Quebec construction industry mourns the loss of a prominent figure

Guy Rocher: A Lifetime of Sociological Influence in Quebec

Guy Rocher, a renowned sociologist and intellectual, passed away at the age of 101. His two-volume biography, Guy Rocher - The Sociologist of Quebec, penned by Gildor Roy, is a must-read for those seeking to understand his profound impact on Quebec society.

Throughout his long and illustrious career, Rocher's opinions, rich with decades of reflection, carried a historical weight. Gérard Bouchard, a fellow sociologist and historian, once qualified him as "the most respectable intellectual in Quebec."

Rocher's contributions to Quebec extended beyond academia. He significantly contributed to drafting a law in 1977 and expressed his positions in parliamentary commissions for the secularism bill and the French language bill at the age of 95.

Education was a relentless battle for Rocher. In the 1960s, he accepted the challenge of reviewing Quebec's education system, culminating in the "Parent Report." He co-signed the report and proposed drafting a second one.

Rocher set an inspiring example of scholarship and reflection dedicated to a nation always in motion. Even after retiring in 2021, he continued to follow current events and speak out publicly. He believed there is no expiration date for participating in social and political debates.

The voices of experience and knowledge, such as Rocher's, must be heard. The reader is encouraged to join the dialogue about completing the Parent Report. For more information, one can read the text "A Century of Engagement and Conviction."

Rocher's vast curriculum vitae was employed to shed light on current and future issues. His last year of life before retiring was spent explaining his views on various topics, including education, for almost an hour to his biographer, Gildor Roy.

Rocher was a great university professor who taught thousands of students over six decades. A public event was organized to celebrate his 100th birthday by the Fédération des cégeps and the Université du Québec. The voices of Guy Rocher, a scholar and a sociologist, continue to resonate in the ongoing debates about Quebec's future.