Lucien Rivard
{{Short description|Canadian criminal (1914–2002)}}
{{Infobox criminal
| image_name =
| caption =
| alt =
| name = Lucien Rivard
| birth_date = {{birth date|1915|06|16 }}
| death_date = {{death date and age |2002|02|03 |1914|06|16 }}
| birth_place = Canada
| time_at_large = Four months
| escaped = 1965
| occupation = Casino operator
}}
Lucien Rivard (June 16, 1915 – February 3, 2002) was a Quebec criminal known for a sensational prison escape in 1965.{{cite news|title=Man who triggered Pearson scandal dies |newspaper=Daily Mercury |location=Guelph, Ontario |date=February 14, 2002 |page=A.11}}
Background
Rivard had been engaged in robbery and smuggling drugs since the 1940s. He has been described as a "petty crook"{{cite news|first=Alan |last=Hustak |title=Rivard rocked Ottawa: Drug-smuggler and escape artist dies peacefully at 83 |newspaper=The Gazette |location=Montreal, Quebec |date=February 14, 2002 |page=A.4}} in his early years, but in the 1950s he moved to Cuba and operated a casino, and became involved in the heroin business. In 1958 he moved back to Laval, Quebec, and operated the business "Domaine Idéal" to continue dealing drugs and weapons.
In 1965, Rivard was in a Montreal prison, but used a water hose to climb a wall and escape. He was missing for four months before being caught and extradited to the United States. During his absence, he wrote letters to various people, telling the Prime Minister of Canada Lester B. Pearson "Life is short, you know. I don't intend to be in jail for the rest of my life."{{cite news|first=Tu Thanh |last=Ha |title=Montreal mobster nearly sank Liberals |newspaper=The Globe and Mail |location=Toronto, Ontario |date=February 14, 2002 |page=A.3}}
Aftermath
Allegations of bribery regarding the government of Canada during Rivard's escape provoked an investigation, and Attorney General Guy Favreau left office as a consequence. Favreau had been gaining prestige at the time, and when he left, Prime Minister Pearson sought out new Quebec MPs to replace him, namely Jean Marchand, Pierre Trudeau and Gérard Pelletier. Trudeau became Prime Minister in 1968.
The escape inspired the song "The Gallic Pimpernel." In addition, the Canadian Press voted Rivard the Canadian Newsmaker of the Year for 1965 - the first time a convicted criminal had been given that title.{{cite news|title=Newsmakers since 1946 |newspaper=Trail Times |location=Trail, B.C. |date=December 27, 2001 |page=13}} In 2006, it was announced that the Quebec government would help sponsor the film The American Trap (Le piège américain), to be directed by Charles Binamé with Rémy Girard to play Lucien Rivard.{{cite news|title=Six Quebec films get green light |newspaper=The Gazette |location=Montreal, Quebec |date=December 3, 2006 |page=A.29}}
The escape also inspired the song "A Government Inquiry" by The Brothers-in-Law in their album Oh, Oh Canada (Arc A636), and comedian Rich Little to parody Prime Minister Lester Pearson singing "Old Man Rivard".
References
{{Reflist}}
{{Canadian Newsmaker of the Year}}
{{Authority control}}
{{DEFAULTSORT:Rivard, Lucien}}
Category:20th-century Canadian criminals
Category:Canadian drug traffickers
Category:Canadian male criminals
Category:Criminals from Quebec
Category:Escapees from Canadian detention
Category:Fugitives wanted by Canada
Category:People extradited from Canada to the United States
Category:Canadian people imprisoned in the United States
Category:People from Laval, Quebec
Category:Prisoners and detainees of the United States federal government