Gilles Lamontagne

Joseph Georges Gilles Claude Lamontagne (; April 17, 1919 – June 14, 2016) was a Canadian politician who held a number of offices both in Quebec and federally. A Liberal, he was Mayor of Quebec City (1965–1977), Postmaster General of Canada (1978–1979), Minister of National Defence (1980–1983) and the 24th Lieutenant Governor of Quebec (1984–1990).

Early life He was born in Montreal. During World War II, Lamontagne served as a bomber pilot in the Royal Canadian Air Force with 425 Squadron and was shot down over the Netherlands in 1943, being detained as a prisoner of war until May 1945. He ended his air force service with the rank of flight lieutenant. In 1946, he settled in Quebec City and entered the importing business. He became a member of the Rotary Club of Quebec City with his partner and neighbour Jean Poliquin.

Career He entered politics and was elected mayor of Quebec City in 1965. He held that post until he won a seat in the House of Commons of Canada as a Liberal Party candidate in a 1977 by-election. In 1978, he entered the Cabinet of Prime Minister Pierre Trudeau, serving briefly as a Minister without Portfolio before becoming Postmaster General. He served in that position until the defeat of the government in the 1979 election. When the Liberals returned to power in the 1980 election, Lamontagne returned to Cabinet as Minister of National Defence.

Lieutenant-Governor of Quebec (1984–90) In 1984, he left politics to accept the position of Lieutenant-Governor of Quebec, and served as the province's viceroy until his retirement in 1990.

Personal life Lamontagne married Mary Schaefer in 1949 and had four children and five grandchildren. Schaefer died in 2006. Lamontagne died in 2016 at the age of 97. In 1990, he was made an Officer of the Order of Canada. In 2000, he was made a Knight of the National Order of Quebec and in 2005, a member of l'Ordre des Grands Québécois. He was an honorary member of the Royal Military College of Canada club student # H15200.

Arms

Archives There is a Gilles Lamonagne fonds at Library and Archives Canada and the Quebec City archives.