The Faculty mourns the Hon. Louis-Philippe de Grandpré

It was with sadness that the Faculty of Law of McGill University learned of the passing of the Honourable Louis-Philippe de Grandpré on January 24, 2008, at the age of 90.

Louis-Philippe de Grandpré, QC, CC, GOQ, BCL'38, LLD'72, was called to the Bar of Quebec in 1938 and practised law in Montreal, eventually founding the firm of Tansey, de Grandpré et de Grandpré. A formidable litigator, he left a deep imprint on the law firms he founded and developed.

De Grandpré was diagnosed with syringomyelia in 1946, and was virtually paralyzed on the right side of his body. However, this did not stop him from enjoying life and tackling cases with gusto.

He lectured occasionally on insurance law at the Faculty of Law of McGill University from 1960 to 1963.

He was president of the bars of Montreal and Quebec in 1968 and 1969, and president of the Canadian Bar Association from 1972 to 1973. He was appointed as a judge of the Supreme Court of Canada in 1974, and was among the judges who presided over the Morgentaler case in 1975. In 1977, he quit the Supreme Court to return to private practice and to be closer to his family.

He continued practising law afterwards, first as a senior partner and later as counsel at Lafleur, Brown, de Grandpré (now Gowling Lafleur Henderson). He published a report on judicial independence for the Canadian Bar Association, and was never afraid to express a dissenting opinion on legal and judicial matters in the public arena.

His career was marked with many honours: made a Companion of the Order of Canada in 1971, he received a Doctorate of Law honoris causa from McGill University in 1972. He received the Quebec Bar Medal in 1984 for his contribution to law and justice, and was named Grand Officier de l'Ordre national du Québec in 1998.

His dedication to the legal profession as well as his courage and tenacity will always be remembered.