Visitors to Stutfield Glacier will get a whole new perspective thanks to a recently installed viewfinder on the Icefields Parkway.
The viewfinder was installed in memory of the late Dr. Francis Jean, the founder of IRIS, the largest eye care company in Canada.
Jean died last year from a heart attack on the Icefields Parkway while riding his bike from Vancouver to Jasper for the start of the second annual IRIS Challenge, a bike ride to raise money for cancer research.
“He passed away doing something he loved, for someone that he loved, with people that he loved,” said Lynn DeKoster, vice president of corporate relations, who worked with Jean for nearly 17 years.
“Francis was an optometrist and was very proud of his profession that’s why we put this viewfinder there because he really cared about the vision of people and taking care of people,” said Eric Babin, vice president of communications and technology for IRIS.
According to Babin, Jean started his first optometry clinic in his hometown of Baie-Comeau, Que. in 1986 before joining IRIS and becoming president of the company in 1990. There are now more than 150 clinics across Canada.
“Francis never did anything half-way,” said Babin. “He was a very strong leader, passionate and inspiring.”
Besides creating the largest eye care company in Canada, Jean was also a passionate cyclist.
“He got into cycling because of his love for his brother,” said DeKoster, explaining that in 2007 Jean’s brother, Remi Jean, was diagnosed with Hodgkin’s lymphoma, a cancer that affects the immune system.
“He felt he needed to help him in some way so he found that the way he could help him was to raise money for cancer research and the other thing he could do by doing that was spend more time with his brother Remi, who was an avid cyclist.”
Just like his passion for optometry, Jean put everything he had into cycling, riding his bike with his brother and friend Gérald Carrier from Vancouver to his hometown in Quebec in 2011. Together the group raised $120,000 for cancer research.
In 2013, Jean helped launched the inaugural IRIS Challenge from Banff to Jasper and back. The following year 50 riders participated and this year organizers are expecting 65 riders to participate.
Beginning on July 18, cyclists will be riding from Banff to Lake Louise round trip and then from Banff to Cochrane on July 19.
The installation of the viewfinder was made possible by the Friends of Jasper National Park memorial bench program, which allows people to purchase benches throughout the park in memory of their loved ones.
This is the first time that Friends has installed a viewfinder, but it has opened the organization up to other kinds of memorials.
“It was important for this group because they wanted to do something special to recognize [Jean] and at the same time they wanted to do something that would benefit the park and the visitors that come here,” said Sue Cesco, co-manager of the Friends.
Although already installed and operational, the official unveiling of the viewfinder takes place July 17.
For more information about the IRIS Challenge or to donate, visit www.irischallenge.ca.
Jean is survived by his wife Denise, son Jonathan, son Guillaume, daughter Marilanie, mother Laurette Savard, father Roland Jean, and brother Remi Jean.
Paul Clarke
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