| Development and Peace deeply regrets the recent passing of two of its long-time Franco-Saskatchewanite members, Mr. Émile Campagne of Willow Bunch, SK and Mr. Gustave Dubois of Saskatoon, SK. Both men were active members and ardent supporters of Development and Peace, which is the international development agency of the Catholic Church in Canada. In 2000 and 2004, Mr Campagne recorded two CDs of music, whose proceeds were donated to the work of Development and Peace – the organization he dearly loved.
Mr Campagne died at the age of 86, and although a life-long music lover, what is not well-known is that Émile Campagne only began recording music in 2000 when he was 78 years old!
Émile and his wife Marguerite, raised a family of seven children, a number of whom went on to play in the bands Folle Avoine and Hart Rouge, and one, Carmen Campagne, who is a well-known singer, especially of children’s music in Quebec, also acted as a spokesperson for Development and Peace for a number of years.
Émile Campagne and Marguerite Campagne were the long-time parish representatives for Development and Peace in St. Ignace Parish, Willow Bunch. Émile was widely known in the community and in the former diocese of Gravelbourg, for his great enthusiasm for the work OF Development and Peace. He was always listened to with great respect when he participated in meetings and conferences on social justice.
In 1999, he and Marguerite, in recognition of their work defending the French language and of the rights of Fransaskois and Fransaskoises (franco-Saskatchewanites) to have access to French language education, were both awarded the Ordre des francophones d'Amérique.
Gustave Dubois was another staunch defender of French language education in Saskatchewan and well-known for his lifelong dedication to this cause. He worked as the Superintendent of Education, Francophone School Division. He was also extremely active in the movement and held the post of THE Development and Peace parish representative at Sts. Martyrs Canadiens Parish, in Saskatoon, for many years.
Gustave believed and spoke passionately about the role social justice must, and should, play in our world. He was especially effective in the educational and awareness building role of the organization. He promoted the annual campaigns of Development and Peace as an effective way for people in Canada to support the struggles of poor people in the Global South for justice and dignity. Gustave and his wife Roberta had three children, Justin, Danielle and Janique.
"These were men who believed adamantly in standing up for people’s rights, whether it was the plight of the hungry and downtrodden in the Global South, or closer to home the rights of farmers, or the protection of the French language and the availability of French language education in Saskatchewan. They lent their voices to the serve the needs of others," said Claire Doran, Director of Education, Development and Peace, who crossed paths with both men in their respective communities during her time living and working in Saskatchewan.
Michael Murphy, Animator in Saskatchewan for Development and Peace, summed up the loss of these two men to their communities: "Both of these fine men will be greatly missed but their unique contributions to the struggle for justice and peace will be long remembered by all those privileged to know and to work with them."
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