Léon Trépanier


Léon Trépanier was a Quebec journalist, historian and politician. He was president of the Saint-Jean-Baptiste Society of Montreal from 1925 to 1929.
The son of François Trépanier and d'Élise Huard, he was born in Quebec City and was educated at the University of Ottawa. He began his career as a journalist in Montreal at La Presse in 1901 and later worked at La Patrie and Le Devoir. Trépanier represented Lafontaine on Montreal city council from 1921 to 1938. As president of the Saint-Jean-Baptiste Society, he proposed the installation of the illuminated cross on Mount Royal and initiated the annual parades held on Saint-Jean-Baptiste Day in Montreal. He served as leader of the Montreal City Council from 1928 to 1930 and from 1932 to 1934. He led the preparations for the celebrations of the 300th anniversary of the founding of Montreal. While serving as alderman, he proposed the installation of the illuminated fountain in Montreal's La Fontaine Park.
In 1906, he married Anne-Marie Gagnon.
Later in life, he pursued a second career as a historian. He was a member of the Société des Dix and published biographies of several Montreal mayors.
Trépanier was a member of the Cercle universitaire de Montréal and the Commission des monuments et des sites historiques du Québec.
He died in 1967 at the age of 86.

Selected bibliography