Jean Dorion
Encyclopedia
Jean Dorion is a Canadian
politician, sociologist and a Quebec nationalist
leader. He is the current President of the Saint-Jean-Baptiste Society
of Montreal
(SSJBM), a post he held also from 1989 to 1994. He is additionally the treasurer of the affiliated Mouvement national des Québécoises et des Québécois
(MNQ). A polyglot
, he speaks six languages, including Japanese
, his wife's native language. He was elected as a member of parliament for the Bloc Québécois
in the 2008 Canadian federal election, in the riding of Longueuil—Pierre-Boucher
.
, Dorion was a vocal advocate of French language rights. He worked in the Government of Quebec
, first as political attaché for Minister of Immigration Jacques Couture
, and later as Chief of Cabinet of Minister Gérald Godin
when he held the responsibility of the application of the Charter of the French Language
.
He was President of the Saint-Jean-Baptiste Society of Montreal from 1989 to 1994. Afterwards, he held the role of General Delegate for five and a half years at the General Delegation of Quebec in Tokyo
. He was returned to the post of President of the SSJBM in 2003, succeeding Guy Bouthillier
.
, Dorion met Hiromi, a Japan
ese tourist looking for directions. She was then living in the American
city of Cleveland, completing a doctoral thesis in nursing science
. Already proficient in Japanese, he guided her in her native language and charmed her. She learned French and moved to Montreal on June 23, 1990, in time to witness, two days later, one of the biggest and most famous Saint-Jean-Baptiste Day parades in history (after the end of the Meech Lake Accord
).
They were married on May 4, 1991. Five children were born from this union, each with both a French and Japanese name: Thierry, or Chieri (meaning "house of a thousand blessings"); Marie-France, or Mariko ("child of truth"); Alice, or Asami ("beauty of the morning"); Blanche, or Yukie ("scene of winter"); and Émile, or Emiru ("prosperity"). The children follow Saturday courses to complete their Japanese culture and speak Japanese at home.
Canada
Canada is a North American country consisting of ten provinces and three territories. Located in the northern part of the continent, it extends from the Atlantic Ocean in the east to the Pacific Ocean in the west, and northward into the Arctic Ocean...
politician, sociologist and a Quebec nationalist
Quebec nationalism
Quebec nationalism is a nationalist movement in the Canadian province of Quebec .-1534–1774:Canada was first a french colony. Jacques Cartier claimed it for France in 1534, and permanent French settlement began in 1608. It was part of New France, which constituted all French colonies in North America...
leader. He is the current President of the Saint-Jean-Baptiste Society
Saint-Jean-Baptiste Society
The Saint-Jean-Baptiste Society is an institution in Quebec dedicated to the protection of Quebec francophone interests and to the promotion of Quebec Sovereignism. Its current President is Mario Beaulieu....
of Montreal
Montreal
Montreal is a city in Canada. It is the largest city in the province of Quebec, the second-largest city in Canada and the seventh largest in North America...
(SSJBM), a post he held also from 1989 to 1994. He is additionally the treasurer of the affiliated Mouvement national des Québécoises et des Québécois
Mouvement national des Québécoises et des Québécois
Founded in 1947, the Mouvement national des Québécoises et des Québécois is a federation that groups together the various patriotic organizations in Quebec, Canada...
(MNQ). A polyglot
Multilingualism
Multilingualism is the act of using, or promoting the use of, multiple languages, either by an individual speaker or by a community of speakers. Multilingual speakers outnumber monolingual speakers in the world's population. Multilingualism is becoming a social phenomenon governed by the needs of...
, he speaks six languages, including Japanese
Japanese language
is a language spoken by over 130 million people in Japan and in Japanese emigrant communities. It is a member of the Japonic language family, which has a number of proposed relationships with other languages, none of which has gained wide acceptance among historical linguists .Japanese is an...
, his wife's native language. He was elected as a member of parliament for the Bloc Québécois
Bloc Québécois
The Bloc Québécois is a federal political party in Canada devoted to the protection of Quebec's interests in the House of Commons of Canada, and the promotion of Quebec sovereignty. The Bloc was originally a party made of Quebec nationalists who defected from the federal Progressive Conservative...
in the 2008 Canadian federal election, in the riding of Longueuil—Pierre-Boucher
Longueuil—Pierre-Boucher
Longueuil—Pierre-Boucher is a federal electoral district in Quebec, Canada, that has been represented in the Canadian House of Commons since 2004...
.
Biography
Starting in the 1960s, several years before the adoption of the Charter of the French LanguageCharter of the French Language
The Charter of the French Language , also known as Bill 101 and Loi 101, is a law in the province of Quebec in Canada defining French, the language of the majority of the population, as the only official language of Quebec, and framing fundamental language rights for everyone in the province...
, Dorion was a vocal advocate of French language rights. He worked in the Government of Quebec
Government of Quebec
The Government of Quebec refers to the provincial government of the province of Quebec. Its powers and structure are set out in the Constitution Act, 1867....
, first as political attaché for Minister of Immigration Jacques Couture
Jacques Couture
Jacques Couture is a Canadian auto racer. He is known for opening North America's first racing school in Quebec. He was inducted into the Canadian Motorsport Hall of Fame in 2000. He has been credited as the "instructor who taught the young Gilles Villeneuve how to race."-References:...
, and later as Chief of Cabinet of Minister Gérald Godin
Gérald Godin
Gérald Godin was a Quebec poet and politician.Born in Trois-Rivières, Quebec, he worked as a journalist at La Presse and other newspapers and magazines...
when he held the responsibility of the application of the Charter of the French Language
Charter of the French Language
The Charter of the French Language , also known as Bill 101 and Loi 101, is a law in the province of Quebec in Canada defining French, the language of the majority of the population, as the only official language of Quebec, and framing fundamental language rights for everyone in the province...
.
He was President of the Saint-Jean-Baptiste Society of Montreal from 1989 to 1994. Afterwards, he held the role of General Delegate for five and a half years at the General Delegation of Quebec in Tokyo
Tokyo
, ; officially , is one of the 47 prefectures of Japan. Tokyo is the capital of Japan, the center of the Greater Tokyo Area, and the largest metropolitan area of Japan. It is the seat of the Japanese government and the Imperial Palace, and the home of the Japanese Imperial Family...
. He was returned to the post of President of the SSJBM in 2003, succeeding Guy Bouthillier
Guy Bouthillier
Guy Bouthillier is a Québécois political expert, teacher and Quebec nationalist leader. He was the President of the Saint-Jean-Baptiste Society of Montreal from 1997 to 2003...
.
Private life
In August 1989, on a stroll through Old MontrealOld Montreal
Old Montreal is the oldest area in the city of Montreal, Quebec, Canada, dating back to New France. Located in the borough of Ville-Marie, the area is bordered on the west by McGill St., on the north by Ruelle des Fortifications, on the east by Berri St. and on the south by the Saint Lawrence River...
, Dorion met Hiromi, a Japan
Japan
Japan is an island nation in East Asia. Located in the Pacific Ocean, it lies to the east of the Sea of Japan, China, North Korea, South Korea and Russia, stretching from the Sea of Okhotsk in the north to the East China Sea and Taiwan in the south...
ese tourist looking for directions. She was then living in the American
United States
The United States of America is a federal constitutional republic comprising fifty states and a federal district...
city of Cleveland, completing a doctoral thesis in nursing science
Doctor of Nursing Science
The Doctor of Nursing Practice is a terminal professional degree that focuses on the clinical aspects of nursing rather than academic research. The curriculum for the DNP degree generally includes advanced practice, leadership, and application of clinical research. The DNP is intended primarily...
. Already proficient in Japanese, he guided her in her native language and charmed her. She learned French and moved to Montreal on June 23, 1990, in time to witness, two days later, one of the biggest and most famous Saint-Jean-Baptiste Day parades in history (after the end of the Meech Lake Accord
Meech Lake Accord
The Meech Lake Accord was a package of proposed amendments to the Constitution of Canada negotiated in 1987 by Prime Minister Brian Mulroney and ten provincial premiers. It was intended to persuade the government of the Province of Quebec to endorse the 1982 Canadian Constitution and increase...
).
They were married on May 4, 1991. Five children were born from this union, each with both a French and Japanese name: Thierry, or Chieri (meaning "house of a thousand blessings"); Marie-France, or Mariko ("child of truth"); Alice, or Asami ("beauty of the morning"); Blanche, or Yukie ("scene of winter"); and Émile, or Emiru ("prosperity"). The children follow Saturday courses to complete their Japanese culture and speak Japanese at home.