Félix Leclerc (1914-1988)
Félix Leclerc is one of Quebec’s most celebrated singer-songwriters. He wrote many songs including Le petit bonheur and Moi mes souliers, which stirred the imagination of Quebeckers and inspired an entire generation of artists.
First popular in France
Félix Leclerc was first popular in France in the 1950s. He aroused the curiosity of the French with his particular style because he sang alone with just his guitar at a time when large orchestras were the usual style of accompaniment. From 1951 to 1953, he toured France and was a great success. He returned to Montreal in 1953 and was greeted as a hero. He wrote songs, poems, novels, plays and the news until the 1980s. Throughout his career, Felix Leclerc was successful in all French-speaking countries in the world and received many honors and awards for the quality of his work.
Source: Archives de Radio-Canada, Le parcours d’un poète, 8 août 1988
A builder of Quebec culture
Félix Leclerc was one of the most important artists in the history of Quebec. His songs were known throughout the world and inspired generations of French and Quebec artists who wanted to get into the world of song. Even today, every year, the Quebec Association of Music, ADISQ-l’Association québécoise de l’industrie du disque, du spectacle et de la video, presents the Felix Awards, named in honor of Félix Leclerc, to the most deserving Quebec artists.
Maurice Duplessis (1890-1959)
Maurice Duplessis was Premier of Quebec from 1936 to 1939 and from 1944 to 1959. In all, he served as an MP for nine mandates and Premier for five mandates.
His political path
Maurice Duplessis was first elected in 1927 as a Conservative Party MP for Trois-Rivières. He was elected as head of this party in 1933, and in 1935, he created an alliance with the National Liberal Action Party to form a new party known as the Union National Party. He was the leader of the Union National Party and served as Premier of Québec for 20 years.
Conservatism
Maurice Duplessis defended conservative ideas. He promoted political values that were very close to those of the Church. For example, he opposed the right of women to vote. He defended what was known as provincial autonomy, meaning the interests of Quebec to the federal government. Duplessis was also an advocate of economic liberalism, that is to say, he wanted to promote the establishment of businesses in Quebec and he opposed anything that might harm businesses, including workers’ demands and the right to strike.
The “Great Darkness”
Duplessis’ time in power is often referred to as a time of great darkness. This was because he was opposed to new ideas and challenges. For example, in 1937, he passed the Act against communist propaganda which prohibited any group from promoting communist ideas. Unions were also included in this group which he felt made excessive demands. In short, Duplessis tried to eliminate any ideas that were opposed to his. This is why the years of Maurice Duplessis in power are known as the “Great Darkness”.
Accomplishments
Maurice Duplessis made his mark on Quebec through his ideas and accomplishments. Included in his accomplishments were the creation of the Quebec flag in 1948 and the creation of a provincial income tax that allowed the Quebec government to have more revenue. He also began the construction of major hydroelectric dams like the one in Bersimis. In addition, he promoted the electrification of rural areas.
Pierre-Elliott Trudeau (1919-2000)
Pierre Elliott Trudeau first became known journalist and founder of the magazine Cité Libre in 1950. In 1965, he entered politics and was elected as a member of the Liberal Party of Canada. He became Minister of Justice and participated in the reforms implemented by the federal government of the day. In 1968, he became leader of the Liberal Party and was elected Prime Minister of Canada. He is known as the father of the Omnibus Act (1969), which legalized divorce, abortion and homosexuality.
See French video at http://primaire.recitus.qc.ca/sujets/13/personnages-marquants/3967
Opposed to nationalism
Throughout his career as a journalist and politician, Pierre Elliott Trudeau was opposed to all forms of nationalism, especially Quebec nationalism in the 1950s. He believed that nationalism could only lead to abuse and could not provide a solid foundation or reason to build a country.
Accomplishments
As prime minister, Trudeau adopted certain rules which significantly changed Canadian society. In 1969, he first passed the law on official languages which made both French and English the official languages of Canada and which required federal agencies to offer bilingual services throughout the country. In 1982, he led the repatriation of the Canadian Constitution which included the Charter of Rights and Freedoms. This accomplishment was important to Canadians because it symbolized Canada’s independence from the United Kingdom.
Michel Tremblay (1942 – )
My name is Henry and I am a big fan of theatre and literature. I’ve just finished reading The Fat Woman Next Door is Pregnant (La grosse femme à côté est enceinte), a novel by Michel Tremblay published in 1978. I love what he writes. I still remember the night I saw the first play by Michel Tremblay, The Sisters-in-Law (Les belles-sœurs). It was 1968, and the play was a huge success. Some people were shocked because the characters in the play spoke slang and used some rather vulgar language. It was new for the time because Quebeckers were used to classical theatre which French that was similar to that used in Europe.
Source: Archives de Radio-Canada, Débat sur la langue québécoise, 17 octobre 1975
Modern Quebec theatre
Michel Tremblay’s plays and novels marked a turning point in Quebec culture. His work was about Quebeckers, the working class, the reality here. This was very rare before him. He also talked a lot about women and their place in society as well as taboo subjects such as abortion and homosexuality. Since its first appearance in the 1960s, Michel Tremblay’s work has contributed to the development of Quebec culture.
Throughout the world
Last year I was on vacation in Scotland, and I saw the sign of a theatre that had an English version of a play by Michel Tremblay. I learned that Michel Tremblay was very popular around the world. His plays have been translated into many languages including English, Italian, Creole, Yiddish and even Japanese.
René Lévesque (1922-1987)
It was the night of May 20, 1980, and Simon was with his father watching the referendum results on television.
“Dad, who’s René Lévesque?”
René Lévesque is the Premier of Quebec (from 1976 to 1985) and head of the Parti Québécois. René Lévesque is a sovereignist and believes that Quebec should be an independent country. In this way, Quebeckers would be able to make their own decisions about their future. That’s why there’s a referendum tonight. He’s asking Quebeckers for permission to negotiate with Canada to make Quebec independent. I wonder which side is going to win, the YES or the NO? (In the end the NO side won with 60% of the votes)
What did René Lévesque do before becoming Premier of Quebec?
See French video at http://primaire.recitus.qc.ca/sujets/13/personnages-marquants/3966
A long time ago, René Lévesque was a journalist. He first worked in radio during World War II and in television during the Korean War. In 1960, he joined Jean Lesage’s Liberals and became Minister of Natural Resources. Throughout 1962, he worked very hard for the nationalization of electricity, and he was an important architect of the reforms of the Quiet Revolution. In the late 1960s, he began to think that Quebec could not develop its full potential within Canada. He left the Liberal Party to found the Parti Québécois, whose objective is the sovereignty of Quebec. He was elected Premier of Quebec in 1976.
Source: Archives de Radio-Canada, Le Québec se souvient de René Lévesque, 5 novembre 1987.
What did René Lévesque do after he was elected Premier of Quebec?
He made many changes to Quebec society. In 1977, he introduced Bill 101 to protect the French language in Quebec and created the Commission on Health and Safety to protect the health of workers. He also passed a law that regulated the financing of political parties.
Robert Bourassa (1933-1996)
Robert Bourassa (1933-1996)
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My name is Robert Bourassa. I was head of the Liberal Party and Premier of Quebec from 1970 to 1976. This period, following the Quiet Revolution, was full of dramatic and spectacular events such as the October Crisis in October 1970, the common front strike in 1972 and the Olympic games in 1976.
Accomplishments
In order to stimulate the Quebec economy, I put a priority on several hydroelectric projects. I was also active on the social front, pursuing some policies started during the Quiet Revolution. In 1970, my government first established health insurance that provided free access to all health care for all Quebeckers. In 1975, it adopted the Charter of Rights and Freedoms to protect the rights of all Quebeckers.
Pitfalls
I also faced difficult situations during my years as premier. In October 1970, I had to deal with the crisis triggered by the kidnapping of Pierre Laporte and diplomat Richard Cross by the Front de Libération du Québec. Then, throughout the 1970s, I conducted tough negotiations with public sector employees in order to adopt the collective agreements.
Jean Lesage (1912-1980)
My name is Jean Lesage. I led the Quebec Liberal Party from 1958 to 1970 and served as Premier of Quebec from 1960 to 1966.
My path
I studied law at Université Laval, and I practiced it until 1944. In 1945, I was elected as a member of the Liberal Party of Canada, where I worked until 1957. In 1958, I left federal politics to return to Quebec where I was elected head of the Quebec Liberal Party. During the 1960 election, my dream team and I scored an important victory for Quebec. As soon as the election was over, my colleagues, including René Lévesque and Paul Gérin-Lajoie, started to make significant changes to Quebec society.
The Quiet Revolution
The period before the election of my party was marked by Maurice Duplessis’ political and economic conservatism.
When we started to make changes such as the creation of hospital insurance in 1961, the nationalization of electricity in 1962, the right to vote at eighteen in 1963 and the creation of the Ministry of Education in 1964, Quebeckers were thrilled with our government. It was called the “Quiet Revolution”. The period during which my government was in power was known as the “Quiet Revolution” because it led to rapid modernization of Quebec society.
Michel and Simonne Chartrand
Michel and Simonne Chartrand were married, and they influenced Quebec history. Both were socially engaged, and they were active in various organizations for social justice, workers’ rights, women’s rights and peace. They had seven children.
Simonne Monet-Chartrand (1919-1993)
In 1980, Simonne Monet-Chartrand, at 61 years old, was nevertheless still among the most active of Quebec feminists and was about to publish her biography under the title Ma vie comme rivière/? My Life as a River. Simonne Monet-Chartrand had been fighting since 1950. From that time, she had campaigned for women to take part in union negotiations. In the 1960s, she was very active in the feminist movement and participated in the creation of organizations such as Voice of Women and the Women’s Federation of Quebec. In the 1970s, she travelled the world giving lectures on feminism and peace.
Michel Chartrand (1913-2010)
See French video at http://primaire.recitus.qc.ca/sujets/13/personnages-marquants/3970
Simonne’s husband, Michel Chartrand, was 64 years old in 1980, but he was still very active as well. He travelled throughout Quebec promoting social justice, workers’ rights and the protection of the health and safety of workers. Michel Chartrand is one of the most famous figures of Quebec unionism. He began his career in the late 1940s, during a strike by the asbestos workers in the town of Asbestos. He then became involved in politics and the labor movement. He served as President of the Central Council of the National Union of Montreal from 1968 to 1978. For his outspokenness, his determination and energy, Michel Chartrand helped to advance the cause of workers in Quebec.
A remarkable couple
As a couple, the Chartrands certainly influenced modern Quebec with their engagement and dynamism. Michel and Simonne worked hard to achieve greater social justice. In 2000, Alain Chartrand, son of Michael and Simonne, produced Simonne et Chartrand, a television series, to pay tribute to his parents.
Claire Casgrain & Lise Payette
By 1980, women could be members of parliament (MPs), ministers, television hosts or heads of companies. Women’s role in Quebec society had changed a lot since 1905. This change was in large part a result of the feminist movement which helped to change attitudes. The following are some of the women who took steps that helped move women’s liberation forward.
Marie-Claire Kirkland-Casgrain (1924 – 2016 )
Marie-Claire Kirkland-Casgrain, a Montreal lawyer, ran as a candidate for the Quebec Liberal Party in 1961. She won her seat and became the first woman elected to Quebec’s National Assembly. As soon as she took office, she was named as the minister in charge of Law 16, a law granting legal status to married women. Thanks to this law, women were no longer considered minors.
Lise Payette (1931 – 2018)
Lise Payette, television personality and journalist, became well-known between 1960 and 1970 when she hosted the television variety show Appelez-moi Lise show and another show Place aux femmes, which dealt with the concerns of women. She quickly became a symbol for the Quebec feminist movement. In 1976, she was elected as a member of the Parti Québécois and named Minister Responsible for the Status of Women. As soon as she was elected, she insisted that she be addressed as “la ministre” and not “le ministre”, as had been the case for female ministers before her.
A movement
Marie-Claire Kirkland-Casgrain and Lise Payette truly represent the feminist movement between 1960 and 1970. Through their actions and their determination, they were able to assert the role of women in Quebec society by themselves occupying positions and taking on roles traditionally assumed by men. Claims for feminism were made not only by women like them but also by a large number of Quebec women.
Mary Two-Axe Earley (1911-1996)
Born in Kahnawà:ke, QC, Mary Two-Axe Earley was a Kanyen’kehà:ka Clan Mother and political activist who challenged and helped change laws that discriminated against Indigenous women in Canada.
In 1876 an amendment to the Indian Act meant that Indian status was determined by male lineage. This amendment meant that Indigenous women who married non-Indigenous men lost their status and, with it, their land, treaty and property rights.
Mary Two-Axe helped to raise awareness of this issue and the impacts loss of status had on Indigenous communities. In 1974, Mary Two-Axe helped create the Québec Native Women’s Association, and in 1985, after years of hard work, another amendment (Bill C-31) passed, leading to her and many other Indigenous women having their Indian Status reinstated. Indigenous women finally regained rights that they had been previously denied. In honour of her work, she was awarded the Governor General’s Award.
References: Indspire and The Canadian Encyclopedia
