Jean Lapointe, a great man, simple, loving, sometimes gruff, open-minded, dedicated to the cause of alcoholism and other drug addictions. He was so talented and versatile that with him one could sometimes believe that anything was possible.
In the early 1980s, his alcohol and drug use became problematic and, after several failed attempts, he began treatment at the Maison Querbes, a small private treatment center for alcohol problems which would become the Maison a few years later. Jean Lapointe. Against all odds, following this stay, he became sober and attended AA meetings regularly.
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I suffered from the same problems and one day, exhausted, I decided to follow in his footsteps and enter Maison Querbes myself. The day after my arrival, at the time of the visit, I noticed a racket at the entrance to the centre. I recognize Jean Lapointe who has just arrived. He looks at me and just says, “You’re the new one!” Finish your internship here and have at least 3 AA meetings a week and your life will change forever. »
If someone else had told me the same thing, I probably wouldn’t have listened, but coming from him, the advice has taken on a whole new meaning. I completed my internship and followed his advice.
A year later when I learn that he will soon be performing at the Grand Théatre in Quebec. I decide to participate and after the fashion show I go to his dressing room to tell him that everything is fine and to thank him for welcoming him to the Maison Querbes.
He recognizes me and we talk for a few minutes and, without preamble, he says: “We have just opened a new treatment center in Old Montreal that will bear my name. “The house of Jean Lapointe”. We need speakers. Why not come and work with us in Montreal. You have no experience, but you will learn by working with the other speakers.
He had believed in me more than I believed in myself and that’s how our relationship began in the early 80’s. It will last until his recent death.
I called him hundreds of times. Sometimes to visit someone who knew him and he wanted to be admitted to Maison Jean Lapointe. Sometimes for a fundraising activity. Sometimes he was gruff, but he always answered and I knew he was incapable of saying “no” when it came to Maison Jean Lapointe.
Mission accomplished
He was also so intense in his feelings that one day during his telethon, when we brought the first teenager celebrating one year of sobriety to the stage, he broke down into tears with the microphone in his hand and couldn’t speak anymore. The phone started ringing and significant funds were used to promote addiction prevention among teenagers.
I thank heaven for the happiness of having been able to share your life and your last moments. Thank you, Jean, for all the alcoholics and drug addicts you’ve helped. For those who thought they could recover because you did. Thank you for advancing the cause of alcoholism and other addiction treatment in Quebec. Mission accomplished!
Rodrigue Pare, former director of La Maison Jean Lapointe, now retired
