Alfred Rouleau

Education

Alfred Rouleau attended the Faculty of Social Sciences at the Université Laval.

Career

At first an agent for the Laurentian Mutual Insurance Co, Alfred Rouleau was sent to the Montreal office. In 1948 he was asked to become first and founding general manager of Assurance-vie Desjardins by Desjardins Group. He quickly made this institution one of the most dynamic and important life insurance companies in Quebec. Concerned about the future of francophone minorities, he ensured that the company established offices in francophone communities in other provinces. (See also French Language in Canada.)

Under his influence as president (1972–81), Desjardins Group became one of the mainstays of economic life in Quebec. Through his involvement with the caisses populaires, Rouleau took an active interest in the Quebec, Canadian and international co-operative movement and played a leading role in the preparation of laws better suited to the modern needs of co-operative institutions. He was invited to hold a number of prestigious and strategic positions, such as manger of the Caisse de dépôt et placement du Québec and of the Bank of Canada.

Honours and Awards

The Conseil de la coopération du Québec (1976) granted Alfred Rouleau the Ordre du mérite co-opératif (1976). The Université de Sherbrooke (1969), Université Laval (1976) and Université de Montréal (1977) awarded him honorary doctorates. In addition to these honours, he was named Companion of the Order of Canada (1973) and Grand Officer of the National Order of Québec (1985).