Distinguished Contributors : Recognitions and Outstanding Figures

Passionate about computers and communications, Gaétan Verreault created one of the very first Internet forums in 2003 for people living with cystic fibrosis and for those interested in their reality. In his honor, in the fall of 2006, the forum he had set up was named after his nickname, “Kifar”.

For about ten years, before the arrival of major social media platforms, such as Facebook and Twitter, this forum served as a meeting point for many people with CF, offering a way to escape isolation, receive support of others and, most certainly, to discover exceptional people. Over all these years, nearly 350 people participated, contributed more than 6,300 messages, accross numerous discussions. His determination and tenacity have contributed to bringing the CF community in Quebec closer together.

To every lord, all honor. In 1985, Marc Fortin became the first chairman of the board of directors of the Provincial Committee for Adult Cystic Fibrosis (CPAFK), which later became Living with Cystic Fibrosis. At the age of 24, he led our organization accompanied by other adults and Laval de Launière, their social worker. For the time, this was an extraordinary achievement: the median age of survival was less than 25 years old and Quebec had only 150 people with cystic fibrosis over the age of 18. As founding president, his actions marked a major turning point in the Quebec CF world, which, until then, had remained the preserve of the medical and research community. It was under his presidency that on September 19, 1987, Céline Dion visited our directors to express her support. Unfortunately, on December 24 of the same year, Marc Fortin died at the age of 26.

The Quebec Cystic Fibrosis Association (which became Cystic Fibrosis Quebec) established the first Marc-Fortin PAward Awarded every two years, it was received, among others, by Laval de Launière, who became our managing director, and Christian Auclair. In the year 2000, our organization repatriated the award, which now honors only people living with CF who stand out for their exceptional contribution to the cause. The price was awarded every three years. Since then, it has been given to several people involved in our community. Successively, Chantal Germain, Dave St-Pierre (dancer, choreographer and director), Pierre-Alexandre Tremblay, Claire Boulerice, Charlène Blais and Sophie Jacob have seen their names associated with our first president.

In addition to this award, the Fondation l'air d'aller awards a scholarship bearing its name to people socially involved in a community organization or in a public or private institution.

A lover of nature, Marie-Hélène Roger completed a course in biology, ecology and the environment. That is why a scholarship in these fields was established in her honor. Not only has she been involved in the CPAFK as a secretary for many years, but her involvement has extended to various environmental committees and organizations. She also represented us with dignity on the defunct Canadian Cystic Fibrosis Committee. Some even called her “a little lady with big causes.”!

Passionate about environmental causes, no one could talk with as much enthusiasm about recycling, compost and birds as much as she did, to the point that, to avoid wasting paper, our secretary blacked out the pages, from top to bottom and from left to right!

She has steadfastly defended the cause of people living with cystic fibrosis, despite the disease.

She touched the hearts of many people through her sociability, her joy of life, her sincerity and her exemplary strength.

It is in memory of Marika Archambault-Wallenburg, an exceptional young woman loved by all, that the L'air d'aller Foundation is offering a scholarship to students in the sciences so that others can be inspired by her illustrious career and be encouraged by her many qualities.

Marika's great curiosity led her to Europe, Guatemala, Nepal, Nepal, Nepal, Nepal, Japan, Japan, and then the United States, solo on her motorbike, but above all, plunged her headfirst into numerous science books. Her academic career has been flawless. The excellence of her academic results has earned her numerous scholarships: an admission scholarship, awarded by McGill University, for her bachelor's degree in physics, a Canadian scholarship for her master's degree in medical biophysics at the University of Toronto and then one of the most prestigious Canadian scholarships for her doctoral studies at McGill University in biomedical engineering. Cystic fibrosis has never imposed limits on her. Marika has always pursued her goals, without flinching, for the simplest and most noble of reasons: the passion to learn!

The quality that best defines her is undoubtedly perseverance: for having achieved everything she chose to do, for having continued her studies as if nothing had happened and above all, for having faced each new day with a smile, despite the setbacks imposed by the deterioration of her health.

Marika's joie de vivre was so radiant that she contributed to making her family happier and better.

In 1993, Michel Paquette became the fifth president of the CPAFK. As one of the early members of our organization, he was also, for several years, one of the first and rare members from a region outside of Montreal! A proud representative of the Outaouais region, championed regionalism, striving to avoid centralizing powers in the city at all costs.

Under his presidency, our organization lobied the Government of Quebec to include Pulmozyme on the list of drugs covered by the Quebec Drug Insurance Plan (RAMQ).

In 2000, the Michel-Paquette Award was created. It was decided that it will be awarded annually to a person or organization working in the field of cystic fibrosis and who contributes significantly to the well-being of the affected population. Many well-known personalities and groups have received this award, including : Marcel Barette, France Paquet, Francine Brosseau, Diane Lalonde, Denis Mouton, Dr. Michel Ruel, Fondation l'air d'aller, Chambre des notaires du Québec, Dr. Alphonse Jeanneret, Dr. André Cantin, Mylène Cloutier, Dr. Michel Mouton, Laval de Launière and the Order of Nurses of Quebec.

On November 16, 2018, Tomy-Richard Leboeuf Mcgregor, the former executive director of Living with Cystic Fibrosis, passed away.

For 5 years, Tomy-Richard took the reins of our organization and successfully carried out the difficult task of taking over from Laval de Launière and his successors in leading Living with Cystic Fibrosis. From that moment on, he devoted himself body and soul to the well-being of all people affected by cystic fibrosis and greatly contributed to the growth and visibility of our organization.

His unparalleled motivation and commitment enabled our organization to grow online and establish several programs such as Christmas Stockings campaign for hospitalized children and help funds that, even today, allow many people to improve their daily lives and meet essential needs. Extremely involved, he has always carried out the mission of our organization with conviction and was always there to support its members, in particular by making numerous visits to those who were hospitalized.

Our organization would not be what it is today without him, and we promise to hold the torch high to continue the mission that meant so much to Tomy.

We hope that people who love Tomy-Richard will find comfort by visiting out his Facebook profile to remember and celebrate his life.