Sarto Fournier facts for kids
Quick facts for kids
Sarto Fournier
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| 38th Mayor of Montreal | |
| In office 1957–1960 |
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| Preceded by | Jean Drapeau |
| Succeeded by | Jean Drapeau |
| Member of the Canadian Parliament for Maisonneuve—Rosemont |
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| In office 1935–1953 |
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| Preceded by | riding created |
| Succeeded by | Jean-Paul Deschatelets |
| Senator for De Lanaudière, Quebec | |
| In office 1953–1980 |
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| Appointed by | Louis St. Laurent |
| Preceded by | Édouard-Charles St-Père |
| Succeeded by | Thomas Lefebvre |
| Personal details | |
| Born | 15 February 1908 East Broughton, Quebec, Canada |
| Died | 23 July 1980 (aged 72) Ottawa, Ontario, Canada |
| Political party | Liberal (federal) Ralliment du Grand Montréal (municipal) |
| Spouses | Elizabeth Lamoureux (m. 17 September 1938) |
| Profession | lawyer |
Sarto Fournier (February 15, 1908 – July 23, 1980) was an important Canadian politician. He is best known for being the mayor of Montreal from 1957 to 1960.
Contents
Early Life and Education
Sarto Fournier was born in East Broughton, Quebec, on February 15, 1908. His family had roots in both Quebec and Italy. He studied law at McGill University and the Université de Montréal. In 1938, he officially became a lawyer.
Political Career
Sarto Fournier started his political journey at a young age.
Member of Parliament
In 1935, when he was just 27, he was elected to the House of Commons of Canada. This is where elected representatives work on national laws. He was a member of the Liberal Party of Canada. He represented the area of Maisonneuve-Rosemont. Voters chose him again in 1940, 1945, and 1949.
Senator
In 1953, Prime Minister Louis Saint-Laurent asked him to join the Senate of Canada. The Senate is another part of Canada's Parliament. Senators are appointed, not elected, and they review laws. Sarto Fournier was the youngest person to become a Senator at that time. He served in the Senate until he passed away in 1980.
Mayor of Montreal
Sarto Fournier was very interested in local city politics. He tried to become the mayor of Montreal five times between 1950 and 1962.
Winning the Mayoral Election
He finally won the election for mayor in 1957. He ran against Jean Drapeau, who was a very popular politician. Fournier led a new local political group called the Ralliement du Grand Montréal (Greater Montreal Movement). This group brought together people who did not support Drapeau. He also had help from Quebec's Premier, Maurice Duplessis.
During His Term
As mayor, Fournier focused on representing the city. However, Jean Drapeau's political group, the Civic Action League, still had more members on the city council. This meant Drapeau's group had a lot of power. Because of this, Fournier mostly acted as a spectator, watching things happen.
Key Events as Mayor
Even though his time as mayor was short, some important things happened. The Saint Lawrence Seaway opened, which is a big system of canals and locks for ships. The Boulevard Métropolitain, a major road, also opened. Montreal also put in its bid to host the 1967 World's Fair, known as Expo 67. This was a huge international event.
After the Mayoral Term
In 1960, Jean Drapeau ran against Fournier again, this time with a new party called the Civic Party of Montreal. Drapeau won the election, and Fournier was not re-elected. After this, Fournier decided to go back to serving in the Senate.
