Hon. Pierre-Hugues Boisvenu: Honourable senators, I would like to thank you all for the messages so full of sympathy and human warmth that I have received since yesterday.

[Translation]

Tomorrow night, June 23, marks 20 years since my daughter Julie was abducted while walking to her car after celebrating her promotion to manager at a Sherbrooke company. She was held captive, raped and murdered by a repeat offender. Her body was found 10 days later in a ditch outside the city.

Twenty years ago, this tragedy forever scarred an entire community. Since then, I have dedicated my life to victims of crime, to their families, and to defending their hard-won rights. This tragedy was the reason I was appointed to the upper chamber.

I have always believed that parents do not choose their children, but that children choose their parents. From the first night she disappeared, I knew deep down that Julie was gone. I knew she would never come back, and I believe that she was steering my life towards something other than a quiet retirement, as I used to say at home.

Julie would be 47 years old today. She would probably be an accomplished wife and mother. I often imagine what my life would have been like if I had not lost my daughters, but I can’t imagine my life without the mission that their tragic and untimely departures instilled in me, that is, a need to reach out to families who have had a loved one brutally stolen from them.

Julie taught me so much, in life and in death. She possessed strength of character and never looked back despite facing the kind of tremendous challenges that can prevent us from putting our lives, our dreams and ourselves back together. Her strength inspires me to keep working for victims involved in our justice system and to support victims’ families. I am driven by hope and by love for life itself. We can offer them serenity only if we are not inhabited by anger, rage and a desire to take revenge on the offender.

Julie, my dear child, you left us 20 years ago, but it still feels like yesterday. To me, your face has not changed. Your strength of character and your love of life are always with me. Our father-daughter conversations in the backyard over an after-dinner glass of wine are forever etched in my memory.

Julie, I am proud of what we have accomplished for victims by creating the Association des familles de personnes assassinées ou disparues, supporting families and making changes to justice systems. We adopted the Canadian Victims Bill of Rights to give victims rights and a voice.

With these few words, I want to say a big thank you for being part of my life and the lives of your family and your many friends, although our time together was far too short. Thank you on behalf of the families I have supported after they experienced their own tragedies. There are so many such families that I have lost count.

I have another 20 months of work ahead of me in the Senate, and I still have things I want to accomplish with my honourable colleagues. Our commitment to do more to protect women who are victims of domestic violence will be a full-time endeavour. So many women are in need of help, protection and support. Together, we will do our best to support them and save lives.

Julie, thank you for joining me on this mission, our mission, and for guiding me towards the victims and their families to ensure that their voices are heard, as well as yours, so they are never forgotten. I am proud of you and your sister Isabelle, and I always will be. Julie, 20 years have passed since you left this earth, but time has no meaning for a father, and you will always be my little darling.

Thank you for everything, my dear. I love you.