Jean-Marie Brochu

Jean-Marie Brochu (1926 – 22 August 2020) was a Canadian Catholic priest in the Archdiocese of Quebec, radio broadcaster, and founder of the charitable organization Le Noël du Bonheur. Known publicly as Monsieur le Bonheur, he broadcast daily inspirational messages on Quebec radio for approximately fifty years and coordinated a volunteer network that provided gifts and visits to thousands of chronically hospitalized patients across the Capitale-Nationale and Chaudière-Appalaches regions.

Early life and priesthood Brochu was born in 1926 in Quebec City, the eldest of five children of Raoul Brochu and Yvonne Cormier. Shortly after his ordination, he was appointed secretary and notary at the Chancellery of the Archdiocese of Quebec, serving in that capacity for twenty years under Archbishop Maurice Roy. The organization grew into a network of approximately 2,500 volunteers serving more than 8,000 chronically hospitalized patients across nearly 100 care facilities in the Capitale-Nationale and Chaudière-Appalaches regions. 2003 – Member of the Order of Canada, invested on 30 October by Adrienne Clarkson 2011 – Medal of the National Assembly of Quebec, presented on 29 November by Vanier MNA Patrick Huot

Death Brochu died on 22 August 2020 at the CHSLD de Saint-Anselme, aged 94.