The QCT honours Pierre Asselin (1955-2024)

The QCT was saddened to learn that Pierre Asselin, a journalist with Le Soleil for over 30 years, died Jan. 29 at age 69. He was the husband of Cathy Nolan, the executive director of the Quebec City Reading Council.

Throughout his career with Le Soleil, Asselin was also very active in the English- speaking community. He wrote an article about the “Information Age” for the QCT 250th- anniversary special edition in June 2014.

“Pierre championed the anglophone community,” Nolan told the QCT. “One of his most memorable journalistic moments was that he was the journalist to get the Shannon [tainted water] story out and spent months working with residents, the lawyer and other professionals to make sure the story got the attention it deserved.

“Throughout his life, Pierre was a big supporter of people no matter their stature in the community,” Nolan said. “He would buy chocolate bars from kids who came selling them at the house to raise money for school trips, et cetera; pens and Boy Scout calendars were bought. He was a true supporter of any local cause. He and I were and are strong support- ers of Doctors without Borders and the Community Christmas Hamper Campaign. He had a passion for recreational cycling and would think nothing of hopping on his bike with a tent and heading off to the Townships or Mont-Tremblant for a bike ride.

“He knew Karen Macdonald [owner and editor of the QCT from 1993 to 2007] very well. They worked the city beat on many common stories when she [and her husband François Vézina] lived in Quebec City. He also worked with former QCT journalist Bethann Merkle and wrote an article … when she was co-ordinating the 250th-anniversary celebra- tions for the newspaper.

“I believe he started his career at Le Soleil in 1980, initially based in La Pocatière, before moving to the city a few years later,” added Nolan.

The Asselin family will receive visitors at the Maison Gomin, 2026 Boul. René- Lévesque Ouest, on Feb. 8 from 1 to 3 p.m.

For more details, visit lepinecloutier.com/fr/avis-de-deces/73738-pierre-asselin-anglais.