NationMaster - Encyclopedia: Lucien Rivard

Lucien Rivard (b. perhaps 1915^[1], d. February 3, 2002) was a Canadian criminal known for a sensational prison escape in 1965.^[2] U.S. Marshals observing a prisoner transport to prevent escapes Escape from prison via helicopter is seen as a major threat. ... See also: 1964 in Canada, other events of 1965, 1966 in Canada and the Timeline of Canadian history. ...

Rivard had been engaged in robbery and smuggling drugs since the 1940s.^[2] He has been described as a "petty crook"^[3] 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 Ideal to continue dealing drugs and weapons.^[3] This article or section does not adequately cite its references or sources. ... Heroin (INN: diacetylmorphine, BAN: diamorphine) is an opioid synthesized directly from the extracts of the opium poppy, Papaver somniferum. ... Motto: UnitÃ©, progrÃ¨s, grandeur(French) Unity, Progress, Greatness City of Laval Coordinates: Country Canada Province Quebec Founded Established 1965 Government - City Mayor Gilles Vaillancourt (since 1989) Area - City 247. ...

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.^[2] 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."^[4] Nickname: Motto: Concordia Salus (well-being through harmony) Coordinates: , Country Canada Province Quebec Founded 1642 Established 1832 Government - Mayor GÃ©rald Tremblay Area [1][2][3] - City 365. ... Regions Political culture Foreign relations Other countries Atlas Politics Portal The Prime Minister of Canada (French: Premier ministre du Canada), is the Minister of the Crown who is head of the Government of Canada. ... Lester Bowles Pearson, often referred to as Mike, PC, OM, CC, OBE, MA, LL.D. (April 23, 1897 â€“ December 27, 1972) was a Canadian statesman, diplomat and politician who was made a Nobel Laureate in 1957. ...

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.^[2] 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.^[4] Trudeau became prime minister in 1968. Bribery is a crime implying a sum or gift given alters the behaviour of the person in ways not consistent with the duties of that person. ... Bold text The Canada wordmark, used by most agencies of the Canadian federal government. ... The Attorney General of Canada is the top prosecuting officer in Canada. ... The Honourable Guy Favreau, PC , QC , BA , LL.B (May 20, 1917 â€“ July 11, 1967) was a Canadian lawyer, politician and judge. ... , Motto: Je me souviens (French: I remember) Capital Quebec City Largest city Montreal Official languages French Government - Lieutenant-Governor Pierre Duchesne - Premier Jean Charest (PLQ) Federal representation in Canadian Parliament - House seats 75 - Senate seats 24 Confederation July 1, 1867 (1st) Area Ranked 2nd - Total 1,542,056 kmÂ² (595... The Honourable Senator Jean Marchand, PC (December 20, 1918 - August 28, 1988) was a well known French Canadian public figure, trade unionist and politician in Quebec, Canada. ... For other uses, see Pierre Elliott Trudeau (disambiguation). ... GÃ©rard Pelletier, PC, CC (June 21, 1919 - June 22, 1997) worked as a journalist for Le Devoir, a French-language newspaper in Montreal, Quebec. ...

The escape inspired the song "The Gallic Pimpernel."^[3] In addition, the Canadian Press voted Rivard the title of Canadian Newsmaker of the Year for 1965.^[5] In 2006, it was announced that the Quebec government would help sponsor a film called Rivard, to be directed by Charles Biname, with Rémy Girard to play Lucien Rivard.^[6] The Canadian Press (CP) is a Canadian news agency established in 1917 as a vehicle to permit Canadian newspapers of the day to exchange their news and information. ... A Canadian Newsmaker of the Year has been voted every year since 1946 by the Canadian Press. ... Charles BinamÃ© (born 1949 in Herve, Belgium) is a Quebec director. ... RÃ©my Girard (born August 10, 1950 in JonquiÃ¨re, QuÃ©bec, Canada) is a QuÃ©bÃ©cois actor. ...

References

^ Bill Cameron, "Rivard, Lucien," The Canadian Encyclopedia, Year 2000 Edition, Toronto, Ontario: McClelland & Stewart Inc., The Canadian Publishers, 1999, p. 2022.
^ ^a ^b ^c ^d "Man who triggered Pearson scandal dies," Daily Mercury, Guelph, Ontario: February 14, 2002, pg. A.11.
^ ^a ^b ^c Alan Hustak, "Rivard rocked Ottawa: Drug-smuggler and escape artist dies peacefully at 83," The Gazette, Montreal, Quebec: February 14, 2002. pg. A.4.
^ ^a ^b 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.

The embarrassment over the escape of Lucien Rivard lead the Canadian government under Liberal Prime Minister Lester Pearson to promote Canadian Medicare (for all, not only the elderly) to obfuscate the government's problems at the time. The Canadian Encyclopedia is the most authoritative resource on Canada. ... The Globe and Mail is a large English language national newspaper based in Toronto, Canada, and printed in seven cities across Canada. ...