Jonathan Pitre

{{short description|Canadian with a rare genetic mutation called recessive dystrophic epidermolysis bullosa}}

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| birth_date = {{birth date|2000|06|02}}

| birth_place = Russell, Ontario, Canada

| death_date = {{Death date and age|2018|04|04|2000|06|02}}

| death_place = Minneapolis, Minnesota, U.S.

| death_cause = Septic shock

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| known_for = Ambassador for DEBRA Canada

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Jonathan Pitre ({{IPAc-en|ˈ|p|iː|t}}; June 2, 2000 – April 4, 2018) was a Canadian from Russell, Ontario, a small town near Ottawa. Pitre was born with a rare genetic mutation called recessive dystrophic epidermolysis bullosa (RDEB), which causes external and internal blistering across the body. His situation gained widespread attention in October 2012 when he was interviewed by the Ottawa Citizen,{{cite news|url=https://ottawacitizen.com/news/local-news/q-and-a-with-jonathan-pitre|title=Q and A with Jonathan Pitre|last=Duffy|first=Andrew|date=October 21, 2014|publisher=Ottawa Citizen|access-date=April 6, 2018}} and he became an ambassador for DEBRA Canada,{{cite web|url=http://debracanada.org/eb-stories/jonathan-pitre.php|title=Jonathan Pitre - DEBRA|website=debracanada.org|access-date=April 6, 2018|archive-date=March 24, 2018|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20180324052028/http://debracanada.org/eb-stories/jonathan-pitre.php|url-status=dead}} a charity devoted to the support and awareness of EB.{{Cite web |url=http://debracanada.org/debra.php |title=Who is DEBRA Canada? |access-date=2018-04-07 |archive-date=2018-04-08 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20180408065816/http://debracanada.org/debra.php |url-status=dead }} He went to École Secondaire Catholique Embrun (ESCE) where his sister, Noemie, along with teachers and support staff helped spread awareness about his condition.

On November 21, 2014, the Ottawa Senators made him an "honorary scout" on a one-day ceremonial contract.{{Cite news|url=https://ottawacitizen.com/news/local-news/butterfly-child-jonathan-pitre-joins-sens-scouting-staff|title='Butterfly Child' Jonathan Pitre joins Sens scouting staff (with video)|last=Duffy|first=Andrew|date=November 21, 2014|publisher=Ottawa Citizen|access-date=April 19, 2018}} 2015 saw Pitre address a We Day crowd in Ottawa, and attend the NHL Awards in Las Vegas, invited by the Ottawa Senators, his favourite hockey team. A later TSN documentary about him won a Canadian Screen Award.{{cite news|url=https://ottawacitizen.com/news/local-news/tsn-documentary-on-jonathan-pitre-wins-screen-award|title=TSN documentary on Jonathan Pitre wins screen award|last=Duffy|first=Andrew|date=March 9, 2016|publisher=Ottawa Citizen|access-date=April 6, 2018}} In July 2018, the Ontario Ball Hockey Association (OBHA) held a tournament in his honour, with part of the entry fee donated to DEBRA Canada.{{cite web|url=http://ontarioballhockey.ca/index.php?option=com_content&view=article&id=522|title=Ontario Ball Hockey Association|first=Jamie|last=Robillard|website=ontarioballhockey.ca|access-date=April 6, 2018}}

Pitre received a stem cell transplant at the University of Minnesota Masonic Children's Hospital in Minneapolis, Minnesota, on September 8, 2016, using cells taken from the hip of his mother, Tina Boileau.{{Cite news|url=https://nationalpost.com/news/canada/from-mother-to-son-ottawas-butterfly-boy-jonathan-pitre-infused-with-moms-stem-cells|title=From mother to son: Ottawa's 'Butterfly Boy,' Jonathan Pitre, infused with mom's stem cells|work=Postmedia News|publisher=National Post|date=September 8, 2016|access-date=May 12, 2021}} That transplant failed; while waiting for another one he was visited by the Ottawa Senators, who came to his hospital after arriving in the Twin Cities to play the Minnesota Wild in an NHL game.{{Cite news|url=https://nationalpost.com/sports/hockey/nhl/ottawa-senators-take-detour-on-road-trip-surprise-butterfly-boy-jonathan-pitre-days-before-stem-cell-transplant|title=Ottawa Senators take detour on road trip, surprise 'Butterfly Boy' Jonathan Pitre days before stem cell transplant|date=March 29, 2017|work=Postmedia News|publisher=National Post|access-date=May 12, 2021}}

Pitre died of complications from septic shock on April 4, 2018, in Minneapolis.A{{Cite news|url=https://nationalpost.com/news/local-news/i-cant-imagine-my-life-without-him-says-tina-boileau-after-the-death-of-son-jonathan-pitre/wcm/645f5dc6-2b00-4f86-9b66-7ec3ab4557e9|title='I can't imagine my life without him': 'Butterfly Boy' Jonathan Pitre dies aged 17|last=Duffy|first=Andrew|date=April 6, 2018|publisher=National Post|access-date=May 12, 2021}} An outpouring of support was received from Prime Minister Justin Trudeau, Ontario Premier Kathleen Wynne, Mayor of Ottawa Jim Watson, the Ottawa Senators, and many others.{{cite news|url=https://ottawacitizen.com/news/local-news/the-world-reacts-to-the-passing-of-jonathan-pitre|title=UPDATED: The world reacts to the passing of Jonathan Pitre|last=Gillis|first=Megan|date=April 6, 2018|publisher=Ottawa Citizen|access-date=April 6, 2018}} The Ottawa Senators development camp named an award in his honour called the Jonathan Pitre Award, which is given out to the hardest-working players in the camp.{{cite news|url=https://ottawacitizen.com/sports/hockey/nhl/ottawa-senators/jonathan-pitres-name-lives-on-at-ottawa-senators-development-camp/wcm/756e4d63-af9f-4dd1-8b12-d0981a3bc8b1|title=Senator forever: Jonathan Pitre's name lives on at development camp|last=Warren|first=Ken|date=July 2, 2018|publisher=Ottawa Citizen|access-date=September 19, 2018}}

Jonathan Pitre Catholic Elementary School is named after him and opened its doors in Riverside South, Ontario in September 2020.{{Cite news|url=https://ottawa.ctvnews.ca/school-in-riverside-south-to-be-named-after-jonathan-pitre-1.4827986|title=School in Riverside South to be named after Jonathan Pitre|last=Raymond|first=Ted|date=February 26, 2020|publisher=CTV Ottawa|access-date=May 12, 2021}}

On December 7, 2020, the municipal council of Russell, Ontario approved to name an upcoming accessible park in honour of Jonathan Pitre, scheduled for completion in Fall 2021.{{cite news|url=https://www.russell.ca/en/your-township/jonathan-pitre-accessible-park.aspx|title=Jonathan Pitre Accessible Park|website=russell.ca|access-date=August 10, 2021}} On August 10, 2021, Francis Drouin announced that the federal government would be funding 70% of the park's construction costs.https://m.facebook.com/story.php?story_fbid=4222269194519685&id=786049671475005 {{User-generated source|certain=yes|date=March 2022}}