Gérald Beaudoin facts for kids

Gérald A. Beaudoin was an important Canadian lawyer and politician. He was born on April 15, 1929, in Montreal, Quebec. He passed away on September 10, 2008. Mr. Beaudoin is best known for serving as a Senator for many years.

Early Life and Education

Gérald Beaudoin grew up in Montreal, Quebec. He was a very dedicated student. He attended the Université de Montréal where he studied law. After finishing his studies, he became a lawyer in Quebec in 1954. This meant he could practice law and help people with legal issues.

A Career in Politics

In 1988, Gérald Beaudoin was chosen to be a Senator in Canada. The Senate is a part of Canada's Parliament. Senators review and approve new laws. He represented the area of Rigaud, Quebec.

He served in the Senate for 16 years. He was first a member of the Progressive Conservative Party. Later, he joined the Conservative Party. He retired from the Senate in 2004 when he turned 75 years old.

Teaching and Law

After his time in politics, Gérald Beaudoin continued to share his knowledge. He taught about constitutional law at the University of Ottawa. Constitutional law is about the main rules and laws that govern a country, like Canada's Constitution. He taught students about how Canada's legal system works.

Important Awards and Honours

Gérald Beaudoin received many special awards for his work and contributions. These awards showed how much he was respected.

• In 1980, he became an Officer of the Order of Canada. This is one of Canada's highest honours.
• In 2001, he was made a Commander of the Order of the Crown from Belgium.
• In 2004, he received the Legion of Honour from France. This is a very prestigious French award.
• In 2008, he was made an Officer of the National Order of Quebec. This is a high honour from his home province.