Mourning the loss of Gaetan Gervais

Mourning the loss of Gaetan Gervais Many people across the province are mourning the death of Gaetan Gervais, who passed away on Saturday.

Many people across the province are mourning the death of Gaetan Gervais.

The historian, professor and co-creator of the Franco-Ontarian flag passed away on Saturday surrounded by family, after a long difficult battle with Parkinson’s.

He was remembered by a northern Ontario MPP in the Ontario legislature this week.

“And I believe you will find that we have unanimous consent to hold a moment of silence in honour of the passing of Gaetan Gervais, who is the co-creator of our beautiful Franco Ontarian flag.” said Nickel Belt MPP France Gelinas.

Yves Pelletier is the associate vice-president of academic and Francophone affairs at Laurentian University.

"It's actually a very sad day. Gaetan Gervais has been a pillar of this university for Franco-Ontarians since joining the university in 1979. He was a facility member here in the history department for over 40 years, and a lot of what we know today as Franco-Ontarian history is all things that he has studied. So, he has dedicated his life to the study and the promotion of Franco-Ontarian identity, culture and history. But in the years to come, there will be studies about what he's done, studies about the impact that he's done. There will be rooms and schools and other things that will be named in his honor." said Pelletier.

The university says it will be holding a celebration of life for Gaetan Gervais on November 10th.