Date posted
In Memory of Éric Jonckheere
It is with great sadness that we inform you of the death of our friend and colleague Éric Jonckheere, a courageous activist for justice for asbestos victims and for a global ban on asbestos.
Éric and his family endured an unimaginable degree of suffering caused by asbestos. Their story began in a small company town in Belgium, where Éric’s father was the manager of an Eternit asbestos cement factory. A significant proportion of the asbestos used there came from Canada. Eventually, Éric’s father, mother and two of his brothers died from mesothelioma. Tragically, Éric himself joined them on December 13, 2024 after a tenacious struggle against the relentless cancer that began four years ago. His story will of course resonate deeply with many of you, from your own experience or that of a loved one with mesothelioma.
Éric decided years ago that he would not rest until he helped to win justice for asbestos victims and achieve a global ban on asbestos. He made a magnificent contribution to that struggle. He was a charismatic, bigger than life, figure who won people over with charm and humour (often dark) as much as by statistics and policy arguments.
Éric contributed greatly to our asbestos struggle in Canada, as he did in many parts of the world. Alec Farquhar, CMF Board Member and Coordinator of Asbestos Free Canada, was privileged to host him in 2012, when he stood in solidarity with hundreds of activists of Sarnia, Ontario. This was a major moment of progress on our journey to ban asbestos in Canada in 2018.
Éric visited Canada again in 2019, when the CMF sponsored the Canadian launch of Daniel Lambo’s film “Breathless”, which portrayed the global reach of the asbestos industry, grounded in the story of the Jonckheere family. In 2022, the CMF supported the global distribution of the English translation of Éric’s book.
After his mesothelioma diagnosis, Éric came to Toronto in November 2023 and gave a powerful speech at the CMF’s conference. Again, he showed us the urgency of supporting the best possible research into early detection and treatment of mesothelioma. With CMF support, Éric also visited the closed asbestos mines in Quebec – in the town formerly called Asbestos and now called Val des Sources. Éric was in great discomfort at times but courageously and in good humour confronted once again the place where the asbestos in his lungs came from.
Éric was a powerful influence in our movement and a great friend of the CMF. We miss him deeply.
In love and solidarity with Éric, his family and many friends and colleagues