Date of birth: February 18, 1916 Place of birth: Montreal Province: Quebec Calling: Politician	Photo : Ville de Montréal, Gestion de documents et archives.
Jean Drapeau was educated at the St-Jean de Brébeuf and Le Plateau schools. After obtaining diplomas in social science, economics and political science from the Université de Montréal, he graduated in 1938 with a B.A. From 1938 to 1941, he studied law at the Université de Montréal, where his record was particularly distinguished in both criminal and corporate law. Politics attracted him, and he ran in a federal by-election in 1942 but was defeated. He then ran at the provincial level, losing badly in Montreal in 1944. In 1949, Drapeau became well known as a lawyer when he represented the striking asbestos workers in Asbestos. The following year, he agreed to act for the complainants in the investigation into police corruption in Montreal. In 1954, after the retirement of Camilien Houde, he ran in Montreal's mayoralty elections and was elected for the first time, at the age 39. Three years later he was defeated. In 1960, with municipal elections imminent, he founded the Parti civique with a team of municipal aldermen, and was returned to office in October of that year. Jean Drapeau and the Parti Civique were to run Montreal for the next 26 years. Montreal was Jean Drapeau's town, and he took it from provincial capital to world-renowned metropolis. His influence was enormous; and he used it to push for huge projects that would advance the arts, sports and culture. He wanted all Montrealers to be proud of their city. It was during his time as mayor that Montreal gained the Place des Arts, the Métro, Terre des Hommes (Expo 67), the 1976 Olympic Games and the first Floralies internationales in North America (1980). He made his city a top site for prestigious expositions: Ramses II and His Age, Treasures and Splendours of China, The Gold of Thrace. Though he was criticized for the cost of these achievements, Drapeau remained in office until 1986, when health problems forced him to resign. In December of that year, the Canadian government appointed him a special ambassador to UNESCO, in Paris. Throughout his career, Jean Drapeau received a number of awards and honorary doctorates from the universities of Moncton, Montréal, McGill, Sir George Williams and Laval, and the Goswell Institute. In 1965, he was awarded the trophy for the Canadian who had done the most for industrial development in Canada. In 1967, he received the gold medal of the Architectural Institute of Canada, and was named a Companion of the Order of Canada. In 1984, he was made a commander of France's Légion d'Honneur. Jean Drapeau died on August 12, 1999. Thanks to him, Montreal, the capital city of French-speaking Canada, has become one of the great cities of the world.