Pierre Sévigny (politician) facts for kids

Joseph Pierre Albert Sévigny was a Canadian soldier, author, politician, and teacher. He was born on September 12, 1917, and passed away on March 20, 2004. Pierre Sévigny served his country in World War II and later became an important figure in Canadian politics. He was also known for his writing and for teaching at a university.

Early Life and Education

Pierre Sévigny was born in Quebec City, Quebec. His father, Albert Sévigny, was a well-known politician who served as the Speaker of the House of Commons of Canada.

Pierre went to Université Laval in Quebec and later studied at Columbia University in the United States. After his studies, he tried acting for a short time. However, he soon returned to Canada. He then worked in real estate, construction, and the import-export business. He also wrote stories for a magazine called The Saturday Evening Post using the pen name Peter Maple.

Serving in World War II

Pierre Sévigny joined the Canadian Army and bravely served during World War II. He was a Lieutenant-colonel in the Royal Canadian Artillery. During the war, he was injured and lost a leg in the Battle of the Rhineland.

For his bravery, he received several important awards. He was given the Virtuti Militari, which is Poland's highest military honor. This was for his actions during the battle at Hill 262 in August 1944. There, he and his Polish allies helped trap about 50,000 German soldiers. He also received the Croix de Guerre from France and the Croix de Guerre from Belgium.

After the war, Pierre Sévigny wrote a book about his experiences called Face à l'ennemi. This book won an award from l'Académie française in 1948. Later, in 1965, he wrote another book titled This Game of Politics.

A Career in Politics

In 1958, Pierre Sévigny was elected to the House of Commons of Canada. He represented the area of Longueuil—Pierre-Boucher. He became the Associate Defence Minister in the government led by John Diefenbaker.

He was re-elected in the 1962 election. However, he was not re-elected in the 1963 election.

Helping with Expo 67

Pierre Sévigny played a key role in bringing Expo 67 to Montreal. Expo 67 was a huge international fair held in 1967 to celebrate Canada's 100th birthday. Prime Minister Diefenbaker mentioned in his memoirs that Pierre Sévigny was one of the first people to suggest that Canada should host this big event. He worked hard to make sure Montreal was chosen as the location for the world's fair.

Later Life and Teaching

In 1967, Pierre Sévigny began teaching business at Concordia University. He continued teaching there for many years, eventually becoming an executive-in-residence in 1982. He retired in 1995 but returned two years later as a visiting assistant professor.

In 1971, he ran for the leadership of a provincial political party in Quebec called the Union Nationale. He also helped start a short-lived political party in Quebec called Les Démocrates in 1978.

In 1994, Pierre Sévigny was recognized for his contributions to Canada. He was made an Officer of the Order of Canada, which is one of the highest honors a Canadian citizen can receive.

Pierre Sévigny passed away in Montreal in 2004, at the age of 86.