André Laurendeau
A Quebec intellectual and journalist whose quest to define Canadian duality shaped the nation's modern conversation on language and identity.
1912–1968 (age 56)·Canadian politician·Birthday: March 21·The Greatest Generation
Biography
André Laurendeau was the thoughtful conscience of Quebec during a period of profound change. Editor of the influential newspaper *Le Devoir* in the 1950s and 60s, his pen carried the weight of Quebec's quiet revolution, advocating for secularism and national self-determination with reasoned eloquence. His most enduring national impact came when he accepted co-chairmanship of the Royal Commission on Bilingualism and Biculturalism alongside Davidson Dunton. For Laurendeau, this was not a bureaucratic task but a moral mission to bridge the 'two solitudes.' The commission's work, infused with his intellectual rigor, led to the Official Languages Act and permanently altered Canada's legal and cultural landscape, framing bilingualism as a fundamental characteristic of the state. He was, until his early death, a playwright and a figure who embodied the tension between Quebec nationalism and a viable Canadian federation.
The Greatest Generation
1901–1927
Grew up during the Depression, fought World War II, and built the postwar economic boom. Defined by shared sacrifice, institutional trust, and a belief that hard work and loyalty would be rewarded.
André was born in 1912, placing them squarely in The Greatest Generation. The events that shaped this generation — world wars, depression, and rapid industrialization — shaped the world they entered and the choices available to them.
#1 When André Was Born
The biggest hits of 1912
André's Life & Times
The world at every milestone
1912Born
Titanic sinks on its maiden voyage
President: William Howard Taft
1917Started school
Russian Revolution overthrows the tsar; US enters WWI
President: Woodrow Wilson
1925Became a teenager
The Scopes Trial debates evolution in schools
Home: $4,366President: Calvin Coolidge"Sweet Georgia Brown" — Ben Bernie
1928Could drive
Alexander Fleming discovers penicillin; Mickey Mouse debuts
President: Calvin Coolidge"Ol' Man River" — Paul WhitemanBest Picture: Wings
1930Could vote
Pluto discovered
Gas: $0.20/galHome: $3,510President: Herbert Hoover"Body and Soul" — Paul WhitemanBest Picture: All Quiet on the Western Front
1933Turned 21
FDR's New Deal launches; Prohibition ends
Gas: $0.18/galPresident: Franklin D. Roosevelt"Stormy Weather" — Ethel WatersBest Picture: Cavalcade
1942Turned 30
Battle of Midway turns the tide in the Pacific
Gas: $0.20/galHome: $3,175Min wage: $0.30/hrPresident: Franklin D. Roosevelt"White Christmas" — Bing CrosbyBest Picture: Mrs. Miniver
1952Turned 40
Queen Elizabeth II ascends the throne
Gas: $0.27/galHome: $8,350Min wage: $0.75/hrPresident: Harry S. Truman"Blue Tango" — Leroy AndersonBest Picture: The Greatest Show on Earth
1962Turned 50
Cuban Missile Crisis brings the world to the brink
Gas: $0.31/galHome: $12,800Min wage: $1.15/hrPresident: John F. Kennedy"Stranger on the Shore" — Acker BilkBest Picture: Lawrence of Arabia
1968Died at 56
Martin Luther King Jr. and Robert Kennedy assassinated
Gas: $0.34/galHome: $14,950Min wage: $1.60/hrPresident: Lyndon B. Johnson"Hey Jude" — The BeatlesBest Picture: Oliver!
Key Achievements
- Co-chaired the landmark Royal Commission on Bilingualism and Biculturalism (1963-1971), which led to Canada's Official Languages Act.
- Served as editor-in-chief of Montreal's prestigious French-language newspaper *Le Devoir* from 1958 to 1968.
- Elected as a Quebec MLA for the Bloc Populaire Canadien in 1944, advocating for provincial autonomy.
- Authored several plays and essays that explored Québécois identity and social issues.
Did You Know?
He was the son of journalist and nationalist Arthur Laurendeau.
He initially opposed conscription during World War II, a stance that launched his political career.
He was a contemporary and sometime critic of future Prime Minister Pierre Trudeau.
The commission's preliminary report famously warned that Canada was passing through the greatest crisis in its history.
“We are living in a country that is not defined, and perhaps cannot be defined.”
