Lucien Rivard
Encyclopedia
Lucien Rivard was a Quebec
criminal known for a sensational prison escape
in 1965.
Rivard had been engaged in robbery
and smuggling drugs since the 1940s. He has been described as a "petty crook" in his early years, but in the 1950s he moved to Cuba
and operated a casino
, and became involved in the heroin business. In 1958 he moved back to Laval, Quebec
, and operated the business "Domaine Idéal" to continue dealing drugs and weapons.
In 1965, Rivard was in a Montreal
prison, but used a water hose to climb a wall and escape. He was missing for four months before being caught and extradited to the United States
. During his absence, he wrote letters to various people, telling the Prime Minister of Canada
Lester B. Pearson
"Life is short, you know. I don't intend to be in jail for the rest of my life."
regarding the government of Canada
during Rivard's escape provoked an investigation, and Attorney General Guy Favreau
left office as a consequence. Favreau had been gaining prestige at the time, and when he left, Prime Minister Pearson sought out new Quebec
MPs to replace him, namely Jean Marchand
, Pierre Trudeau
and Gérard Pelletier
. Trudeau became prime minister in 1968.
The escape inspired the song "The Gallic Pimpernel." In addition, the Canadian Press
voted Rivard the title of Canadian Newsmaker of the Year
for 1965. In 2006, it was announced that the Quebec government would help sponsor a film called Rivard (later released under the title Le piège Américain), to be directed by Charles Binamé
, with Rémy Girard
to play Lucien Rivard.
The escape also inspired "the song "A Government Inquiry" by The Brothers-in-Law
in their album "Oh, Oh Canada" (Arc A636), and comedian Rich Little
to parody Prime Minister Lester Pearson singing "Old Man Rivard"
Quebec
Quebec or is a province in east-central Canada. It is the only Canadian province with a predominantly French-speaking population and the only one whose sole official language is French at the provincial level....
criminal known for a sensational prison escape
Prison escape
A prison escape or prison break is the act of an inmate leaving prison through unofficial or illegal ways. Normally, when this occurs, an effort is made on the part of authorities to recapture them and return them to their original detainers...
in 1965.
Rivard had been engaged in robbery
Robbery
Robbery is the crime of taking or attempting to take something of value by force or threat of force or by putting the victim in fear. At common law, robbery is defined as taking the property of another, with the intent to permanently deprive the person of that property, by means of force or fear....
and smuggling drugs since the 1940s. He has been described as a "petty crook" in his early years, but in the 1950s he moved to Cuba
Cuba
The Republic of Cuba is an island nation in the Caribbean. The nation of Cuba consists of the main island of Cuba, the Isla de la Juventud, and several archipelagos. Havana is the largest city in Cuba and the country's capital. Santiago de Cuba is the second largest city...
and operated a casino
Casino
In modern English, a casino is a facility which houses and accommodates certain types of gambling activities. Casinos are most commonly built near or combined with hotels, restaurants, retail shopping, cruise ships or other tourist attractions...
, and became involved in the heroin business. In 1958 he moved back to Laval, Quebec
Laval, Quebec
Laval is a Canadian city and a region in southwestern Quebec. It is the largest suburb of Montreal, the third largest municipality in the province of Quebec, and the 14th largest city in Canada with a population of 368,709 in 2006...
, and operated the business "Domaine Idéal" to continue dealing drugs and weapons.
In 1965, Rivard was in a Montreal
Montreal
Montreal is a city in Canada. It is the largest city in the province of Quebec, the second-largest city in Canada and the seventh largest in North America...
prison, but used a water hose to climb a wall and escape. He was missing for four months before being caught and extradited to the United States
United States
The United States of America is a federal constitutional republic comprising fifty states and a federal district...
. During his absence, he wrote letters to various people, telling the Prime Minister of Canada
Prime Minister of Canada
The Prime Minister of Canada is the primary minister of the Crown, chairman of the Cabinet, and thus head of government for Canada, charged with advising the Canadian monarch or viceroy on the exercise of the executive powers vested in them by the constitution...
Lester B. Pearson
Lester B. Pearson
Lester Bowles "Mike" Pearson, PC, OM, CC, OBE was a Canadian professor, historian, civil servant, statesman, diplomat, and politician, who won the Nobel Peace Prize in 1957 for organizing the United Nations Emergency Force to resolve the Suez Canal Crisis...
"Life is short, you know. I don't intend to be in jail for the rest of my life."
Aftermath
Allegations of briberyBribery
Bribery, a form of corruption, is an act implying money or gift giving that alters the behavior of the recipient. Bribery constitutes a crime and is defined by Black's Law Dictionary as the offering, giving, receiving, or soliciting of any item of value to influence the actions of an official or...
regarding the government of Canada
Government of Canada
The Government of Canada, formally Her Majesty's Government, is the system whereby the federation of Canada is administered by a common authority; in Canadian English, the term can mean either the collective set of institutions or specifically the Queen-in-Council...
during Rivard's escape provoked an investigation, and Attorney General Guy Favreau
Guy Favreau
Guy Favreau, PC, QC, was a Canadian lawyer, politician and judge.Born in Montreal, Quebec, the son of Léopold Favreau and Béatrice Gagnon, he obtained a Bachelor of Arts and an LL.B. from the Université de Montréal. He was called to the Bar of Quebec in 1940. He worked as a lawyer in Montreal...
left office as a consequence. Favreau had been gaining prestige at the time, and when he left, Prime Minister Pearson sought out new Quebec
Quebec
Quebec or is a province in east-central Canada. It is the only Canadian province with a predominantly French-speaking population and the only one whose sole official language is French at the provincial level....
MPs to replace him, namely Jean Marchand
Jean Marchand
Jean Marchand, PC, CC was a well known French Canadian public figure, trade unionist and politician in Quebec, Canada....
, Pierre Trudeau
Pierre Trudeau
Joseph Philippe Pierre Yves Elliott Trudeau, , usually known as Pierre Trudeau or Pierre Elliott Trudeau, was the 15th Prime Minister of Canada from April 20, 1968 to June 4, 1979, and again from March 3, 1980 to June 30, 1984.Trudeau began his political career campaigning for socialist ideals,...
and Gérard Pelletier
Gérard Pelletier
Gérard Pelletier, PC, CC worked as a journalist for Le Devoir, a French-language newspaper in Montreal, Quebec. In 1961 he became editor-in-chief of the Montreal daily and North America's largest French circulating newspaper, La Presse...
. Trudeau became prime minister in 1968.
The escape inspired the song "The Gallic Pimpernel." In addition, the Canadian Press
Canadian Press
Canadian Press Enterprises Inc. is the entity which "will take over the operations of the Canadian Press" according to a November 26, 2010 article in the Toronto Star...
voted Rivard the title of Canadian Newsmaker of the Year
Canadian Newsmaker of the Year
The Canadian Newsmaker of the Year is a title awarded by the Canadian Press annually since 1946, reflecting the opinion of CP, and, since its formation in 1954, that of Broadcast News, on which Canadian has had the most influence on the news in a given year...
for 1965. In 2006, it was announced that the Quebec government would help sponsor a film called Rivard (later released under the title Le piège Américain), to be directed by Charles Binamé
Charles Binamé
Charles Binamé is a Quebec director. He was born in Belgium and came to Montreal with his family at a young age. In 1971, he began work as an assistant director with the National Film Board of Canada. During the 1980s, he directed commercials in England...
, with Rémy Girard
Rémy Girard
Rémy Girard is a Canadian actor and former television host from Quebec.-Acting career:He played the role of Rémy, the main character, who is dying of terminal cancer, in the Canadian film Les Invasions barbares by director Denys Arcand. This film was awarded the 2003 Academy Award for best...
to play Lucien Rivard.
The escape also inspired "the song "A Government Inquiry" by The Brothers-in-Law
The Brothers-in-Law
The Brothers-in-Law was a Canadian satirical musical group that was active in the 1960s and early 1970s, recording a number of popular record albums and generating occasional controversy....
in their album "Oh, Oh Canada" (Arc A636), and comedian Rich Little
Rich Little
Richard Caruthers "Rich" Little is a Canadian-American impressionist and voice actor. He has long been known throughout the world as a top impersonator of famous people, resulting in his nickname, "The Man of a Thousand Voices"....
to parody Prime Minister Lester Pearson singing "Old Man Rivard"