Fifteen of them were in the running for the title of “Toulouse Resident of the Year 2024”. The readers of La Dépêche elected the Professor of Anthropobiology at the Paul Sabatier University of Toulouse, Eric Crubézy, who received his title last night during the Talents evening organized by the Toulouse City Hall at the Chapelle de la Grave.
The year 2024 ended with the reopening of Notre-Dame de Paris. An event that will have left its mark on all of France, but certainly also on the residents of the pink city. In particular, one of them, Eric Crubézy, who was crowned last night “Toulouse of the Year 2024” for his research on the identity of the skeleton found in 2022 in a sarcophagus, under the transept window of the cathedral.
On Thursday evening, as part of the “Talent Evening” organized by the Toulouse City Hall, he received this award from the hands of Jean-Nicolas Baylet, general director of the Dépêche group, and Jean-Luc Moudenc, who dedicates several months of work to him as professor of paleoanthropology at the Paul -Sabatier University.
An “unsolved case” that allowed him to travel back in time and carry out a real investigation to find out who was behind this unknown person from the 16th century, a thirty-year-old horseman suffering from chronic tuberculous meningitis. By cross-referencing the archives and sifting through the remains in the lead coffin, the archaeologist and doctor at the head of the Laboratory of Molecular Anthropology and Synthetic Imaging in Toulouse gave the mysterious remains a name: that of the famous poet Joachim du Bellay.
Meticulous research, which he traces step by step in the recently published book “Le Cavalier de Notre-Dame”. A glimpse into the heart of excavations and forensic methods, but also a glimpse into the literature and politics of the time. Although this discovery attracted international attention, it is not the only one to be credited to the scientist who knows how to make DNA speak. He is also the one who identified the Count of the year 1000, who can be seen in the main sarcophagus in the tomb of the Porte des Comtes of the Basilica of Saint-Sernin. The revelation of a secret of the Pink City makes this northern man the most Dunkirk of the Occitans.
“I am very touched, I accept this award in a very humble way. Everyone lives in their own bubble, this award allows us to showcase exceptional people. For me it is important to be by her side tonight,” emphasized the winner, Eric Crubézy.
Tribute to the other nominees
The man of science was followed by the young and promising Juliette Mey, a lyrical revelation at the Victoires de la Musique Classique last year, who has already given a concert with the soprano Natalie Dessay. On the third step of the podium, celebrated by the vote of the readers of La Dépêche, Anaïs Barbeau, aka “The Blogger on Wheels” on social networks. A year ago, as a member of the APF (France Handicap) association, the young woman stood up to a large brand that wanted to charge disabled people for access to a priority terminal.
“We are going through difficult times, you are the voice and we are the echo. It is very important to highlight this, to tell these stories, it is part of our DNA,” he assured Jean-Nicolas Baylet.
At the end of last year, La Dépêche selected fifteen residents of Toulouse with very different profiles, from the world of culture, sport or even science, from ordinary citizens to more famous figures of the city. “In Toulouse we are very lucky, very successful. We have these talents to thank for that. The successes of the people of Toulouse are becoming more and more numerous, that is a positive message and hope,” concluded the mayor of the Pink City.
Pierre Debuisson, Toulouse resident of the year 2023
The embattled lawyer who forced giant Nestlé to bend to obtain redress for Buitoni’s victims was the winner of Toulouse in 2023. Pierre Debuisson had collected almost 30% of the vote. He distinguished himself in the fight against bullying at school. In 2024, he continued his struggles by defending a child burned by soda in a playground in Toulouse.