From l937 to l944, Claude Ryan studied at
CollËge Sainte-Croix where he obtained a B.A from the UniversitÈ
de MontrÈal in l944. From l944 to l946, he studied Social Work at
the School of Social Service of the UniversitÈ de MontrÈal. In l951-l952
he took courses on Church history at the Gregorian Pontifical University
in Rome.
From l945 to l962, Claude Ryan was National Secretary of the French
section of LíAction catholique canadienne. Between l955 and l961,
he was President of líInstitut canadien díÈducation des adultes.
In l962 and l963, he was President of a Committee on Adult Education
appointed by the Ministry of Youth of the Quebec Government to report
to the Royal Commission on the Future of Education in Quebec. From
l956 to l968, he was a member of the Board of directors of La Caisse
populaire Saint-Louis-de-France, Montreal.
In May l962, Claude Ryan joined the daily newspaper Le Devoir, of
Montreal, as editorial writer. From May l964 to January l978, he
was editor-publisher of Le Devoir and general manager of LíImprimerie
populaire limitÈe. During that period, he served on the Board of
directors of Canadian Press, on the Canadian-American Committee,
Canadian section, and on the Board of directors of the United Nations
Institute for Training and Research. During his journalistic career,
Claude Ryan received the National Newspaper Award in the editorials
category in l964; the Human Relations Award of the Canadian Council
of Christians and Jews in l966; the Jewish Labour Committee Award
for his work on behalf of human rights in l969; the Quill Qward
from the Windsor Press Club for his contribution to Canadian journalism
in l971. In l968, he was named to the Canadian News Hall of Fame.
On January l0, l978, Claude Ryan resigned as editor-publisher of
Le Devoir to run for the leadership of the Quebec Liberal Party.
He was elected as leader of that party at a convention held in Quebec
on April l5, l978. On April 30, 1979, he was elected as member of
the National Assembly for Argenteuil. On May 9, l979, he took his
seat in the National Assembly and became Leader of the Official
Opposition. In May l980, Claude Ryan led the ìNoî forces in the
referendum on the constitutional future of Quebec. In April l98l,
he was reelected as member of the National Assembly for Argenteuil
and remained Leader of the Official Opposition. On August l0th,
l982, he resigned as Leader of the Quebec Liberal Party and Leader
of the Official Opposition while retaining his seat as member of
the National Assembly for Argenteuil. In September l982, he was
appointed Education Critic for the Opposition. In June 1983, he
was made an Honorary Graduate of the National Defence College.
On December 2, l985, Claude Ryan was reelected as member of the
National Assembly for Argenteuil. On December l2, l985, he became
Minister of Education, Minister of Higher Education and Science
and Minister responsible for the administration of laws on professional
corporations in the Government led by Robert Bourassa. On March
3, l989, he was nominated Minister responsible for the administration
of the Charter of the French Language. On September 25, l989, Claude
Ryan was reelected as member of the National Assembly for Argenteuil.
On October 11, l989, he was reappointed as Minister of Education,
Minister of Higher Education and Science and Minister responsible
for the administration of the Charter of the French Language. On
October 5, l990, he became Minister of Public Security and Minister
of Municipal Affairs, responsible for Housing, while remaining Minister
responsible for the administration of the Charter of the French
language. From January to September l994, he served as Minister
of Municipal Affairs, responsible for Housing, in the Government
led by Daniel Johnson. He retired from active politics in September
l994.
In June 1995, Claude Ryan was named Companion of the Order of Canada.
In June l996, he received the Prix de CarriËre l996 awarded by the
Conseil du Patronat du QuÈbec. In October l996, he was selected
by a panel of the Montreal daily newspaper La Presse as Person of
the Year for ´Courage, Humanity and Individual Accomplishmentsª.
In April l997, he received the Medal for Merit awarded by the Office
des Communications sociales. In August l997, he was received into
La Compagnie des Cent-AssociÈs (Association canadienne des Èducateurs
de langue franÁaise) in appreciation of his contribution to the
defense and promotion of the French language in America. In l997-1998,
he headed a Task force of the Quebec Liberal Party on poverty and
public policy whose report entitled LíÈtat quÈbÈcois et la pauvretÈ
was published in June l998. In November 1998, he was awarded an
honorary Doctorate of Laws by the University of Alberta. In June
1999, he received an honorary Doctorate of Laws from McGill University.
In June 2000, he received an honorary Doctorate of Social Sciences
from Laval University. In November 2000, he was awarded an honorary
doctorate of Theology by the CollËge dominicain de philosophie et
de thÈologie (Ottawa). In June 2001, he was awarded the Gold Medal
of the Order of Merit of the FÈdÈration des commissions scolaires
du QuÈbec. In May 2002, he was appointed a Lifetime Honorary Fellow
of the Institute for Research on Public Policy.
.
Publications
Les ComitÈs: Esprit et MÈthodes - Institut canadien díÈducation
des adultes, l962.
Le Devoir et La Crise díOctobre l970 - Ed. LemÈac, MontrÈal, l971.
Une SociÈtÈ Stable (avec la collaboration de Robert-Guy Scully),
Ed. HÈritage, l978.
Regards sur le FÈdÈralisme Canadien - Ed. Le BorÈal, MontrÈal, l995
Consequences of the Quebec Secession Reference ñThe Clarity Bill
and Beyond ñ A C.D. Howe Institute Commentary, Toronto, April 2000,
32 pages.
Scholoarly/Professional Activity
Claude Ryan is, currently, a course lecturer
on Catholicism and Modern Society at McGill University.
Other Activities
Claude Ryan is a member of the Editorial
Board of International Journal, the Board of Directors of the Fernand-Dumont
Chair (INRS-UniversitÈ du QuÈbec), the Board of Directors of Radio
Ville-Marie (Montreal), the Board of Directors of Secours aux AÓnÈs
(Jules and Paul-Emile LÈger Foundation), the Governorsí Forum of
the Association des services de rÈhabilitation sociale du QuÈbec,
and an honorary member of the Board of Directors of the Newman Asssociation
of Montreal.
