Manor Park Notables: Jean Boutin (1959-2022)
Dedicated volunteer, adventurist, father, friend
On Tuesday, December 6, surrounded by his loving family, Jean Boutin passed away at his home in Manor Park, on his own terms, at the age of 63.
Jean was a community leader and organizer, a dedicated volunteer, an adventurist, an athlete and a great friend to many in our community.
He put up a good fight against cancer since his initial diagnosis 12 months ago.
He was glad to see his first grandchild through his first year, to attend his daughter Caroline’s wedding, to have trips with his family, and to spend time with his friends and his extended family.
The second of four children of Céline and Lucien Boutin, Jean had a charmed childhood. He spent his summers and weekends at the family cottage in Saint-Donat, Que., in the Laurentians where his father taught him to downhill ski and water ski.
He met his soulmate Laura at Concordia University in 1981. They married in 1986 and moved to Ottawa, where he raised his family and worked for the federal government for 30 years. They moved to Manor Park in 1990. Jean loved kids and wanted six, but Laura said four was enough joy. So, Jean spent his life raising his kids and helping to raise neighbours’ kids in Manor Park.
Jean was a familiar face around the neighbourhood, often out with his four kids and the dog. He helped with the shovelling and flooding of the rink and the sleigh ride. Jean loved the Manor Park cooking classes in the early years, and exercise classes in the later years. He took up a lot of room on the dance floor at the dinner dance. He and his buddies helped clean up felled trees after the ice storm in 1998.
Leading ‘expeditions’
He spent much of his spare time organizing activities, some around Manor Park but many farther afield . . . the Laurentians, Gatineau Park, the Adirondacks and even trips for Manor Park friends to Europe.
When one of his adventures became over-subscribed, he said no problem and arranged a bus to take 12 families on a three-day cycle trip on the P’tit Train du Nord in the Laurentians.
No event was too big or too complicated. It just needed more thoughtful organizing, and Jean was always up for the challenge.
Friends recall that Jean never organized a hike—it was an expedition. He crafted itineraries, wrangled “a gaggle from the ‘hood” to head out and created many cherished shared experiences. His outings were characterized by methodical planning, maps with ideal routes highlighted, trail rules, careful guidance when crossing intersections (to avoid a lost child . . . or spouse), and choreographed lunches and photo stops.
“Stick with the plan” became a mantra, not only on expeditions but during men’s group meetings he organized featuring precisely-timed activities followed by pub-time and often heartfelt conversation.
Jean worked to avoid chaos on the trail and remind everyone of the purpose and benefits of coming together.
For Jean, it was about the journey and the destination.
The first to volunteer
Jean always included as many kids and families as possible.
Kids always knew that if Jean was involved it was going to be fun and organized. Jean was a stickler for planning; the food, proper clothing, safety, transportation, equipment (if a kid was missing something Jean would produce something from his epic sports equipment inventory). He had more equipment for more sports than Mountain Equipment Co-op and it was all sorted and organized.
Jean was not defined by his work. He loved being with his family, and spent his free time taking his family camping, hiking, skiing, biking and cottaging. He was overjoyed when he had the chance to bring his family to Paris for a three-year posting, and made sure that they lived the experience to the fullest.
Jean dedicated a lot of his spare time while working and full-time after retirement to helping others, in the Manor Park community and across Canada.
He was always the first to volunteer whether it was building a play structure, hosting families without power during the ice storm, looking after foster children for the Children’s Aid Society or organizing ballroom dance classes for his friends and neighbours (while his wife was eight months pregnant). Jean was always volunteering.
Jean always said that his greatest accomplishment was his children. When his children were grown up, and the “teachable moments” were fewer and farther between, he organized trips with his friends.
After his retirement in 2018, he filled his days with volunteering (Canadian Red Cross and the Children’s Aid Society) and great gigs like Mont Tremblant’s Info-Ski and driving RVs down south.
During retirement, he was called on many times by the Red Cross to support disaster events across Canada, from forest fires in British-Columbia to flooding in Manitoba. Jean stepped up to help people in need.
He invested so much time in his volunteer work that his friends suggested he go back to full time work to get a break.
One of Jean’s friends was remembering what an impact he had on his neighbours and the wider Manor Park community, and it brought to mind a quote from Maya Angelou, “I’ve learned that people will forget what you said, people will forget what you did, but people will never forget how you made them feel.”
Jean made us all feel connected, loved, and appreciative of life. Thank you, Jean!
Le fonds Jean Boutin Fund
Jean leaves behind his wife of 36 years, Laura; his children Jonathan (Ali Campbell), Caroline (Christophe Ledent), Émilie, and Olivier (Hope Gaze), as well as his grandson Leo. He also leaves behind his mother Céline, and his siblings Hélène, André and Philippe and their families, and his brother-in-law David Harries and his family. There are extended family members and many friends who will miss him terribly. He was often the first guy up the mountain, the last guy to go to bed, and the loudest person in the room.
Many thanks to Dr. Canil, Dr. Fitzgibbon, Dr. Gupta and all of their colleagues for the excellent care provided. They left no stone unturned and we are truly grateful.
In lieu of flowers, donations can be made to Le fonds Jean Boutin Fund. Tax receipts will be provided. Jean’s buddies set up this fund to honour his memory and the many sporting activities they did together over the decades.
Through the Ottawa Community Foundation, funds collected will enable less fortunate families and children to participate in sporting activities, something that was very close to Jean’s heart
With kind appreciation to Jean’s wife, Laura, family and his many friends for the text and photo.
A Manor Park Notable is snapshot of an individual (now deceased) who has lived in the Manor Park area, and who made a difference either through career or community involvement. If you have a candidate in mind, please send your submission or ideas to: manorparknotables@gmail.com.