Laval University is in mourning. Denis Brière, who was its rector for 10 years, died on Friday, we learned today.
• Read also: Laval University: Indigenous graduates celebrated
Mr. Brière, who was 76 years old, was hospitalized at the IUCPQ.
He served as rector of the university from 2007 to 2017.
“He was a tenacious person. When he had ideas, he worked them to the end. People may like it, sometimes it doesn’t. He was focused on results and got a lot of them,” said former provincial minister Sam Hamad, who learned the “very sad news” two days ago.
“He was efficient and gave his all. He served his university. His tenacity for the Super Peps helped move on and settle the case. It was $100 million and it was done without cost overruns,” Hamad added.
The former politician also reported on the institution’s seventh major fundraising campaign, which ended in May 2017 and raised $530 million, well above the target of $350 million.
“He did the best fundraising campaign ever for the University. He was proud to say that it went beyond the universities of Montreal.
“The Kruger pavilion is also him,” says Sam Hamad regarding the campus building recognized for its architecture, its use of wood and its energy efficiency.
Football player
Native of Sainte-Martine, in Montérégie, Denis Brière completed his baccalaureate at the Faculty of Forestry and Geomatics of Laval University in 1972. Seven years later, he obtained a doctorate in land use planning from the Faculty of Forestry from UBC in Vancouver.
According to his biography on the Université Laval website, he was chosen defensive player of the year by the Quebec Provincial Football League in 1967 and even received a scholarship.
Back in Quebec in 1981, he worked for the Société d’énergie de la Baie-James, then at the Canadian Forest Engineering Research Institute.
From 1987 to 1998, he worked for the Kruger paper company, first as vice-president and general manager of the Woods and Forestry Division, then as president and chief operating officer. He was also president of the Quebec Forest Research Council.
Awards
He was named forest engineer of the year by the Order of Forest Engineers of Quebec in 1994, then a second time in 2006 with three professors.
Denis Brière became dean of the Faculty of Forestry and Geomatics at Université Laval in 2000 before being elected the institution’s 25th rector in 2007.
At the end of his term, he was criticized for having been slow to react following revelations of sexual assaults on campus.
Returning to the Faculty of Forestry in 2020, he went to the Arbitration Tribunal, complaining of being harassed by management.
At 5 p.m., Laval University had still not reacted to the death or published a press release.
Denis Brière’s funeral will take place on July 22 at the Saint-Dominique de Québec church.
Testimonials
- “My most sincere condolences to the loved ones of my former colleague, Denis Brière, and to the great family of @universitelaval. Denis was a pioneer in the Quebec forestry industry and left his mark on the rectorate of ULaval. Rest in peace.” – Jean-Yves Duclos, Federal Minister of Health
- “My most sincere condolences to the family and loved ones of Mr. Brière. He marked the history of Université Laval through his contribution to the university community, research and his social commitment in various Quebec organizations. – Dominique Anglade, Leader of the Quebec Liberal Party
- “Our most sincere condolences to the family, friends and loved ones of Denis Brière. We will remember your dedication and your commitment to the university community and the influence of Université Laval.” – Claude Villeneuve, municipal councilor of Quebec
