Lucien Rivard

Lucien Rivard (June 16, 1914 – February 3, 2002) was a Quebec criminal known for a sensational prison escape in 1965.^[1]

Rivard had been engaged in robbery and smuggling drugs since the 1940s.^[1] He has been described as a "petty crook"^[2] in his early years, but in the 1950s he moved to Cuba and operated a casino, and became involved in the heroin business. In 1958 he moved back to Laval, Quebec, and operated the business "Domaine Idéal" to continue dealing drugs and weapons.^[2]

In 1965, Rivard was in a Montreal prison, but used a water hose to climb a wall and escape. He was missing for four months before being caught and extradited to the United States.^[1] During his absence, he wrote letters to various people, telling the Prime Minister of Canada Lester B. Pearson "Life is short, you know. I don't intend to be in jail for the rest of my life."^[3]

Aftermath

Allegations of bribery regarding the government of Canada during Rivard's escape provoked an investigation, and Attorney General Guy Favreau left office as a consequence.^[1] Favreau had been gaining prestige at the time, and when he left, Prime Minister Pearson sought out new Quebec MPs to replace him, namely Jean Marchand, Pierre Trudeau and Gérard Pelletier.^[3] Trudeau became prime minister in 1968.

The escape inspired the song "The Gallic Pimpernel."^[2] In addition, the Canadian Press voted Rivard the Canadian Newsmaker of the Year for 1965 - the first time a convicted criminal had been given that title.^[4] In 2006, it was announced that the Quebec government would help sponsor a film called Rivard (later released under the title Le piège Américain), to be directed by Charles Binamé, with Rémy Girard to play Lucien Rivard.^[5]

The escape also inspired "the song "A Government Inquiry" by The_Brothers-in-Law in their album "Oh, Oh Canada" (Arc A636), and comedian Rich Little to parody Prime Minister Lester Pearson singing "Old Man Rivard"

References

1 2 3 4 "Man who triggered Pearson scandal dies," Daily Mercury, Guelph, Ontario: February 14, 2002, pg. A.11.
1 2 3 Alan Hustak, "Rivard rocked Ottawa: Drug-smuggler and escape artist dies peacefully at 83," The Gazette, Montreal, Quebec: February 14, 2002. pg. A.4.
1 2 Tu Thanh Ha, "Montreal mobster nearly sank Liberals," The Globe and Mail, Toronto, Ontario: February 14, 2002. pg. A.3.
↑ "Newsmakers since 1946," Trail Times, Trail, B.C.: December 27, 2001. pg. 13.
↑ "Six Quebec films get green light," The Gazette, Montreal, Quebec: December 3, 2006. pg. A.29.

Canadian Newsmaker of the Year

Igor Gouzenko 1946 Barbara Ann Scott 1947 William Lyon Mackenzie King 1948 Louis St. Laurent 1949 Lester B. Pearson 1950–1953 Marilyn Bell 1954 Lester B. Pearson 1955–1956 John Diefenbaker 1957–1960 Joey Smallwood 1959 James Coyne 1961 Réal Caouette 1962 Lester B. Pearson 1963–1964 Lucien Rivard 1965 John Diefenbaker 1966 Lester B. Pearson 1967 Pierre Trudeau 1968–1975 René Lévesque 1976–1977 Pierre Trudeau 1978 Joe Clark 1979 Terry Fox 1980–1981 Wayne Gretzky 1982 Brian Mulroney 1983–1984 Steve Fonyo 1985 Rick Hansen 1986–1987 Ben Johnson 1988 Michael Wilson 1989 Elijah Harper 1990 Brian Mulroney 1991 The referendum on the Charlottetown Accord 1992 Kim Campbell 1993 Jacques Parizeau 1994 Lucien Bouchard 1995 Donovan Bailey 1996 Sheldon Kennedy 1997 Jean Chrétien 1998 Pierre Trudeau 1999, as Newsmaker of the 20th Century Pierre Trudeau 2000 Stockwell Day 2001 Jean Chrétien 2002 Paul Martin 2003–2004 John Gomery 2005 The Canadian Soldier 2006 RCMP 2007 Stephen Harper 2008–2009 Russell Williams 2010 Jack Layton 2011 Luka Magnotta 2012 Rob Ford 2013 Patrice Vincent and Nathan Cirillo 2014 Justin Trudeau 2015

Book:Canadian Newsmakers of the Year Portal:History of Canada

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