Honoring a Legacy
Creating an endowment fund in memory of a loved one
Losing a loved one is one of life’s most profound experiences, but in the midst of sadness there is an opportunity to transform grief into a lasting legacy.
My husband Pierre Boutet died suddenly on November 24, and this abrupt departure did not give us the chance to say goodbye, nor to tell him one last time that we appreciated him in our lives, and how he had inspired us and how much we loved him.
It’s difficult to describe all that this man meant to us, even in a 20-minute speech during his Celebration of Life. Still, we continue to remember the good times spent with Pierre, and he continues to inspire us.
This is how the idea came to us to create an endowment fund in memory of Pierre Boutet, exceptional father and grandfather, to pay tribute to his immense qualities, his passions, his family, and Franco-Ontarian community. We believed this to be a powerful way for us to honor his life while making a positive impact that will extend far into the future.
With the Franco Ontarian Foundation, it was possible to establish a fund which now allows us to grant an annual scholarship to a person to study in French, in Ottawa, in journalism, political science or public administration.
Pierre knew how engaging in the community can make a measurable difference, such as influencing policy, raising awareness or improving people’s lives. He was involved for several years in Eastern Ontario as a volunteer and leader for numerous causes including the Optomist Club. By establishing an endowment fund to award a Pierre Boutet Memorial Scholarship, we pay him a perpetual tribute, ensuring that his spirit and influence endure for generations to come.
Pierre Boutet Memorial Scholarship
The Pierre Boutet Memorial Scholarship aims to support young people who are pursuing studies in French in the fields of public administration, journalism, civic and community engagement.
(cliquez ici pour le francais)
Created by his wife Sylvie Rancourt and daughter Isabelle in 2024, the fund benefits from private donations, primarily from individuals and organisations who knew Pierre and wish to contribute to the fund and the cause.
Who Was Pierre Boutet
Pierre Boutet grew up in Sandy Hill in Ottawa, very close to the newspaper Le Droit, where his father had a weekly column. He attended the University of Ottawa and joined the Public Service of Canada shortly after, enjoying a rewarding career for 40 years, notably with the Office of the Commissioner of Official Languages, Public Works and Services Canada and more recently at Elections Canada.
Pierre lived in Orleans and Casselman for many years before finally returning to Ottawa in 2015. Pierre felt getting involved in the community could make a measurable difference, whether it was influencing policy, raising awareness or improving people’s lives and got involved in his community for many years, volunteering and leading many causes including the Franco-Ontarian Festival and the Casselman Optimist Club in Eastern Ontario.
Pierre will always be remembered for his incredible ability to connect with people. He had a way of making everyone smile and creating lasting impressions on everyone who met him. Pierre was passionate about politics and our Canadian history and sought to inspire young people with his stories and enthusiasm.
Objective
To award a scholarship of $1,000 to an individual enrolled in a post-secondary program in French in the Ottawa region (Ontario).
Details: Eligibility
The applicant must:
- Be enrolled full-time in an undergraduate or graduate program in French at a local, accredited academic institution in Ottawa;
- Maintain a 75% average;
- Demonstrate financial need; and
- Demonstrate outstanding community involvement (volunteering, creating a community project, etc).
→ Value of the scholarship: $1,000
→ Number of scholarships: Variable
→ Frequency of award: Annual
→ Program or cycle of study: Undergraduate or graduate
→ Applications manager: Fondation Franco-Ontarienne
→ 2025 Application deadline: to be announced
2024 winner: Emilie Denis-Plante
Emilie Denis-Plante, is a second-year student at the University of Ottawa. Emilie was selected as the 2024 recipient of the Pierre Boutet Scholarship by an independent committee convened by the Fondation Franco-ontarienne.
I chatted with Emilie shortly after she was informed that she had won, to learn more about her. I was not surprised to discover a smart and dedicated young woman passionate about politics and her community, given her accomplishments to date and she is well-qualified for this year’s scholarship.
Application for 2025:
Information about the 2025 application will be available soon.
Fondation Franco-ontarienne:
The Scholarship & Fund Manager
The Fondation Franco-ontarienne has been a pillar of the Francophone community in Ontario since 1986. Its unique mission is to provide financial support for initiatives that ensure the vitality of the Franco-Ontarian community through philanthropy.
With the help of its donors and partners, the FFO distributes numerous scholarships and grants each year that help foster the growth, development and dynamism of Ontario’s Francophone community.
The FFO now has more than 50 funds that it manages on behalf of donors and constituents.
Thanks to our partnership with the Fondation Franco-ontarienne, we can
- enable the FFO to build Francophone leaders;
- ensure the development of services in French;
- enable young people to realize their dreams;
- encourage college and university students to continue their studies in French;
- enable Franco-Ontarian artists to express their creativity in many forms and make their passion their career;
- enable a theatre project to see the light of day;
- support the development of many community centres to make these services available in French;
- provide assistance to our next generation of Franco-Ontarians;
- provide financial assistance to students to ease the financial burden of postsecondary studies;
- allow children to be children and have fun in French;
- encourage retirees and semi-retirees to meet in order to continue to flourish in French; and
- allow many generations to live in French and ensure the sustainability of the French language.
La bourse commémorative Pierre Boutet
La bourse commémorative Pierre Boutet vise à soutenir les jeunes qui poursuivent des études en français dans les domaines de l’administration publique, du journalisme, de l’engagement civique et communautaire.
Créé en 2024 par son épouse Sylvie Rancourt et sa fille Isabelle, le fonds bénéficie de contributions provenant de nombreux donateurs privés, qui ont connu Pierre et souhaitent contribuer au fonds et à la cause.
Qui était Pierre Boutet
Pierre Boutet a grandi à Sandy Hill à Ottawa, tout près du journal Le Droit, où son père tenait une chronique hebdomadaire. Il a fréquenté l’Université d’Ottawa et s’est joint à la fonction publique du Canada peu de temps après, menant une carrière enrichissante pendant 40 ans, notamment au Commissariat aux langues officielles, à Travaux publics et Services Canada et plus récemment à Élections Canada.
Pierre a vécu à Orléans et à Casselman pendant de nombreuses années avant de f inalement revenir à Ottawa en 2015. Pierre a estimé que s’impliquer dans la communauté pouvait faire une différence mesurable, que ce soit pour influencer les politiques, sensibiliser ou améliorer la vie des gens. Il s’est impliqué dans sa communauté pendant de nombreuses années, en faisant du bénévolat et en menant de nombreuses causes, notamment le Festival franco-ontarien et le Club optimiste de Casselman dans l’est de l’Ontario.
On se souviendra toujours de Pierre pour son incroyable capacité à établir des liens avec les gens. Il avait une façon de faire sourire tout le monde et de créer des impressions durables sur tous ceux qui le rencontraient. Pierre était passionné par la politique et notre histoire canadienne et cherchait à inspirer les jeunes avec ses histoires et son enthousiasme.
Objectif
Accorder une bourse de 1 000 $ à une personne inscrite à un programme post secondaire en français dans la région d’Ottawa (Ontario.
Détails: Admissibilité
Le candidat doit:
- Être inscrit à temps plein à un programme de premier cycle ou d’études supérieures en français dans un établissement d’enseignement local accrédité à Ottawa;
- Maintenir une moyenne de 75 %;
- Démontrer un besoin financier; et
- Démontrer un engagement communautaire exceptionnel (bénévolat, création d’un projet communautaire, etc).
→ Valeur de la bourse : 1 000 $
→ Nombre de bourses : Variable
→ Fréquence d’attribution : Annuelle Programme ou cycle d’études : 1er cycle ou cycles supérieurs
→ Responsable des demandes : Fondation Franco-Ontarienne → Date limite de dépôt des demandes 2025 : à venir
Gagnant 2024: Emilie Denis-Plante
Je vous dévoile d’une part le nom de la Laureate 2024 pour la Bourse Pierre Boutet – et d’une autre part, je partage l’entrevue réalisée avec elle, quelques jours après lui avoir informe du fait.
Emilie Denis-Plante est étudiante en 2eme année a l’université d’Ottawa, et elle a été choisie en novembre dernier par un comité indépendant convoqué par la Fondation Franco-ontarienne.
Quand j’ai discuté avec Emilie, je n’ai pas été surprise de découvrir une jeune femme intelligente et dévouée, passionnée par la politique et sa communauté étant donné ses réalisations jusqu’à présent, et donc elle est bien qualifiée pour la bourse de cette année.
Candidatures pour 2025
Les informations sur la candidature 2025 seront bientôt disponibles.
Fondation Franco-ontarienne:
Le gestionnaire de bourses et de fonds
La Fondation franco-ontarienne est un pilier de la communauté francophone en Ontario depuis 1986. Elle a pour mission unique d’appuyer financièrement la réalisation d’initiatives qui assurent la vitalité de la communauté franco-ontarienne, ceci par l’entremise de la philanthropie.
À l’aide de ses donateurs et partenaires, la FFO distribue annuellement de nombreuses bourses d’études et subventions qui permettent de favoriser l’épanouissement, l’essor et le dynamisme de la communauté francophone de l’Ontario.
La FFO compte maintenant plus de 50 fonds qu’elle gère aux noms de donateurs et constituents.
Grace a notre partenariat avec la Fondation Franco-ontarienne, nous pouvons:
- permettre à la FFO de bâtir des leaders francophones;
- assurer le développement des services en français;
- permettre à des jeunes de réaliser leurs rêves;
- encourager les étudiants au niveau collégial et universitaire à poursuivre leurs études en français;
- permettre aux artistes franco-ontariens d’exprimer leur créativité sous plusieurs formes et de faire de leur passion, leur carrière;
- permettre à un projet théâtral de voir le jour;
- appuyer le développement de nombreux centres communautaires afin de rendre ces services disponibles en français;
- assurer l’aide à notre relève franco-ontarienne;
- accorder une aide financière aux étudiants afin d’alléger le fardeau financier que représentent les études post secondaires;
- permettre aux enfants d’être des enfants et de s’amuser en français;
- encourager les retraités et semi-retraités à se rencontrer afin de continuer de s’épanouir en français; et
- permettre à de nombreuses générations de vivre en français et d’assurer la pérennité de la langue française.
Fundraising
Create a lasting impact: make a donation
Beyond flowers and condolences, an endowment fund offers a concrete way to transform grief into meaningful action. It warms my heart that many of you have asked how to contribute to the fund.
The following link takes you directly to the Pierre Boutet fund page, of the Franco-Ontarian Foundation. You will receive a tax receipt for your contribution.
By allocating resources to causes or organizations that your loved ones cared about, you not only honor their memory, but you also bring about positive change in areas that they were passionate about. Whether supporting education, healthcare, environmental conservation or any other cause, your contribution becomes a beacon of hope and progress in their honor.
Annual golf tournament
Details of the 2025 golf tournament are coming soon!
Leave a lasting legacy
Pierre will always be remembered for his incredible ability to connect with people. He had a way of making everyone smile and creating lasting impressions in everyone who met him. Pierre was passionate about politics and our Canadian history and sought to inspire young people with his stories and his enthusiasm.
Each individual carries within them a set of values and beliefs that shape their actions and define their character. Creating an endowment fund in Pierre’s name has allowed me to preserve and perpetuate his values, ensuring that the principles he held dear continue to impact the world long after he passed away.