Mr. Speaker, on July 22, Montreal North, Montreal, Quebec and Canada lost a leading light of the musical and arts communities when Canadian jazz legend Oliver Jones passed away at the age of 91.
As a friend of Oscar Peterson and an officer of the Order of Canada, he brought Montreal jazz to the world's biggest stages without ever losing his deep sense of humility. To us, Oliver Jones was first and foremost a neighbour and a friend. He lived in Montreal North for many years. Our performance hall is named after him. To honour the borough's 100th anniversary, he created a new arrangement of music written by students from the borough of Montreal North.
That was the kind of person he was: a prominent artist who never forgot where he came from and never stopped giving back to his community.
On behalf of his neighbours and all Canadians, I offer my deepest condolences to his family.
I am sure that everyone will agree when I say that Oliver Jones' music will live on. It truly is part of us.