Hon. Rose-Marie Losier-Cool:

Honourable senators, I am very proud to tell you today about a very dear friend, Father Zoël Saulnier. Yesterday he received the Order of New Brunswick, the highest honour my province can bestow upon an individual.

Father Zoël, as he is known to everyone back home, is a great Acadian who has done a lot for Acadia and for his church. As a proud patriot involved in the governing bodies for all of Acadia, he has always been a prominent ambassador for our Acadian culture and our beautiful French language. At 77 years of age, he still plays an active role in raising the profile of our artists.

In addition to his pastoral ministry, he writes prolifically and well. He cares about using the French language correctly. His biography was just launched at the recent Acadian peninsula book show. I would encourage anyone who would like to learn more about Father Zoël to read L'Acadie dans le coeur by Sylvain Rivière.

I have known him for a very long time, since I was a child in fact, and he is a close friend, confidant and moral guide whom I trust implicitly. It is therefore with great pride and great affection that I warmly congratulate Father Zoël on the well-deserved tribute that my province has bestowed upon him.

I would also like to congratulate the other nine individuals who received the Order of New Brunswick alongside Father Zoël: Dawn Arnold of the Northrop Frye International Literary Festival, Wayne Brown of the St. Mary's First Nation, Pamela Coates, who campaigns tirelessly against poverty, Reuben Cohen, Chancellor Emeritus of Dalhousie University, Everard Daigle, former Grand Falls mayor and MLA, Gérard Haché, former MLA and businessman on the Acadian peninsula, Gérard Losier, Miramichi doctor and health care activist, Susan Rickards, teacher, writer and advocate for the homeless, and Ruth Stanley, activist, feminist and retired lawyer.

Congratulations to all of the recipients.

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