Camillien Houde
A defiant Montreal mayor whose opposition to wartime conscription led to his internment, cementing his status as a controversial and populist figure.
1889–1958 (age 69)·Canadian politician·Birthday: August 13·The Lost Generation
Biography
Camillien Houde was a political force of nature in Quebec, a man whose career was defined by his deep connection to Montreal's working-class francophones. He served as mayor for four non-consecutive terms, his tenure a rollercoaster of public adoration and fierce controversy. His political journey was remarkably broad, touching municipal, provincial, and federal levels, a rare feat in Canadian politics. The defining moment came in 1940 when, during a public address, he urged men to ignore national registration for potential conscription, viewing it as a betrayal of Quebec. This act of defiance led to his immediate arrest and internment without trial for nearly four years under the War Measures Act. Upon his release in 1944, he was greeted as a hero by many in his city and promptly re-elected mayor, his story embodying the fierce tensions between national unity and Quebec identity during the war years.
The Lost Generation
1883–1900
Came of age during World War I. Disillusioned by the carnage, they rejected the certainties of the Victorian era and built modernism from the wreckage — in art, literature, and politics.
Camillien was born in 1889, placing them squarely in The Lost 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 Camillien Was Born
The biggest hits of 1889
Camillien's Life & Times
The world at every milestone
1889Born
Eiffel Tower opens in Paris
President: Benjamin Harrison
1894Started school
President: Grover Cleveland
1902Became a teenager
The eruption of Mount Pelee kills 30,000 in Martinique
President: Theodore Roosevelt
1905Could drive
Einstein publishes the theory of special relativity
President: Theodore Roosevelt
1907Could vote
Financial panic grips Wall Street
President: Theodore Roosevelt
1910Turned 21
Halley's Comet makes its closest approach
President: William Howard Taft
1919Turned 30
Treaty of Versailles signed; Prohibition ratified
President: Woodrow Wilson
1929Turned 40
Wall Street crashes, triggering the Great Depression
Gas: $0.21/galPresident: Herbert Hoover"Singin' in the Rain" — Cliff EdwardsBest Picture: The Broadway Melody
1939Turned 50
World War II begins; The Wizard of Oz premieres
Gas: $0.19/galMin wage: $0.30/hrPresident: Franklin D. Roosevelt"Over the Rainbow" — Judy GarlandBest Picture: Gone with the Wind
1949Turned 60
NATO founded; Mao proclaims the People's Republic of China
Gas: $0.27/galHome: $7,450Min wage: $0.40/hrPresident: Harry S. Truman"Riders in the Sky" — Vaughn MonroeBest Picture: All the King's Men
1958Died at 69
NASA founded
Gas: $0.31/galHome: $11,050Min wage: $1.00/hrPresident: Dwight D. Eisenhower"Volare" — Domenico ModugnoBest Picture: Gigi
Key Achievements
- Served four separate terms as the Mayor of Montreal, a record of resilience in the city's political history.
- Was one of the very few Canadian politicians to hold office at the municipal, provincial, and federal levels.
- Elected as a Member of Parliament for the Papineau riding in the House of Commons.
- Was interned for almost four years during World War II for publicly campaigning against national registration for conscription.
Did You Know?
The Camillien-Houde Parkway on Mount Royal in Montreal is named in his honor.
He worked as a bank clerk and a sales representative before entering politics.
His internment camp was in Petawawa, Ontario, and later in a camp in New Brunswick.
He was known for his flamboyant personality and was often called 'le p'tit gars de Sainte-Marie' (the little guy from Sainte-Marie).
“I am the mayor of all Montrealers, and I will always defend their interests.”
