Marcel Desjardins (28 April 1941 – 10 February 2003) was a Canadian journalist, news editor and director. He was a political correspondent for Le Droit and La Presse, before becoming an editor at Radio-Canada. He later returned to La Presse as the news director, then as the vice-president and assistant editor. He also covered ice hockey and was recognized with the Elmer Ferguson Memorial Award by the Professional Hockey Writers' Association.
Marcel Desjardins | |
|---|---|
 | |
| Born | 28 April 1941 Grenville, Quebec, Canada |
| Died | 10 February 2003 (aged 61) |
| Alma mater | |
| Occupation(s) | Journalist, editor and news director |
| Known for | La Presse, Radio-Canada |
| Notable work | Le Point |
| Awards | Elmer Ferguson Memorial Award |
Career edit
Desjardins was born on 28 April 1941, in Grenville, Quebec.[1] He began his career in journalism at age 17, writing for Le Carillon in Hawkesbury, Ontario. He moved to Ottawa in 1962, then worked part-time for Le Droit and attended the University of Ottawa.[1] He married Micheline Danis in 1963, with whom he had three children.[1] Desjardins later attended the University of Toronto, then became the political correspondent for Le Droit in 1967, covering the events in the House of Commons of Canada.[1]
Desjardins joined La Presse in 1970, then became the National Assembly of Quebec.[1] Desjardins was made an honorary member of the Professional Hockey Writers' Association in February 1971.[2] He became the director of information for Montréal-Matin in 1976, then worked for Radio-Canada from 1979 to 1988, as the editor-in-chief of televised news broadcasts and as director of the political news program Le Point.[1][3][4] He was also responsible for the current affairs program Impact.[1] He received the Elmer Ferguson Memorial Award in 1984, in recognition of his hockey journalism.[5] He was one of the founding governors of an organization established to oversee the National Newspaper Awards in 1989.[1] He returned to La Presse as the news director in 1988, then became its vice-president and assistant editor in 1999.[3][4][6]
Death and legacy edit
Desjardins died on 10 February 2003,[3][6] and was interred at St-Alphonse Cemetery in Hawkesbury.[7] Fellow Quebec television journalist Pierre Nadeau described Desjardins by saying, "The man was as solid as a rock, physically and mentally. He had an unerring sense of news judgment. He also had a fabulous sense of humour. He had a way of handling difficult egos with charm, tact, refinement and strength".[1] Jean Chretien, then the Prime Minister of Canada, knew Desjardins from his coverage at the House of Commons and remembered him for "his dynamic personality and his extraordinary talent".[1]
References edit
- ^ a b c d e f g h i j Hustak, Alan (11 February 2003). "Assistant publisher at La Presse leaves a great void". The Gazette. Montreal, Quebec. p. 6.
- ^ Monahan, Leo (6 February 1971). "NHL Hockey". Sporting News. St. Louis, Missouri. p. 6.
- ^ a b c "Décès de Marcel Desjardins". Le Devoir (in French). 11 February 2003. Retrieved 25 December 2020.
- ^ a b "Obsèques de Marcel Desjardins". Radio-Canada (in French). 16 February 2013. Retrieved 25 December 2020.
- ^ "Elmer Ferguson Memorial Award Winners". Legends of Hockey. Hockey Hall of Fame. 2020. Retrieved 25 December 2020.
- ^ a b "Marcel Desjardins meurt à 61 ans". TVA Nouvelles (in French). 10 February 2003. Retrieved 25 December 2020.
- ^ Interment Directory, Hawkesbury, Ontario: United Counties of Prescott and Russell, 2020
