Paul Gérin-Lajoie

Paul Gérin-Lajoie, C.C., G.O.Q., Q.C. (born February 23, 1920) is a Canadian lawyer, philanthropist, and a former member of the National Assembly of Quebec and Cabinet Minister.

Born in Montreal, the son of Henri Gérin-Lajoie and Pauline Dorion, he studied at College Jean-de-Brebeuf, where he was editor of the school paper, the Université de Montréal, and Oxford University as a Rhodes Scholar, where he received a Doctor of Law. He was admitted to the Bar of Quebec in 1943.

He ran unsuccessfully as a Liberal candidate in the riding of Vaudreuil-Soulanges in the 1956 election and in a 1957 by-election.

In 1958, he ran again unsuccessfully for the leader of the Liberal party. He was elected in Vaudreuil-Soulanges in the 1960 election and was re-elected in 1962 and 1966. From 1960 to 1964 he was the Minister of Youth in the cabinet of Jean Lesage and in 1964 became the first person since 1875 to be appointed Minister of Education, serving in that position until 1966. As Minister of Education he was the driving force behind major changes made to Quebec's education system. He did not run for re-election in 1970.

Gérin-Lajoie was president of the Canadian International Development Agency from 1970 to 1977.

He founded the Paul Gérin-Lajoie Foundation, in 1977, an organization that has contributed to the basic education of children in the poorest countries in addition to raising awareness of these international countries among primary school children in Canada.

Honours

In 1979, he was made a Companion of the Order of Canada "in recognition of his distinguished services to his country, chiefly as president of the Canadian International Development Agency from 1970 to 1977, and as deputy premier and minister of education of the Government of Québec from 1960 to 1966". [ [http://www.gg.ca/honours/search-recherche/honours-desc.asp?lang=e&TypeID=orc&id=624 Order of Canada citation] ] In 1987, he was made an Officer of the National Order of Quebec [ [http://www.ordre-national.gouv.qc.ca/recherche_details.asp?id=19 National Order of Quebec citation] ] and was promoted to Grand Officer in 1998. [ [http://www.ordre-national.gouv.qc.ca/recherche_details.asp?id=368 National Order of Quebec citation] ] In 2002, he was made a Knight of the Order of the Legion of Honour by the Government of France. [ [http://canadagazette.gc.ca/partI/2002/20021228/html/house-e.html Canada Gazette entry] ]

References

External links

* [http://www.assnat.qc.ca/FRA/membres/notices/g-i/GERIP.htm Paul GÉRIN-LAJOIE] at Assemblée nationale du Québec fr icon
* [http://www.fondationpgl.ca/fr/accueil.php Fondation Paul Gérin-Lajoie] fr icon