Father of slain Lac-Simon officer explains why a new fund for Indigenous youth means so much

It took only a few months after Thierry LeRoux died doing the job he loved, before his family and colleagues decided to continue the work he started.

LeRoux, 26, was working as a police officer in Lac-Simon, a community near Val-d'Or, about 500 kilometres north of Montreal.

In February 2016, he was killed after responding to a 911 call with his partner. The 22-year-old man who shot LeRoux then turned the gun on himself.

In June of that year, LeRoux's colleagues approached his family and asked if they'd accept to lend his name to a foundation they wanted to put in place in Lac-Simon, hoping to support Indigenous youth.

Thierry's father, Michel, said there was no hesitation.

He spoke with Quebec AM's Kim Garritty this week after the Fondation Thierry Leroux was officially launched.

How did you feel when Thierry's colleagues first approached you with this idea?

It was a mix of emotion, of pride and excitement. Those three words pretty much sum up the the family's mindset, when his colleagues approached us last June.

Was it a difficult decision to make?

Oh no. It took about 15 minutes to discuss with my wife, my son and also with Thierry's girlfriend, and then we said yes. Let's go and let's see where this adventure takes us.

What motivated you to say yes?

It's a way to prevent this type of tragedy, not only in Lac-Simon, but also in the Val-d'Or region and all around Quebec.

What will the money be used for?

The funds will be distributed to youth between the ages of four and 25, in the community of Lac-Simon but also in other communities in the MRC de la Vallée-de-l'Or . It will help families cover expenses for school and sporting activities.

Why were Thierry's colleagues so quick to act and get this fund set up in his name?

I believe because Thierry made a mark with his behaviour. He always had fun, he was proud to be a police officer. I believe this motivated his colleagues to create this Foundation.

You've returned to Lac-Simon on a few occasions. Why is it important for you to go back and work on positive changes?

First, Lac-Simon is the community that gave Thierry the opportunity to fulfill his dream of becoming a police officer.

Also, most of his colleagues are youngsters that we coached in hockey when we were living in the Abitibi-Témiscamingue region.

Thierry was born in Amos, so we know most of his colleagues. For me it's one of the big reasons.

We also know the how the events in Lac-Simon link into what's happening in Val-d'Or, the Indigenous women there, so it's an opportunity to start a discussion between these two communities.

What are your hopes for the community, for young men and women in Lac-Simon?

If you look at the mission of the foundation, it's to create a vision for these youngsters. That they can have a future without having to leave their own culture, their own ancestry.

We know that at the end of the day, in the world we're living in, if you don't have an education you don't have a future, no matter where you come from.

That's what we want to promote for the young people in these Indigenous communities.

How does being a part of all this help you deal with the loss of your son?

I believe it's part of the emotion that we have to go through. To be able to talk about it. Creating foundations like this is to try to make sense of something that makes no sense.

How do you want people to remember Thierry?

I believe his memory is built on the pride he had to be a police officer. His willingness to help people, mostly youngsters in sports and in school. His friendship. All this is how we want Thierry to be recognized in the future.

The headquarters of the Thierry Leroux Foundation will be located in the Lac-Simon police station. The first fundraising event will be at  Le Belvédère golf club in Val-d'Or on Aug. 24.

Police officers, paramedics and the vice-chief of Lac-Simon, Pamela Papatie, are on the foundation's board of directors, as well as his father Michel Leroux.