|
Front de libération du Québec (FLQ), a revolutionary movement that used propaganda and TERRORISM to promote the emergence of an independent, socialist Québec. The movement was founded in March 1963, when Québec was undergoing a period of remarkable change (industrial expansion, modernization of the state), but it was also stimulated by international factors such as the decolonization of Algeria. Pierre Vallières, the author of the book NÈGRES BLANCS D'AMÉRIQUE, joined the FLQ in 1965 and is generally considered the "philosopher" behind the organization.
In 1963 underground FLQ activists (some of whom were arrested) placed bombs in mailboxes in 3 federal armories and in WESTMOUNT, a wealthy upper-middle-class anglophone area of Montréal. In 1964 another group of FLQ members stole approximately $50 000 in cash and military equipment, and at a holdup at International Firearms the company vice-president was killed by the FLQ and another employee was killed by the police, who mistook him for one of the thieves. From 1965 to 1967, the FLQ associated itself with the activities of striking workers. It was involved in over 200 bombings between 1963 and 1970, and in 1968 it began using larger and more powerful bombs, setting them off at a federal government bookstore, at McGill University, at the residence of Jean DRAPEAU and the provincial Department of Labour, and at the Montreal Stock Exchange, where 27 people were injured. In the fall of 1969, the movement split into 2 distinct cells: the south shore gang (which became the Chenier cell) led by Paul Rose, and the liberation cell, under Jacques Lanctôt. Montréal-based, both cells claimed about 12 members. In the fall of 1970 (see OCTOBER CRISIS), the FLQ kidnapped Pierre LAPORTE and British trade commissioner James Cross. Laporte was later murdered. Under the WAR MEASURES ACT, more than 450 people were arrested, including 150 "suspected" FLQ members. Paul Rose and Francis Simard were eventually sentenced to life imprisonment for the murder of Laporte. Bernard Lortie was convicted of kidnapping Laporte, and Jacques Rose was convicted as an accessory. Of the Cross kidnappers, 5 fled to Cuba and then to France, and eventually returned to Canada. One had remained in Montréal but was arrested in 1980 and sentenced in 1981. The movement ceased activities in 1971.
Author
MARC LAURENDEAU
Links to Other Sites
Last Lunch with Trudeau
Pierre Elliott Trudeau reflects on the October Crisis and related issues in this article by William Tetley, McGill law professor. Click on links on the left side of the page for additional articles about the October Crisis.
The October Crisis: Civil Liberties Suspended
CBC radio and television news stories chronicle the major events of the 1970 October Crisis.
A ‘MERE RUSTLE OF LEAVES’: CANADIAN STRATEGY AND THE 1970 FLQ CRISIS
A detailed account of the events leading up to the deployment of Canadian military forces during the 1970 October Crisis. With photographs of military activity in various locations. From the “Canadian Military Journal.”
The October Crisis
A concise overview of the 1970 October Crisis from Historica's "Peace and Conflict" website.
Review of the XXth century
Highlights of 20th century Québec history from the Government of Québec website.
|
|
|
|
 |
|
| David Thompson was an outsider, struggling to find a foothold in the empire that had consumed his country... |
|
| Pierre Elliott Trudeau, politician, writer, constitutional lawyer, prime minister of Canada 1968-79 and 1980-84 (b at ... |
|
|
| Few countries were affected as severely as Canada by the worldwide Depression of the 1930s. It is estimated that ... |
|
|
| Louis Riel, Métis leader, founder of Manitoba, central figure in the NORTH-WEST REBELLION (b at Red River ... |
|
|
| Few countries were affected as severely as Canada by the worldwide Depression of the 1930s. It is estimated that ... |
|
|
| Evangelical Christian Church, often called the Christian Church (Christian Disciples), is a denomination stemming from ... |
|
|
| The Group of Seven was founded in 1920 as an organization of self-proclaimed modern artists. The original members - ... |
|
|
| Sears Canada Inc, headquartered in Toronto, is a Canadian retailer incorporated in 1952. In 1953 operating under the ... |
|
|
| John Ware, "Nigger John," horseman, rancher (b near Georgetown, SC 1845; d near Brooks, Alta 11 Sept 1905). ... |
|
|
| Land claims are dealt with by a process established by the federal government to enable INDIANS, INUIT and ... |
|
Browse the rich visual resources of The Canadian Encyclopedia through thematic galleries of Canadian Art, History, Nature, People, and Science and Technology.
Illustrations, lively text, animations, sounds and games help make learning about Canadian history, art, geography, architecture and other topics entertaining as well as informative.
The ultimate test of your knowledge of Canada, trivial and otherwise. You can choose from more than 60 dynamic quizzes with visual or text clues. Your scores depend on the speed with which you answer and the number of clues you need. Results are sent to you by email and high scores are posted on the site.
This unique resource includes more than 6000 events from Canadian and world history. It can be searched by era, subject, keyword or date. To find out what happened on your birthday, select the month and day of your birth.
This selection of the 100 "greatest" events in Canadian history was made by editor in chief James H. Marsh to draw attention to events that have left an indelible memory in the minds of later generations.
| THE ENCYCLOPEDIA OF MUSIC IN CANADA |
|
| Rough Trade. Toronto rock band, active 1974-86. It was notorious for the openly sexual nature of its songs and manner of performance. Formed by the songwriters Carole Pope (vocals) and Kevan Staples (guitar), who had been ... |
|
|
