HISTORY THROUGH OUR EYES

March 4, 1965: Escape of Lucien Rivard sparks uproar

Lucien Rivard was a career criminal with ties to the underworld. His escape from Bordeaux Jail was big news. When this photo showing his footprints in the snow outside the jail appeared on Page 1 of Montreal Gazette on March 4, 1965, a massive manhunt was underway and politicians in both Quebec City and Ottawa were in an uproar.

Rivard, 49, was fighting extradition to the United States on charges related to narcotics smuggling. He had been denied bail.

On March 2, he escaped with another prisoner after famously persuading a guard to allow them to get a hose to water the jail’s skating rink. As Quebec attorney general Claude Wagner told the National Assembly, “Sgt. Beaupré did not give any thought at all to the fact it was very mild outside and that it would be futile to water the rink.”

There were immediate suspicions of inside help. Remarked Premier Jean Lesage, “There’s something screwy here.”

Rivard had already been in the news; the Dorion Commission was looking into allegations that in an effort to win Rivard bail an aide to the immigration minister in the Lester Pearson government had offered a $20,000 bribe to a lawyer acting for the United States.

The Dorion Commission eventually found there was “no doubt” there had been a bribe attempt by the aide, and that a Liberal MP had acted “reprehensibly,” but not criminally, in using his influence to try to get Rivard out on bail.

The report criticized Guy Favreau’s handling of the affair, leading to his resignation as federal justice minister.

Rivard was caught four months after his escape, and served almost a decade in a U.S. prison before returning to Quebec. He died in 2002.