A “René Lévesque” prize will henceforth be awarded by the Government of Quebec to a journalist who has “significantly contributed to increasing the influence of information or greatly enriched the quality of information or the journalistic profession in Quebec”.
Posted at 7:21 p.m.
The Premier of Quebec, François Legault, made the announcement on Monday at the launch of “L’année Lévesque”, a series of events organized to mark the 100e birthday of the founder of the Parti Québécois, a former journalist, columnist and host.
“It will become the highest distinction awarded by the Government of Quebec for a remarkable contribution in the field of journalism. It’s a great way to immortalize René Lévesque’s contribution to Quebec journalism,” said Quebec Premier François Legault at the time.
Party leaders, provincial and federal deputies, former ministers, children of the founder of the Parti Québécois: the political elite of Quebec gathered Monday evening at the Grande Bibliothèque in Montreal to mark the launch of the “Lévesque year”.
A series of speeches by political figures are to be delivered.
After being initially omitted, which caused some controversy, Parti Québécois leader Paul St-Pierre Plamondon was eventually also invited to speak at the ceremony.
no discord
But the atmosphere was not discordant Monday at the Great Library. “Celebrating the 100e A politician’s birthday is celebrated by politicians, and when you put politicians with different opinions, this kind of thing happens,” summed up the leader of the Bloc Québécois, Yves-François Blanchet.
Many pointed out that this was a great opportunity to introduce the younger generation to René Lévesque’s legacy. “When I talk about René-Lévesque with the generations of my parents, my grandparents, I see the sparkles in their eyes. I then take the measure of the importance that this man had in the history of Quebec, ”explained the co-spokesperson of Quebec solidaire, Gabriel Nadeau-Dubois.
Organized by the René Lévesque Foundation, on the occasion of the 100e birthday of the former journalist, columnist, reporter, host, minister and prime minister, “the Lévesque year” provides several events to mark the occasion.
Among them: a tribute will be paid to the 23e Prime Minister of Quebec on National Day; the inauguration, on August 24 (the day of his 100e anniversary), the event “In the footsteps of René Lévesque” in Montreal, the opening of an exhibition at the Musée de la civilization in Quebec City on November 17 and a tribute show to the founder of the Parti Québécois and to the French language, next February in Montreal.