Georges-Henri Lévesque
Encyclopedia
Georges-Henri Lévesque, (February 16, 1903 – January 15, 2000) was a Canadian
Dominican
priest and sociologist
.
Born in Roberval, Quebec
, the son of Georges Lévesque and Laura Richard, he was ordained into the priesthood in 1928. He studied philosophy and theology at the Dominican College
in Ottawa (Canada) and social sciences at the School of Social sciences of the Université Catholique de Lille
(France).
He was a professor at the faculty of Social sciences of Université de Montréal
from 1935 until 1938 and a professor of social philosophy at Laval University
from 1936 until 1962.
In 1938, he founded the School of Social, Political and Economic Sciences of Laval University and was its first director from 1938 until 1943. The School became the Faculty of Social Sciences in 1943, and he was its first dean, from 1943 until 1955.
He founded the Quebec Superior Council of Cooperation and was its first president, from 1939 until 1944. He founded the periodical Ensemble! and was its director, from 1939 until 1944.
He was member of the Royal Commission on National Development in the Arts, Letters and Sciences
in Canada (1949–1951).
He was vice-president of the Canada Council for the Arts
(1957–1962).
In 1963, he founded the National University of Rwanda
and he was its first President, from 1963 until 1971.
He represented Canada at several international events.
Canada
Canada is a North American country consisting of ten provinces and three territories. Located in the northern part of the continent, it extends from the Atlantic Ocean in the east to the Pacific Ocean in the west, and northward into the Arctic Ocean...
Dominican
Dominican Order
The Order of Preachers , after the 15th century more commonly known as the Dominican Order or Dominicans, is a Catholic religious order founded by Saint Dominic and approved by Pope Honorius III on 22 December 1216 in France...
priest and sociologist
Sociology
Sociology is the study of society. It is a social science—a term with which it is sometimes synonymous—which uses various methods of empirical investigation and critical analysis to develop a body of knowledge about human social activity...
.
Born in Roberval, Quebec
Roberval, Quebec
Roberval is a city on the south-western shore of Lac Saint-Jean in the Le Domaine-du-Roy Regional County Municipality of Quebec, Canada. With a population of 10,544 in the Canada 2006 Census, it is the third largest city on this lake after Alma and Dolbeau-Mistassini.It is the seat of the...
, the son of Georges Lévesque and Laura Richard, he was ordained into the priesthood in 1928. He studied philosophy and theology at the Dominican College
Dominican University College
The Dominican University College is a bilingual Roman Catholic university in Ottawa, Ontario, offering civil and pontifical bachelor's, master's, and doctoral degrees in philosophy and theology...
in Ottawa (Canada) and social sciences at the School of Social sciences of the Université Catholique de Lille
Université Catholique de Lille
Lille Catholic University is a private Catholic university located in Lille, France.-Institutional history:The university was founded in 1875...
(France).
He was a professor at the faculty of Social sciences of Université de Montréal
Université de Montréal
The Université de Montréal is a public francophone research university in Montreal, Quebec, Canada. It comprises thirteen faculties, more than sixty departments and two affiliated schools: the École Polytechnique and HEC Montréal...
from 1935 until 1938 and a professor of social philosophy at Laval University
Université Laval
Laval University is the oldest centre of education in Canada and was the first institution in North America to offer higher education in French...
from 1936 until 1962.
In 1938, he founded the School of Social, Political and Economic Sciences of Laval University and was its first director from 1938 until 1943. The School became the Faculty of Social Sciences in 1943, and he was its first dean, from 1943 until 1955.
He founded the Quebec Superior Council of Cooperation and was its first president, from 1939 until 1944. He founded the periodical Ensemble! and was its director, from 1939 until 1944.
He was member of the Royal Commission on National Development in the Arts, Letters and Sciences
Royal Commission on National Development in the Arts, Letters and Sciences
The Royal Commission on National Development in the Arts, Letters and Sciences, otherwise known as the Massey–Lévesque Commission, chaired by Vincent Massey, examined Canada's cultural sovereignty from the United States and various other nations. The report released its findings in 1951 when it...
in Canada (1949–1951).
He was vice-president of the Canada Council for the Arts
Canada Council
The Canada Council for the Arts, commonly called the Canada Council, is a Crown Corporation established in 1957 to act as an arts council of the government of Canada, created to foster and promote the study and enjoyment of, and the production of works in, the arts. It funds Canadian artists and...
(1957–1962).
In 1963, he founded the National University of Rwanda
National University of Rwanda
The National University of Rwanda is the largest university in Rwanda. It is located at in the city of Butare and was established in 1963 by the government in cooperation with the Congregation of the Dominicans from the Province of Quebec.When it was established, the NUR had three divisions The...
and he was its first President, from 1963 until 1971.
He represented Canada at several international events.
Honours
- He was the 1983 recipient of the Pearson Medal of PeacePearson Medal of PeaceThe Pearson Medal of Peace is an award given out annually by the United Nations Association in Canada to recognize an individual Canadian's "contribution to international service". Nominations are made by any Canadian for any Canadian, excluding self-nominations. The award is named in honour of...
for his work in peacekeepingPeacekeepingPeacekeeping is an activity that aims to create the conditions for lasting peace. It is distinguished from both peacebuilding and peacemaking....
. - In 1967 he was made an Officer of the Order of CanadaOrder of CanadaThe Order of Canada is a Canadian national order, admission into which is, within the system of orders, decorations, and medals of Canada, the second highest honour for merit...
and was promoted to Companion in 1979. - In 1985 he was made an Officer of the National Order of QuebecNational Order of QuebecThe National Order of Quebec, termed officially in French as l'Ordre national du Québec, and in English abbreviation as the Order of Quebec, is a civilian honour for merit in the Canadian province of Quebec...
. - He received honorary doctorates from fourteen universities.
- A sculpted bustBust (sculpture)A bust is a sculpted or cast representation of the upper part of the human figure, depicting a person's head and neck, as well as a variable portion of the chest and shoulders. The piece is normally supported by a plinth. These forms recreate the likeness of an individual...
of him was made on the grounds of Laval University in 2002
External links
- Pearson Medal of Peace - Georges-Henri Lévesque
- Georges-Henri Lévesque at The Canadian EncyclopediaThe Canadian EncyclopediaThe Canadian Encyclopedia is a source of information on Canada. It is available online, at no cost. The Canadian Encyclopedia is available in both English and French and includes some 14,000 articles in each language on a wide variety of subjects including history, popular culture, events, people,...