March 10, 2025
Dear CCR family,
With heaviest hearts, we write to tell you that Jenny Jeanes, our beloved Vice President, has died.
Jenny was an ever-present life force at CCR. A kind, generous, brilliant friend to many of us, she offered unwavering support, strengthened our work and enriched our personal lives. Jenny's passion and dedication to refugee and migrant rights, to accompaniment and advocacy for those facing the injustices of immigration detention, and to the well-being of the Council and our whole community knew no bounds.
We have lost a member of our CCR family, and the country has lost one of its leading experts on migrant detention. Past and future detained migrants and refugees have lost a devoted advocate, and many of them a trusted friend. The loss is immeasurable.
Gentle in her demeanour, but unrelenting in her fight for justice, Jenny spoke truth to power when meeting with government officials and never lost sight of who she was doing it for.
She was the embodiment of leadership through service. She championed refugee leadership in CCR and was devoted to lifting up the voices of people with lived experience - never taking the lead, but first to step up to do the invisible work. The world was simply a better place with Jenny in it.
We know this news is shocking and devastating to so many who have worked with her over decades of our shared history. When details of a service for her are known we will share them.
Jenny was recently on the Refugee Centre’s Point of Entry Podcast, talking about immigration detention and how she came to this work. We are so grateful to have this record of her impressive and impactful career in her own words, and the opportunity to once again hear her beautiful voice:
CCR is in mourning, but we will come back to you with news of how we will honour and celebrate her life and contributions.
We urge everyone to take care of yourselves – to seek comfort in your memories of her infectious smile and positive commitment for a better world, and to find support among the many friends and colleagues who knew and loved her as we did. We will miss Jenny more than we can express, but her light will always shine bright.
Our thoughts are with her cherished family and with all of you.
¡Jenny Presente! Presente! Presente!
Diana Gallego for the CCR Executive and staff team.
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Biographical notes
Jenny Jeanes devoted her life to serving refugee claimants and was a leading expert on immigration detention. A beloved member of the CCR family, she served in various roles in the CCR community for more than two decades. She served as CCR Vice-President for more than three years, and previously as Co-Chair of the Inland Protection Working Group. Jenny worked with Action Réfugiés Montréal, where she coordinated a program to support people detained for immigration reasons. She had been doing this work for over 20 years. Jenny was actively involved with the Table de concertation des organismes au service des personnes réfugiées et immigrantes, Quebec's umbrella organization. She is survived by her husband Colm, her daughters Orla and Olivia and her dog Dusty.