Guy Rocher, a renowned sociologist, has passed away.
Guy Rocher: A Pioneer in Quebec's Education and Cultural Reform
Guy Rocher, a renowned figure in Quebec society, dedicated his life to education, language, culture, and secularism. His illustrious career spanned over five decades, with significant contributions in various fields.
Born in Quebec City, Rocher studied sociology at Laval University following a decisive meeting with Father Georges-Henri Lévesque, founder of the School of Social Sciences, Politics and Economics at the Quebec institution. In 1960, he became a sociology professor at the University of Montreal, a position he held until 2010.
Rocher's impact on Quebec's educational system was profound. He was a member of the famous Parent Commission, which led to the reform of education in Quebec in the 1960s. This commission resulted in the creation of the Ministry of Education, the loss of the clergy's control over this domain, and the establishment of CEGEPs.
In 1965, Rocher was appointed president of the Committee for the Creation of the University of Quebec in Montreal. He temporarily left the University of Montreal to enter the senior civil service following the election of the Parti québécois on November 15, 1976. During this time, he participated in the creation of the Charter of the French Language and the development of policies related to cultural and then scientific affairs.
Rocher's work extended beyond the realm of education. He held the position of vice-president of the Canada Council for the Arts from 1969 to 1974. He was also a member of the Macdonald Working Group on University Research in Canada from 1967 to 1974.
In 1971, Rocher obtained his doctorate in sociology from Harvard University under the direction of Talcott Parsons, one of the great sociologists of the post-World War II Western world. His doctoral thesis focused on the relationship between law and society.
Rocher is known for his development of legal sociology, notably through the Centre de recherche en droit public (CRDP), an interuniversity organization associated with the University of Montreal. He received numerous accolades for his work, including the Pierre-Chauveau Medal from the Royal Society of Canada in 1991 and the Marcel-Vincent Prize from the Association canadienne-française pour l'avancement des sciences (ACFAS) in 1989.
In 1991, he was made a knight of the National Order of Quebec. The Quebec government created a prize in his name in 2019. In September 2021, he appeared before a parliamentary commission and commented on Bill 96 (future Loi sur la langue officielle et commune du Québec, le français), aimed at strengthening Bill 101.
Despite his retirement, Rocher continued to express concern about the general apathy towards Bill 96 and the future of the French language in Quebec. He was described as a "dean of sociology in Quebec" and a man who played a "decisive role in matters of linguistic, cultural, and scientific policy in Quebec" in the Petit Larousse since 2009.
Throughout his career, Guy Rocher was renowned for his numerous contributions to Quebec society, particularly in the fields of education and the defense of language, culture, and secularism. His legacy continues to influence the province's policies and discourse.
