Place for readers | Your personality of the year

Here are who, in your eyes, were the essential personalities of the year, those without whom 2024 would not have been the same

Donald Trump

Obviously, Donald Trump. The controversial man rose to the highest American political office for a second term thanks to a clever mix of populism, lies, media control… and the Overton window. How has a speech that would have been disqualified from its infancy, just a few years ago, become acceptable today? The ever-more rightward shift in public debate can be explained by the notion of the “Overton window”, which designates the range of ideas and speeches considered acceptable in public opinion at a given moment. In the United States as elsewhere, misogynistic, racist or nationalist remarks are becoming more and more uninhibited, probably thanks to social networks which allow them to be disseminated without any censorship. Donald Trump therefore becomes the spokesperson for this type of rhetoric and the one who, unfortunately, will undoubtedly legitimize it.

Louis Fugère, Eastman (and many others)

Celine Dion

Spontaneously, I thought of Céline Dion. In this troubling and troubled era, she demonstrated how courage and determination could allow us to accomplish great things, as she did at the Paris Olympic Games. His interpretation ofHymn to love reminded us that greatness still exists… May we still believe in it!

Claude Bouchard, Laval (and many others)

Marwah Rizqy

Marwah Rizqy would be the personality of the year for me. This brilliant woman knows her files in depth and she wants to be a strong adversary to the Minister of Education. She was the first to say out loud what was happening at Bedford School. She had a difficult choice to make, whether to continue politics and become leader of the Liberal Party or to stand by her young family. She loudly denounces racism to the point of being harassed and placed under the protection of the police. Quebecers will miss her.

Serge Leduc, Pincourt (and many others)

Janette Bertrand

It embodies a desire for evolution, equality and respect. While being peaceful, she has moved Quebec society forward and continues to do so, unlike all public figures who are power-hungry and individualistic.

Hélène-Lynda Gravel, Drummondville (and many others)

Marie-Annick Lépine

Marie-Annick Lépine. I don’t feel like I need to justify why, but since I have to: for his strength, his restraint, his ability to continue, to get back up. Despite everything, she continues in the artistic field and gradually reveals her many talents to us. She remains loyal to her fans and her audience. November 15 is a day full of emotions for all of Quebec, but mainly for her and Karl’s family and his close friends, and I am sure that she finds a way to see the positive and beautiful memories instead. to fall into self-pity and depression. She is an extraordinary woman and we have not yet finished discovering that.

Gail Gagne, Rivière-Bleue

Gisele Pelicot

By her courage in demanding that the trial of her husband and the sexual abuse he encouraged be public, she demonstrated the extent of the scourge of chemical submission. She revealed the fact that the attackers were ordinary gentlemen. She also demonstrated extraordinary dignity throughout the hearings. Through her action, she advanced the cause of women and confronted men with their own contradictions.

Jean-Luc Jault, Sorel-Tracy

Margrethe Vestager

Margrethe Vestager, VP director of the European Commission on competition, has been a key figure for at least a decade. Succeed in making Apple pay 13 billion euros, Google 2.4 billion (September 2024) and now imposing a fine of 800 million euros on Meta… Let’s say that it’s a nice picture, and I don’t I haven’t examined all his exploits!

Jocelyn David, Montréal

Volunteers

All volunteers from all organizations. Without them, these organizations would not exist. Who would then do their job? Governments, businesses? Forget it! Otherwise, our taxes would increase.

Normand Champoux, Trois-Rivières

Sandra Demontigny

Sandra Demontigny. I am so impressed by this woman with early-onset Alzheimer’s who had the courage to fight for the advance request for medical assistance in dying. When asked what her criteria would be for her family to make the final decision, this is what she replied: “When I can no longer meet my basic needs, that is to say eating, washing, go to the toilet. » It is largely thanks to you, madam, that the law will change in Quebec. What a model of courage you leave to your children and to society! You will leave with your head held high!

Danielle Gauvin, Jonquière

Kamala Harris

Kamala Harris, for her breathtaking run for president of the United States. She stood out on several occasions, notably during the debate with Donald Trump. Her leadership gave hope that she could break a glass ceiling and, despite her defeat, she remains a very inspiring figure.

Monique Juteau, Verdun (and many others)

Paul St-Pierre Plamondon

Paul St-Pierre Plamondon. Leader of a party virtually wiped off the map during the 2022 general elections, his party is now on the path to forming the next government. During the year, he received more popular support than the current Prime Minister, not only by a considerable margin, but also by a constant margin. The man sets out his convictions in a completely uninhibited manner, and he does so with intelligence, relevance and coherence. He is completely invested in carrying out a social project which is not unanimously agreed upon, and which had been out of the news for almost 30 years, but of which he is deeply convinced of the necessity.

Marc-André Roy, Montreal (and many others)

Sarah-Jeanne Labrosse

Sarah-Jeanne Labrosse, for her involvement; she is so inspiring. Seeing a young person like her, so busy with her career, who still finds time to listen to young people… And closer to us, who intends to improve the lack of social housing. A person to discover. Well done !

Marie Michelle Dimanche, Saint-Jérôme

Louis-Karl Picard-Sioui

Louis-Karl Picard-Sioui deserves a place on the list of personalities of the year for his involvement in Wendat-Huron culture. He worked to revive and know the language of his community. A prolific writer, he contributed to the culture of his people through his writings and endorsed literature and writing by his compatriots. This contribution succeeded in raising awareness of indigenous culture.

Nicole Lavoie, Lorraine