1951–2017

The Ontario climbing community was saddened to learn of Jean-Marc Filion’s passing on March 20, 2017. Jean-Marc developed many crags around North Bay, making hundreds of first ascents on rock and ice. The list includes classic routes at Mount Ruban, Peninsula Rock, Le Muir and Sentinel i n the Powassan area, and George Lake i n Killarney Park to mention just a few locations. He authored or co-authored several guidebooks, and he wrote lending his engineering insights to the analysis of belaying physics, going beyond Wexler’s “The Theory of Belaying” from the He was a volunteer in the Ontario Rock Climbing Association, served for several years as president, and was a major contributor to the

Jean-Marc was head of the science department at École Secondaire Catholique Algonquin, was a published research scientist, and was involved in national and international science competitions for many years. Throughout his life, Jean-Marc was deeply concerned with environmental issues and served in executive positions in the Lake Nipissing Partners in Conservation and the Trout Lake Conservation Association. He received an honourary PhD, the Latornell Leadership Award and other accolades for his work. Jean-Marc is survived by his wife, Lois, his daughter, Renée Northrup, his three sons, Stéfane, Marc-André and Jean Michel and seven grandchildren. A generous teacher and friend to many, he will be missed.—