The "Imprints" of Dr. André Arcelin
Rony Sanon, animateur ·
Today, Montreal loses a doctor. The Haitian community loses a pillar. Quebec loses a builder.
Quebec loses, for its part, a builder The Haitian community of Montreal is in mourning. It loses much more than a doctor: it loses a beacon, a defender, a man who devoted his life to healing, bringing people together, and advancing social justice. Dr. André Arcelin is no more, and with him dies a voice that, for decades, carried the dignity, resilience and hope of thousands of families. Fifteen years ago, I had the honor of speaking with him as part of the show Empreintes. This encounter, still vivid in my memory, revealed a man of rare rigor, profound lucidity and unwavering commitment to his community and to Quebec. Through his words, one could perceive the trajectory of a pioneer who had understood very early that health, justice and civic participation were inseparable. A path shaped by commitment Dr. Arcelin was not just a doctor. He was a social actor, an engaged intellectual, a citizen who refused to look away from injustice. His work with Montreal families, his involvement in public debates and his courageous positions helped shape a strong, respected and essential Haitian presence in Quebec and Canadian society. He belonged to that generation of builders who understood that community is built through concrete actions, struggles carried out with constancy and initiatives that open doors for future generations. His commitment went beyond medicine: it touched on defending rights, civic participation, building a space where Quebecers of Haitian origin could flourish fully. A living legacy Revisiting his testimony in Empreintes today is to measure the magnitude of what he leaves behind. Dr. Arcelin is part of that lineage of pioneers who gave the Haitian community of Quebec a voice, visibility and legitimacy. Since the 1960s, these women and men have enriched Quebec through their work, their culture, their resilience and their deep sense of solidarity. Dr. Arcelin is fully part of this continuity. His legacy is living. It is found in the young professionals who engage, in the families he accompanied, in the institutions he influenced and in the battles he inspired. It is also found in this collective consciousness that, even today, carries the demand for justice, dignity and inclusion. An immense loss, a shared responsibility The passing of Dr. Arcelin reminds us that the history of our community is not simply a succession of events, but a chain of courageous gestures, assumed positions and contributions that have transformed our place in Quebec and Canadian society. In paying tribute to him, we recognize the immensity of what he accomplished. But we also recognize the responsibility that falls to us: to continue the work, to keep alive the flame of dignity, justice and solidarity that he carried all his life. Today, Montreal loses a doctor. The Haitian community loses a pillar. Quebec loses a builder. But his example remains, and his imprint continues to guide those who still believe in the strength of the collective, in the value of commitment and in the beauty of a Quebec enriched — and a Canada made more flourishing — by all its voices.