Mr. Speaker, I rise today to point out the extraordinary contribution made by a great man of international renown, Dr. Gustave Gingras, who passed away last week.
A native of Montreal, Dr. Gingras founded the Institut de réadaptation de Montréal in 1949 and acted as its director general until 1977. Because of his reputation, people from all over the globe sought his advice. His expertise in planning rehabilitation policies was greatly appreciated.
He was awarded many prizes, including the Order of Canada, the Most Venerable Order of the Hospital of St. John of Jerusalem, the Canadian Centennial Medal, the Silver Medal International, the B'nai Brith Humanitarian Award and the Medal of Merit of South Vietnam. In 1982, he became a Queen's Honourable Physician.
Among other works, he wrote Combats pour la survie and cowrote Human Rights for the Physically Handicapped and Aged .
The nation has just lost an eminent citizen. To his wife and to all his family, I wish to express my most sincere condolences.