely blaze because the wood was good and the wind a willing accomplice,” wrote Hébert in Have Them Build a Tower Together, the story of the program’s first year. This simple idea was difficult to achieve, as at that time, there was a great deal of suspicion towards young people living communally. Since then, the program’s history has had its ups and downs. But the ideal remains the same: to offer young Canadians a meeting place where they can flourish.
In 1983, Jacques Hébert was appointed to the Canadian Senate, where he remained involved until his retirement in 1998. In 2002, he was awarded the Nobel Peace Prize, and up until recently continued to play an active role within Katimavik’s board of directors.
His leadership, energy and ability to bring people together have earned him countless honours throughout his exceptional journey, in recognition for his selfless contribution to Canadian society.
|
