Mr. Speaker, I rise to pay tribute to Thérèse Frère, a proud Franco-Ontarian from Ottawa—Vanier—Gloucester who passed away recently at the age of 98.
Her courage and resourcefulness were put to the test when her husband passed away suddenly, leaving her to support six young children under the age of 13 alone. This strong and resilient woman worked in education before moving to the field of visual arts in 1974, where pastels were her medium of choice. She studied at the Ottawa School of Art and the Banff School of Fine Arts and captured the landscapes of Quebec, Europe, the United States and especially Newfoundland and Labrador, a place that she dearly loved. She donated 150 works to Patro d'Ottawa to support young people and another 83 to Fogo Island.
Thérèse was also well liked and well respected for her dedication to Franco-Ontarian heritage and culture. She received many awards and distinctions. Most notably, she was appointed a knight of the Ordre de la Pléiade. On behalf of the community, I offer my sincere condolences to her family and friends.
May she rest in peace.