Timeline Of The Front De Libération Du Québec
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The following is a timeline of the FLQ, from the founding of the
Front de libération du Québec The (FLQ) was a Quebec separatist terrorist group which aimed to establish an independent and socialist Quebec. Founded sometime in the early 1960s, the FLQ conducted a number of attacks between 1963 and 1970,Reich, Walter. ''Origins of Terror ...
(FLQ) in the early 1960s to the publishing of the enquiry commission reports in the 1980s.


1962

* On July 1, Jacques Giroux writes "I am a separatist" on the Sir
John A. Macdonald Sir John Alexander Macdonald (10 or 11January 18156June 1891) was the first prime minister of Canada, serving from 1867 to 1873 and from 1878 until his death in 1891. He was the dominant figure of Canadian Confederation, and had a political ...
monument in
Dorchester Square Dorchester Square, originally Dominion Square, is a large urban square in downtown Montreal. Together with Place du Canada, the area is just over or of manicured and protected urban parkland bordered by René Lévesque Boulevard to the south ...
. * On October 31, the Comité de libération nationale is founded secretly by four RIN (Rassemblement pour l'Indépendance Nationale) militants: Jacques Désormeaux, Jacques Lucques, Robert Aubin and Philippe Bernard. * In November, 24 RIN militants form the Réseau de Résistance (RR) during a meeting at the home of Montreal's new regional executive president, Rodrigue Guité. * The Sunday following the first meeting, members of the Resistance Network paint English-only posters with "Free Quebec" and throw several
Red Ensign The Red Ensign or Red Duster is the civil ensign of the United Kingdom. It is one of the British ensigns, and it is used either plain or defacement (flag), defaced with either a Glossary of vexillology#Flag elements, badge or a Glossary of v ...
s and the
Flag of the United Kingdom The national flag of the United Kingdom is the Union Jack, also known as the Union Flag. The design of the Union Jack dates back to the Act of Union 1801, which united the Kingdom of Great Britain and the Kingdom of Ireland (previously in pe ...
into the trash in Saint-Sauveur.


1963

* On February 23, a
Molotov cocktail A Molotov cocktail (among several other names – ''see '') is a hand-thrown incendiary weapon consisting of a frangible container filled with flammable substances and equipped with a Fuse (explosives), fuse (typically a glass bottle filled wit ...
is thrown through the window of the English-language radio
CKGM CKGM (''TSN Radio, TSN 690 Montreal'') is an English language, English-language AM broadcasting, AM radio station in Montreal, Quebec, owned by Bell Media Radio. Formerly an network affiliate, affiliate of sports radio network "The Team (radio n ...
in
Montreal Montreal is the List of towns in Quebec, largest city in the Provinces and territories of Canada, province of Quebec, the List of the largest municipalities in Canada by population, second-largest in Canada, and the List of North American cit ...
. The RR claims responsibility.Louis Fournier, p. 476 * Late February, founding of the
Front de libération du Québec The (FLQ) was a Quebec separatist terrorist group which aimed to establish an independent and socialist Quebec. Founded sometime in the early 1960s, the FLQ conducted a number of attacks between 1963 and 1970,Reich, Walter. ''Origins of Terror ...
(FLQ) by Gabriel Hudon, Georges Schoeters and
Raymond Villeneuve Raymond Villeneuve (born September 11, 1943) is a founding member of the Front de libération du Québec (FLQ), a Quebec separatist movement responsible for various acts of violence in Canada. Villeneuve remained out of the spotlight as he was v ...
, who had met through the RR. * On March 8, three military barracks located in Montreal and
Westmount Westmount () is a city on the Island of Montreal, in southwestern Quebec, Canada. It is an enclave of the city of Montreal, with a population of 19,658 as of the 2021 Canadian census. Westmount is home to schools, an arena, a pool, a public li ...
are attacked with FLQ incendiary bombs during the night. * In mid-March, the first dynamite stealing was conducted at a construction site of the Montreal Metro, followed by another one at the location of the future Laurier station. * On March 29, the statue of James Wolfe on the Plains of Abraham is unbolted, falls and breaks in several pieces. * On April 1, three bombs explode: one at a Federal Tax building, a second at the
Central Station Central stations or central railway stations emerged in the second half of the nineteenth century as railway stations that had initially been built on the edge of city centres were enveloped by urban expansion and became an integral part of the ...
located in Montreal, and a third on a railway belonging to the CN. The bomb set to explode on the CN railway is discovered before the passing of the train transporting Prime Minister of Canada
John Diefenbaker John George Diefenbaker (September 18, 1895 – August 16, 1979) was the 13th prime minister of Canada, serving from 1957 to 1963. He was the only Progressive Conservative Party of Canada, Progressive Conservative party leader between 1930 an ...
. He exclaimed "Is this Ireland?" upon learning of the attempt. * On April 6, 24 sticks of dynamite are laid at the foot of the Radio-Canada transmission tower on
Mount Royal Mount Royal (, ) is a mountain in the city of Montreal, immediately west of Downtown Montreal, Quebec, Canada. The city's name is derived from the mountain's name. The mountain is part of the Monteregian Hills situated between the Laurentian M ...
. A technical defect prevents the explosion. * On April 12, in a joint operation of the
Royal Canadian Mounted Police The Royal Canadian Mounted Police (RCMP; , GRC) is the Law enforcement in Canada, national police service of Canada. The RCMP is an agency of the Government of Canada; it also provides police services under contract to 11 Provinces and terri ...
(RCMP) and the Montreal police service, dozens of searches are done in residences of militants for the independence of Quebec belonging to various associations. 20 people are arrested and interrogated, including Raoul Roy, Édouard Cloutier, Jacques Lucques. The event was dubbed the "Razzia du Vendredi saint". * On April 16, publishing of the first FLQ manifesto entitled "Message du FLQ à la Nation". (
online In computer technology and telecommunications, online indicates a state of connectivity, and offline indicates a disconnected state. In modern terminology, this usually refers to an Internet connection, but (especially when expressed as "on lin ...
) * On April 19, the RIN and the ASIQ (of which several members were arrested on April 12) protest before the headquarters of the RCMP in Westmount. * On April 20, at night, a bomb sets off against the RCMP headquarters in Westmount. * On April 21, Wilfred O'Neil, night guard at the Canadian Forces Recruiting Centre in Montreal is killed in the explosion of a bomb claimed by the FLQ. * On May 3, three bomb attacks are perpetrated: one bomb explodes at the building of Royal Canadian Legion Veterans at Saint-Jean-sur-Richelieu, another is found and disarmed at the central post office and another, not armed, is found at the headquarters of the Solbec Copper mining company. * On May 7, the City of Montreal offers $10,000 CAD to whoever can provide information leading to the capture of FLQ members. * On May 10, a dynamite charge explodes at night against the wall of the ''BlackWatch'' regiment building in Montreal. * On May 13, a bomb explodes at the Technical Service Unit of the
Canadian Air Force The Royal Canadian Air Force (RCAF; ) is the air and space force of Canada. Its role is to "provide the Canadian Forces with relevant, responsive and effective airpower". The RCAF is one of three environmental commands within the unified Cana ...
located in Mont-Royal. * On May 16, an explosive device sets off near the reservoirs of the Golden Eagle refinery located at
Pointe-aux-Trembles Pointe-aux-Trembles () was a municipality, founded in 1674, that was annexed by Montreal, Quebec, Canada, in 1982. This was the last city to be merged into Montreal until the 2002 municipal reorganization. On January 1, 2002 this neighbourhood ...
. * On May 17, the FLQ places ten bombs in as many residential mailboxes of the town of Westmount. Each bomb is made of four dynamite sticks. Five of these ten bombs explode toward 3:00 am. Walter Leja, Sergeant Major of the Canadian Army, is injured while trying to disarm one of the explosive devices. * On May 19, the government of Quebec offers $50,000 to whoever will be able to provide information leading to the capture of FLQ members. The City of Montreal raises its reward from $10,000 to $60,000. * On May 20,
Victoria Day Victoria Day () is a federal Canadian public holiday observed on the last Monday preceding May 25 to honour Queen Victoria, who is known as the "Mother of Confederation". The holiday has existed in Canada since at least 1845, originally on Vic ...
, 75 dynamite sticks explode against the wall of an arms room belonging to the 1st battalion of the Canadian Army's technical services in Montreal (nicknamed "Opération Chénier" by the FLQ, in honour of
Jean-Olivier Chénier Jean-Olivier Chénier (December 9, 1806 – December 14, 1837) was a physician in Lower Canada (present-day Quebec). Born in Lachine (or maybe Montreal). During the Lower Canada Rebellion, he commanded the Patriote forces in the Battle of Saint-E ...
). * On June 1: ** The eight main leaders of the FLQ gather at Denis Lamoureux's apartment to discuss the reorganization and expansion of their group. Is then planned the division of the movement into two sections: a political section, the FLQ, and a military section, the Armée de libération du Québec (ALQ). Jean-Jacques Lanciault, who participates to the discussion, is a
delator Delator (plural: ''delatores'', feminine: ''delatrix'') is Latin for a denouncer, one who indicates to a court another as having committed a punishable deed. Secular Roman law In Roman history, it was properly one who gave notice (''deferre' ...
for the police and wins the $60,000 award of the City of Montreal for his information. Thanks to Lanciault's information, the police forces will arrest 23 militants and dismantle a complete network of the FLQ. * On June 16, 18 people associated to the FLQ are arrested.Serge Gaudreau.
7 octobre 1963 - Dévoilement des peines obtenues par des membres du Front de libération du Québec
, in ''Bilan du Siècle'', retrieved May 22, 2009
* One June xx, Bernard Smith,
Jean-Marc Léger Jean-Marc Léger (born 1961) is an economist and founding President of Léger. Léger founded this firm with his father Marcel Léger in 1986 under the name Léger & Léger. Under his leadership, the company made ten acquisitions in Canada and th ...
, Pierre De Bellefeuille,
André Morel André Paul Victor Morel (3 August 188417 July 1961) was a French racing driver. Life and career Morel was born on 3 August 1884 in Troyes, France. His father died when he was 11. His parents at that time expected him Morel to become a prie ...
, Marcel Rioux,
Michel Chartrand Michel Chartrand (20 December 1916 – 12 April 2010) was a Canadian trade union leader from Quebec. Born in Outremont and trained as a typography and print worker, Chartrand became involved in union activism in the 1940s. During the '' Grand ...
, Jean-Victor Dufresne, Réginald Boisvert,
Marcel Dubé Marcel Dubé (January 3, 1930 – April 7, 2016) was a Canadian playwright. He produced over 300 works for radio, television, and stage. During his career he promoted the preservation and sanctity of the French language in Quebec. __TOC__ Early ...
and
René Chaloult René Chaloult (January 26, 1901 – December 20, 1978) was a nationalist politician in Quebec, Canada. He is best known for submitting a motion for the Flag of Quebec. Background He was born on January 26, 1901, in Quebec City. Political ...
found the Comité Chénier, a committee of support to the convicts. * One June 30, founding of the
Parti socialiste du Québec The ''Parti socialiste du Québec'' (PSQ, English: ''Socialist Party of Quebec'') was a List of political parties in Quebec, provincial party in Quebec. The PSQ was founded in November 1963 as the result of a split at the founding conference of the ...
(PSQ). * On July xx, Jean Lasalle, Jean Gagnon, Jules Duchastel,
André Wattier André — sometimes transliterated as Andre — is the French and Portuguese form of the name Andrew and is now also used in the English-speaking world. It used in France, Quebec, Canada and other French-speaking countries, as well in Portugal, ...
,
Robert Hudon The name Robert is an ancient Germanic given name, from Proto-Germanic "fame" and "bright" (''Hrōþiberhtaz''). Compare Old Dutch ''Robrecht'' and Old High German ''Hrodebert'' (a compound of '' Hruod'' () "fame, glory, honour, praise, reno ...
set up the Armée de libération du Québec. * On July 12, the FLQ set off a powerful dynamite explosion in the Parc Victoria in Quebec City, blowing apart a monument to
Queen Victoria Victoria (Alexandrina Victoria; 24 May 1819 – 22 January 1901) was Queen of the United Kingdom of Great Britain and Ireland from 20 June 1837 until Death and state funeral of Queen Victoria, her death in January 1901. Her reign of 63 year ...
; the statue's head was later found 100 yards away. * On July 19, the federal government of
Lester B. Pearson Lester Bowles Pearson (23 April 1897 – 27 December 1972) was a Canadian politician, diplomat, statesman, and scholar who served as the 14th prime minister of Canada from 1963 to 1968. He also served as Leader of the Liberal Party of C ...
sets up the
Royal Commission on Bilingualism and Biculturalism The Royal Commission on Bilingualism and Biculturalism (, also known as the Bi and Bi Commission and the Laurendeau-Dunton Commission) was a Canadian royal commission established on 19 July 1963, by the government of Prime Minister Lester B. P ...
. * On August 22, a bomb explodes underneath a railroad bridge of the
Canadian Pacific Railway The Canadian Pacific Railway () , also known simply as CPR or Canadian Pacific and formerly as CP Rail (1968–1996), is a Canadian Class I railway incorporated in 1881. The railway is owned by Canadian Pacific Kansas City, Canadian Pacific Ka ...
(CP) near
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. * On August 26, 700 dynamite sticks are stolen from the construction site of Autoroute 15, near Saint-Sauveur. * On August 27, Jacques Lanctôt, Guy De Grasse and
Richard Bros Richard is a male given name. It originates, via Old French, from Old Frankish and is a compound of the words descending from Proto-Germanic language">Proto-Germanic ''*rīk-'' 'ruler, leader, king' and ''*hardu-'' 'strong, brave, hardy', and ...
are arrest on the charge of setting fire to two military barracks located in Montreal, as well as the building of the Royal Canadian Legion in Laval-Ouest and a shelter belonging to the Canadian National Railways on
île Bigras Île Bigras is the largest of the four islands that make up the Îles-Laval archipelago in the Rivière des Prairies in Quebec. They all are part of the city of Laval, Québec, Laval since 1965. The Île Bigras was named in 1817 as ''Île Ames ...
. * On September 26, five members of the ALQ performed an armed robbery in a
Royal Bank of Canada Royal Bank of Canada (RBC; ) is a Canadian multinational Financial institution, financial services company and the Big Five (banks), largest bank in Canada by market capitalization. The bank serves over 20 million clients and has more than ...
office. $7,000 are stolen. Two people are arrested in connection with the robbery: Jules Duchastel and Claude Soulières. * In October, publishing of the first issue of '' La Cognée'', the official publication of the FLQ. (66 issues are printed between 1963 and 1967.) * On October 7, Gabriel Hudon, Raymond Villeneuve, Jacques Giroux and Yves Labonté, arrested on the 16, plead guilty to the charge of involuntary homicide. * On October 9, two bombs are discovered and disarmed in post offices located in Longueuil and Saint-Lambert. * On October 16, the police arrests
Barnabe Garcia Barnabe mey refer to:__NOTOC__ * Barnabe Creek, a stream in the U.S. state of California People Given name * Barnabe Barnes (1609), English poet * Barnabe Googe (1540–1594), poet and translator * Barnabe Jolicoeur (born 1966), former Maur ...
, a political refugee from Spain who arrived in Canada in 1957. * On November 26, the ALQ steals radio transmission equipment from the CHEF station of Grandby.


1964

* On January 30, between 7:30 and 9:00, the ALQ performs an important arms robbery from the barracks of the Fusiliers Mont-Royal Regiment located in Montreal. During the heist which was dubbed Opération Casernes, the ALQ managed to steal about $20,000 worth of firearms including: 59 Belgian semi-automatic rifles ( FN
7.62×51mm NATO The 7.62×51mm NATO (official NATO nomenclature 7.62 NATO) is a rimless, straight walled, bottlenecked, centerfire rifle cartridge. It is a standard for small arms among NATO countries. First developed in the 1950s, the cartridge had first be ...
), four
BREN The Bren gun (Brno-Enfield) was a series of light machine guns (LMG) made by the United Kingdom in the 1930s and used in various roles until 1992. While best known for its role as the British and Commonwealth forces' primary infantry LMG in Wor ...
machine guns, 34
Sten The STEN (or Sten gun) is a British submachine gun chambered in 9×19mm which was used extensively by British and Commonwealth forces throughout World War II and during the Korean War. The Sten paired a simple design with a low production co ...
submachine guns, 4 60-millimetre mortars, 3
Bazooka The Bazooka () is a Man-portable anti-tank systems, man-portable recoilless Anti-tank warfare, anti-tank rocket launcher weapon, widely deployed by the United States Army, especially during World War II. Also referred to as the "stovepipe", th ...
rocket launchers, some
grenade A grenade is a small explosive weapon typically thrown by hand (also called hand grenade), but can also refer to a Shell (projectile), shell (explosive projectile) shot from the muzzle of a rifle (as a rifle grenade) or a grenade launcher. A mod ...
s, 5 Browning semi-automatic pistols, 13,000 bullets ( calibre 22), 2,000 calibre 7.62 and 2,300 calibre 303, as well as 15 radio
transceiver In radio communication, a transceiver is an electronic device which is a combination of a radio ''trans''mitter and a re''ceiver'', hence the name. It can both transmit and receive radio waves using an antenna, for communication purposes. The ...
s, two portable phones,
headlamp A headlamp is a lamp attached to the front of a vehicle to illuminate the road ahead. Headlamps are also often called headlights, but in the most precise usage, ''headlamp'' is the term for the device itself and ''headlight'' is the term for t ...
s, electrical wires, one
Gestetner The Gestetner is a type of duplicating machine named after its inventor, David Gestetner (1854–1939). During the 20th century, the term ''Gestetner'' was used as a verb—as in ''Gestetnering''. The Gestetner company established its base in Lo ...
stencil duplicator, sheets, etc. * On February 1, military guards are posted 24 hours on 24 before all barracks in the Montreal metropolitan area. * On February 20, between 7:46 and 11:15, the ALQ performs an arms and equipment robbery from the barrack of the 62nd regiment of campaign artillery in
Shawinigan Shawinigan (; ) is a city located on the Saint-Maurice River in the Mauricie area in Quebec, Canada. It had a population of 49,620 as of the 2021 Canadian census. Shawinigan is also a territory equivalent to a regional county municipality (TE) ...
. The stolen material is estimated at $25,000: 33 semi-automatic rifles FN 7.62, pistols, a good quantity of bullets, 12 transceivers, one stencil duplicator, combat uniforms and UN blue helmets. * On February 27, members of the ALQ rob a Desjardins credit union branch in Shawinigan and leave with $9,000. * On March 2, a bomb made out of 10 dynamite sticks, wrapped in a
Union Jack The Union Jack or Union Flag is the ''de facto'' national flag of the United Kingdom. The Union Jack was also used as the official flag of several British colonies and dominions before they adopted their own national flags. It is sometimes a ...
, is disarmed on the plains of Abraham. * On March 14, a criminal fire causes $15,000 worth of damages at captain Henri Francoeur's residence. Francoeur is assistant to inspector Russell Senécal of the Combined Antiterrorist Squad (CATS). * On March 30, the police arrests and interrogates Jacques Désormeaux, André Normand, Roger Normand, Jean Goulet, Jean Cloutier, Louis-Philippe Aubert and Bernard Mataigne. * On April 9, following the armed robbery of a Banque Canadienne Nationale branch located in Mont-Rolland, the police apprehends Jean Lasalle, Jean Gagnon and René Dion of the ALQ. * On April 21, 38th anniversary of
Queen Elizabeth II Elizabeth II (Elizabeth Alexandra Mary; 21 April 19268 September 2022) was Queen of the United Kingdom and other Commonwealth realms from 6 February 1952 until Death and state funeral of Elizabeth II, her death in 2022. ...
, a bomb made out of ten dynamite sticks is found and disarmed below the Queen Victoria monument located on the campus of
McGill University McGill University (French: Université McGill) is an English-language public research university in Montreal, Quebec, Canada. Founded in 1821 by royal charter,Frost, Stanley Brice. ''McGill University, Vol. I. For the Advancement of Learning, ...
. * On May 5,
Robert Hudon The name Robert is an ancient Germanic given name, from Proto-Germanic "fame" and "bright" (''Hrōþiberhtaz''). Compare Old Dutch ''Robrecht'' and Old High German ''Hrodebert'' (a compound of '' Hruod'' () "fame, glory, honour, praise, reno ...
becomes the last ALQ militant to be apprehended. The others,
André Wattier André — sometimes transliterated as Andre — is the French and Portuguese form of the name Andrew and is now also used in the English-speaking world. It used in France, Quebec, Canada and other French-speaking countries, as well in Portugal, ...
, Pierre Nadon,
Claude Perron Claude Perron (born 23 January 1966) is a French actress. Career Perron appeared in the role of Eva (Nino's colleague) in the 2001 film ''Amélie'', and Marion in the 1996 film ''Bernie (1996 film), Bernie''. She also plays in the French TV se ...
and
Maurice Leduc Maurice may refer to: *Maurice (name), a given name and surname, including a list of people with the name Places * or Mauritius, an island country in the Indian Ocean *Maurice, Iowa, a city * Maurice, Louisiana, a village * Maurice River, a tr ...
were apprehended between April 21 and May 5. * On May 8, the eight members of the ALQ appear before the court. 50 different charges weight on them in total. * On May 30, a bomb is found and disarmed below a statue raised in memory of the Canadian soldiers who died for the British Empire during the
Boer Boers ( ; ; ) are the descendants of the proto Afrikaans-speaking Free Burghers of the eastern Cape frontier in Southern Africa during the 17th, 18th, and 19th centuries. From 1652 to 1795, the Dutch East India Company controlled the Dutch ...
Wars War is an armed conflict between the armed forces of State (polity), states, or between governmental forces and armed groups that are organized under a certain command structure and have the capacity to sustain military operations, or betwe ...
. The statue is located near the Parliament buildings in Quebec City. * In June, founding of the Armée révolutionnaire du Québec (ARQ) led by François Schirm. * On June 18,
Hubert Aquin Hubert Aquin (24 October 1929 – 15 March 1977) was a Quebec writer, filmmaker and intellectual. He is particularly known for his novel ''Next Episode (novel), Next Episode''. He is also an important figure in the history of the Quebec Soverei ...
, militant of the RIN, publicly announces that he has "declared total war on all enemies of the independence of Québec". (The communiqué is published the day after in ''Le Devoir'' and other papers.) * On August 29, the ARQ attacks the International Firearms armoury located in Montreal. Two employees, Leslie McWilliams and Alfred Pinish are killed. * In September, the ARQ is dismantled by police forces who arrest some 20 militants. * In September, publishing of the first issue of ''Révolution québécoise'' review, led by Pierre Vallières and Charles Gagnon. * On November 2, a bomb explodes on the CFCF radio and
CFCF-TV CFCF-DT (channel 12) is an English-language television station in Montreal, Quebec, Canada, part of the CTV Television Network. It is owned and operated by network parent Bell Media alongside Noovo flagship CFJP-DT (channel 35). The two statio ...
transmission tour.


1965

* On February 16, the U.S.
Federal Bureau of Investigation The Federal Bureau of Investigation (FBI) is the domestic Intelligence agency, intelligence and Security agency, security service of the United States and Federal law enforcement in the United States, its principal federal law enforcement ag ...
(FBI) announces they have prevented the perpetration of a plot by the Black Liberation Front and the FLQ which consisted in dynamiting the
Statue of Liberty The Statue of Liberty (''Liberty Enlightening the World''; ) is a colossal neoclassical sculpture on Liberty Island in New York Harbor, within New York City. The copper-clad statue, a gift to the United States from the people of French Thir ...
and other American monuments. Arrests were done on both sides of the border. Michèle Duclos was arrested in New York with dynamite in her car. * In April,
The Pentagon The Pentagon is the headquarters building of the United States Department of Defense, in Arlington County, Virginia, across the Potomac River from Washington, D.C. The building was constructed on an accelerated schedule during World War II. As ...
begins an enquiry into the "revolutionary activities" of Quebec. It is called ''Project Revolt''. * On April 30, explosion of a bomb at Place Victoria in Montreal. * On May 1, a bomb explodes at the United States consul located in Montreal. * On June 14, a bomb explodes at the RCMP headquarters in Quebec City. * In June, Pierre Vallières founds the Mouvement de libération populaire (MLP). With Charles Gagnon, he joins the FLQ. * On July 1, a bomb explodes in the Westmount City hall. * On July 2, a bomb explodes against the CKTS English-language radio transmission tower in Sherbrooke. * On July 15, members of the FLQ are arrested at
La Macaza La Macaza () is a municipality and village in the province of Quebec, Canada. The village is located in the Laurentian Mountains, in the Laurentides (region), Laurentian region, in Antoine-Labelle Regional County Municipality. Its population was ...
military station (
Laurentides The Laurentides (, ) is a region of Quebec. While it is often called the Laurentians in English, the region includes only part of the Laurentian Mountains. It has a total land area of and its population was 589,400 inhabitants as of the 2016 C ...
). One
Sûreté du Québec The (SQ; , ) is the State police, provincial police service for the Provinces and territories of Canada, Canadian province of Quebec. There is no official English name, though the agency's name is sometimes translated as Quebec Provincial Police ...
(SQ) police officer is taken hostage. * On July 28, a bomb explodes at the headquarters of the
Canadian Imperial Bank of Commerce The Canadian Imperial Bank of Commerce (CIBC; ) is a Canadian Multinational corporation, multinational banking and financial services corporation headquartered at CIBC Square in the Financial District, Toronto, Financial District of Toronto, Ont ...
(CIBC) in Montreal. * On August 2, bombs explode underneath a CP railroad bridge in Bordeaux and on a CN railroad track in Sainte-Madelaine. * On August 22, the police dismantles an FLQ cell led by Gaston Collin, a former military officer. * On November 1, a bomb explodes the Palais du Commerce de Montréal during a Liberal Party of Canada convention which Prime Minister
Lester B. Pearson Lester Bowles Pearson (23 April 1897 – 27 December 1972) was a Canadian politician, diplomat, statesman, and scholar who served as the 14th prime minister of Canada from 1963 to 1968. He also served as Leader of the Liberal Party of C ...
was attending.


1966

* In January, the Vallières-Gagnon group begins operating under the FLQ banner. * On May 5, a letter bomb sets off at the Lagrenade shoe factory in Montreal during a strike by the CSN. Thérèse Morin, secretary, is mortally wounded, dying en route to the hospital. * On May 22, a bomb explodes at the
Dominion Textile The Dominion Textile Inc. or Domtex was a Canadian textile manufacturer that was founded in 1905 and closed in 1998 when its remains were purchased by the American Polymer Group, at the time headed by Jerry Zucker. History Following the institu ...
in Drummondville. * On June 3, a bomb explodes at Centre Paul-Sauvé during a convention of the Liberal Party of Quebec to which Jean Lesage attends. * On July 14, Jean Corbo (brother of Claude Corbo) dies in a bomb explosion which he himself arms at a Dominion Textile factory located in the
Saint-Henri Saint-Henri () is a neighbourhood in southwestern Montreal, Quebec, Canada, in the Montreal borough, borough of Le Sud-Ouest. Saint-Henri is bounded to the east by Atwater Avenue, to the west by the town of Montreal West, Quebec, Montreal West, ...
neighbourhood in Montreal. * In August and September, the Vallières-Gagnon group is dismantled. Some 20 militants are arrested. * On September 25, Pierre Vallières and Charles Gagnon picket before the
United Nations The United Nations (UN) is the Earth, global intergovernmental organization established by the signing of the Charter of the United Nations, UN Charter on 26 June 1945 with the stated purpose of maintaining international peace and internationa ...
building in New York. They are arrested and imprisoned, after which they do a hunger strike which lasts 30 days. (Their extradition occurs in January 1967.) * In November, a group of citizens form the Comité d'aide au groupe Vallières-Gagnon.


1967

* On January 1, a mailbox explodes in front of the Montreal Anglo-American Trust office. * On January 13, Pierre Vallières and Charles Gagnon enter prison in Montreal. * May 1967, DND instructed Military bases in Quebec to ensure personnel in uniform carry side arms when in public. * On July 27, the Mouvement de libération du Québec (MLQ) claims responsibility for the bombing of Greenfield Park City Hall. * On September 12, two bombs explode at MacDonald High School in
Sainte-Anne-de-Bellevue Sainte-Anne-de-Bellevue () is an Greater Montreal, on-island suburb located at the western tip of the Island of Montreal in southwestern Quebec, Canada. It is the second oldest community in Montreal's West Island, having been founded as a parish ...
. * On October 16, a bomb explodes in a Seven-Up factory in Mont-Royal during a strike. * In November, publishing of the first issue of '' La Victoire''.


1968

* On March 14, Jacques Désormeaux, member of the ''La Cognée'' network, is arrested by the police. * On March 15, the book '' Nègres blancs d'Amérique; autobiographie précoce d'un « terroriste » québécois'' by Pierre Vallières is published by the Éditions Parti Pris. * On May 11, a bomb explodes in a Seven-Up factory in Mont-Royal. * On May 24, a bomb explodes at the United States consul in Montreal. * On May 27, the Comité d'aide au groupe Vallières-Gagnon organizes the show ''Chansons et poèmes de la résistance''. (Similar shows are held afterwards in various locations.) * On September 25, a bomb explodes at the MacDonald monument on Dominion Square in Montreal. * On October 14, bomb explode at the headquarters of the PLQ and the Union nationale (UN). * On November 12, a bomb explodes at the Chambre de commerce de Montréal. * On November 22, two bombs explode at the Eaton store of downtown Montreal. * In November, Raymond Villeneuve leaves Canada for Cuba with three acolytes. * On December 31, four bombs explode the same day.


1969

* On January 2, three mail boxes located near federal offices explode. * On January 8, a bomb explodes near the domicile of Jean-Paul Gilbert, Montreal chief of police. * On February 13, a bomb explodes at the building of the
Montreal Stock Exchange The Montreal Exchange (MX; ), formerly the Montreal Stock Exchange (MSE), is a derivatives exchange, located in Montreal, Quebec, Canada that trades futures contracts and options on equities, indices, currencies, ETFs, energy and interest rates. ...
. Some 27 people are injured. * On March 4, Pierre-Paul Geoffroy, a former fireman, is arrested by the police. The network bearing his name is partly dismantled. * On March 28, François Mario Bachand and other members of the FLQ organize the ''Opération McGill français''. Some 15,000 people demonstrate on the university campus. * In April, François Mario Bachand joins Raymond Villeneuve in Cuba. * On April 3, Prime Minister Pierre Trudeau pulled 5,000 Canadian soldiers and airmen stationed in West Germany in order for them to be redeployed to Quebec. * On May 5,
Pierre Charette Pierre G. "The Duffer" Charette (born June 23, 1955) is a Canadian curler from Gatineau, Quebec. He currently coaches the Silvana Tirinzoni rink and the Jean-Michel Ménard rink. Career Born in Masson, Quebec, Charette has played in thirteen ...
and
Alain Allard Alain may refer to: People * Alain (given name), common given name, including list of persons and fictional characters with the name * Alain (surname) * "Alain", a pseudonym for cartoonist Daniel Brustlein * Alain, a standard author abbreviation u ...
of the Geoffroy network operate the hijacking of a
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from the National Airlines flying between New York and Miami. * On June 15, a bomb explodes at the headquarters of the Société Saint-Jean-Baptiste de Sherbrooke (SSJBS). (The SSJBS had invited Pierre Trudeau to preside the religious ceremonies of June 24.) * On September 29, a bomb explodes at the domicile of
Jean Drapeau Jean Drapeau (; 18 February 1916 – 12 August 1999) was a Canadian politician who served as mayor of Montreal for 2 non-consecutive terms from 1954 to 1957 and from 1960 to 1986. Major accomplishments of the Drapeau Administration include ...
, the
Mayor of Montreal The mayor of Montreal is head of the executive branch of the Montreal City Council. The current mayor is Valérie Plante, who was elected into office on November 5, 2017, and sworn in on November 16. The office of the mayor administers all ci ...
. * On November 20, 1969, at 9:03 pm a bomb exploded in the ground floor stairwell of the Communications Arts building (Bryon building) at Loyola College. Damage to the building was estimated at $150,000. Despite there being hundreds of evening students in classrooms on the upper floors of the building, fortunately there were no injuries. * On December 19, Pierre Trudeau, Robertson, and some federal ministers call Commissioner Higget in a meeting to order the RCMP secret service to treat the Quebec separatist movement as was then the communist movement.


1970

* On February 20, Charles Gagnon is released on bail after three years and five months in prison. * On February 26, Jacques Lanctôt and Pierre Marcil are arrested and released on bail. After their release, Montreal police determine they were plotting to kidnap Moshe Golan, consul of Israel. * On April 5, Raymond Villeneuve, François Mario Bachand, André Garand, Pierre Charette and Alain Allard leave Havana for Genoa on the Cuban freighter the Matanzas. Villeneuve, Bachand and Garand disembarque at Genoa and continue to Paris. Charette and Allard, who are without passports, are refused admission by Italian authorities and return to Havana. * June 24, FLQ bombing of National Defence Headquarters building in Ottawa kills Jeanne d'Arc Saint-Germain. * On June 30, the Mouvement pour la défense des prisonniers politiques du Québec (MDPPQ) relays the Comité d'aide au groupe Vallières-Gagnon. * July 3, bomb explodes at Petrofina Refinery at Point aux Trembles, East Montreal Island. A communiqué, written by Nigel Hamer, is published in Le Journal de Montréal two days later. * On July 12, a bombing attempt was made on the
Bank of Montreal The Bank of Montreal (, ), abbreviated as BMO (pronounced ), is a Canadian multinational Investment banking, investment bank and financial services company. The bank was founded in Montreal, Quebec, in 1817 as Montreal Bank, making it Canada ...
downtown but was defused before it exploded. * On October 5: ** At 8:15, James Richard Cross, British trade commissioner in Montreal, is kidnapped by a group of armed men belonging to the FLQ
Liberation Cell The Liberation Cell was a Montreal-based cell that was part of Front de libération du Québec (FLQ) revolutionary movement in Quebec whose members were responsible for a decade of bombings and armed robberies in the 1960s that led to what became k ...
. ** In the afternoon, the FLQ communicates a series of seven demands in exchange for the liberation of the hostage. * On October 6, the FLQ manifesto is published in various newspapers. ** Mitchell Sharp, the Canadian Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs, claims the government will not give into the demands. * On October 7, the police forces arrest 30 people. Journalist Louis Fournier of the CKAC radio station read the manifesto online. The Quebec Minister of Justice, Jérôme Choquette, states that he is willing to negotiate at any moment to liberate the hostage. * On October 8, the announcer Gaétan Montreuil reads the FLQ manifesto on
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television. * On October 9: **The FLQ Liberation Cell extends the deadline for Cross's execution its demands to be met to October 10, 6 P.M. **
Claude Ryan Claude Ryan (January 26, 1925 – February 9, 2004) was a Canadian journalist and politician. He was the director of the newspaper ''Le Devoir'' from 1964 to 1978, leader of the Quebec Liberal Party from 1978 to 1982, National Assembly of ...
, editor in chief of the daily newspaper ''
Le Devoir (, ) is a French-language newspaper published in Montreal and distributed in Quebec and throughout Canada. It was founded by journalist and politician Henri Bourassa in 1910. is one of few independent large-circulation newspapers in Quebec ...
'', suggest in an editorial that the government should negotiate. * On October 10: ** René Lévesque, in an article of the ''Journal de Montréal'', invites the kidnappers to abandon violence. ** Jérôme Choquette asserts to the media that he is ready to offer an exit door to the kidnapper if they free the hostage. ** At 18:00,
Pierre Laporte Pierre Laporte (; 25 February 1921 – 17 October 1970) was a Canadian lawyer, journalist and politician. He was deputy premier of the province of Quebec when he was kidnapped and murdered by members of the Front de libération du Québec (FL ...
, Vice Premier and Minister of Employment and Labour, is kidnapped by members of the FLQ's Chénier Cell. * On October 11, ** Pierre Laporte writes a letter to Robert Bourassa, his personal friend, to tell him he is well treated and to ask him to negotiate his liberation. ** FLQ Lawyer Robert Lemieux is arrested and imprisoned under the charge of hindering police work. * On October 12: ** At 7:00, Pierre Laporte writes a letter to his wife to tell her he is doing fine and is well treated. ** Canadian soldiers are dispatched to Ottawa to ensure the protection of various politicians and protect federal buildings. **
Robert Demers The name Robert is an ancient Germanic given name, from Proto-Germanic "fame" and "bright" (''Hrōþiberhtaz''). Compare Old Dutch ''Robrecht'' and Old High German ''Hrodebert'' (a compound of '' Hruod'' () "fame, glory, honour, praise, reno ...
, treasurer of the PLQ, is appointed to negotiate for the government. ** The FLQ Liberation Cell issues a communiqué saying that Cross and Laporte will be released if the 23 FLQ prisoners are released and the police stop all interaction with the FLQ. * On October 13: ** Robert Bourassa frees Robert Lemieux from prison and appoints him negotiator for the FLQ. ** The negotiations between Robert Demers and Robert Lemieux fail. * On October 14: ** A special meeting of the federal cabinet is held to discuss measures to be taken to end the crisis. ** A group of 16 people sign a public statement enjoining the government of Quebec to negotiate the liberation of the hostages whatever the cost, no matter the opinion of the federal government. * On October 15: ** At 14:00, Robert Bourassa announces that he has requested the Canadian Armed Forces to help the police protect politicians and public buildings. (He makes this request under the terms of the ''National Defence Act'', not the ''War Measures Act''.) ** 3,000 students hold a rally in support of the FLQ. ** The Quebec Government announces that it will release 5 of the FLQ prisoners on parole. * On October 16, at 4:00, the federal cabinet proclaims the existence of an apprehended insurrection and issues a decree granting exceptional powers to the police and Canadian Armed Forces under the ''
War Measures Act The ''War Measures Act'' (; 5 George V, Chap. 2) was a statute of the Parliament of Canada that provided for the declaration of war, invasion, or insurrection, and the types of emergency measures that could thereby be taken. The Act was brough ...
''. The result is the temporary suspension of Quebecers' civil liberties, which is followed by a series of arrests and searches without warrant. * On October 17, Pierre Laporte is found dead in the trunk of a car, near the St-Hubert airport. The Chénier cell claims the execution of its hostage at 6:18 p.m. He was either assassinated on the 17th as claimed by the Chénier cell members or died by accident after trying to escape. * On October 18, the police issued warrants for FLQ members Marc Charbonneau and Paul Rose, with later warrants being issued on October 23 for Jacques Rose, Bernard Lostie, and Francis Simard. * On November 2, police raided an apartment and arrested FLQ member Bernard Lostie. * On November 6, Julien Giguère, lieutenant-detective of the Montreal police's Section anti-terroriste (SAT), recruits Carole Devault, who becomes informer matricule SAT 945–171, code name "Poupette". * November 21, Richard Bros, FLQ member and friend of Jacques Lanctôt, is arrested in the London suburb of Islington on a charge of assault from an event November 14 that involved a fellow resident. * November 22, Richard Bros is found dead in his cell, reportedly a suicide. * In December, Carole Devault sets up the André Ouimet cell, a fictitious cell of the FLQ. * On December 1, the Parliament of Canada enacts the ''Public Order Act''. * On December 2, two members, Jacques Cossette-Trudel and Louise Lanctôt, of the FLQ Liberation Cell were arrested. * On December 3, James Richard Cross is located and freed by the police. * On December 28, Paul Rose, Jacques Rose, and Francis Simard are located on a farm and arrested by the police.


1971

* On January 6, Carole Devault and three accomplices set off an incendiary bomb in a building owned by the Brink's Company in Montreal. * On January 20, the Mouvement pour la défense des prisonniers politiques du Québec (MDPPQ) organizes a public demonstration between Viger Square and the Palais de Justice de Montréal. * On February 19, Carole Devault and her group set a dynamite bomb against a post office. * On March 13, Paul Rose is sentenced to life imprisonment for the murder of Laporte, along with another life sentence for the kidnapping of Laporte on November 30. Rose is released on parole on December 20, 1982. * March 24, Solicitor General Jean-Pierre Goyer, Director General of the RCMP Security Service John Starnes and Deputy Solicitor General Ernest Côté meet. Goyer orders Starnes to "neutralize" Mario Bachand, in Paris, an operation that had been planned since February. A heated exchange ensues; "Starnes objected that it would be pointless and hazardous and that the service was incapable of it." Goyer says he would consult with the Prime Minister.McLoughlin, Michael. "Last Stop, Paris: the assassination of Mario Bachand and the death of the FLQ" (Viking, Toronto: 1998), p. 218. * March 26, Solicitor General Jean-Pierre Goyer, RCMP Commissioner Len Higgitt, Director General of the RCMP Security Service John Starnes and Deputy Solicitor General Ernest Côté meet. Solicitor General Goyer tells Starnes that he had met with the prime minister, and "the Prime Minister has directed that, unless there were strong arguments to the contrary, prompt action should be taken." * On March 29, François Mario Bachand is assassinated in Paris by Normand Roy and Denyse Leduc, in an RCMP operation ordered by Prime Minister Pierre Trudeau. * On May 20, Francis Simard is sentenced to life imprisonment for the murder of Laporte. * In October, the RCMP releases fake communiqués which she attributes to the Frères Chasseurs cell and the Pierre-Louis Bourret cell. * On November 22, Bernard Lortie is sentenced to 20 years in prison for the kidnapping of Laporte. * On December 9, Jacques Rose was acquitted in the trial against him for kidnapping Laporte, since Bernard Lortie refused to testify. Lostie received a 5-month sentence for refusing to testify. * On December 18, Donald Cobb, commanding the Section G of the RCMP's secret services, releases the communiqué number 3 on behalf of La Minerve cell.


1972

* On January 26, the police defused a plastic bomb at the entrance of the Canadian Imperial Bank of Commerce building. Two days later, a bomb exploded near the La Presse building, which was under lockout. * In early June 1972, François Lanctôt, Jacinthe Lanctôt, Fernand Roy, and Serge Nadeau were captured. * On May 5, the last bomb of the Front de libération du Québec exploded at the Casa d'Italia in Montreal. It was placed by the Reynald Lévesque cell. * On May 8, the Petit Québec libre barn located in Sainte-Anne-de-la-Rochelle is burned down by the RCMP. * On July 17, Jacques Rose is sent to 8 years in prison for being an accessory to the kidnapping of Laporte. * On August 30, Reynald Lévesque and Jacques Millette were captured following a manhunt after robbing $10,000 from a credit union in East Montreal. * On October 6, the Operation Bricole occurs at night: the list of the subscribers to the MDPPQ is stolen by a team composed of RCMP,
Sûreté du Québec The (SQ; , ) is the State police, provincial police service for the Provinces and territories of Canada, Canadian province of Quebec. There is no official English name, though the agency's name is sometimes translated as Quebec Provincial Police ...
(SQ) and
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(SPCUM) agents. The Agence de presse libre du Québec is robbed as well.


1973

* On January 8, the
Operation Ham Operation or Operations may refer to: Arts, entertainment and media * ''Operation'' (game), a battery-operated board game that challenges dexterity * Operation (music), a term used in musical set theory * ''Operations'' (magazine), Multi-Man ...
goes on during the night: the PQ's members list is stolen by the RCMP. * On October 29, Quebec general election of 1973. (PLQ: 54.65%, PQ: 30.22%)


1976

* On July 30, RCMP agent Robert Samson testifies in court: he affirms that the RCMP, in collaboration with the SQ and the SPCUM, stole documents from the MDPPQ the COOP and the APLQ. (He is condemned to seven years of prison.) * On November 15, the Quebec general election of 1976 is held: (PQ: 41.37%, PLQ: 33.78%)


1977

* On June 16, the government of Quebec sets up the Commission d'enquête sur les actions policières illégale en territoire québécois chaired by Jean Keable. * On xx XXX, the RCMP holds an internal inquiry on its own operations and recommends the federal government to hold a parliamentary enquiry. * On July 6, the federal government sets up a Royal Commission of Inquiry into Certain Activities of the RCMP, chaired by David Cargill McDonald. * On October 31, the
Supreme Court of Canada The Supreme Court of Canada (SCC; , ) is the highest court in the judicial system of Canada. It comprises nine justices, whose decisions are the ultimate application of Canadian law, and grants permission to between 40 and 75 litigants eac ...
rules that a provincial commission of enquiry does not have jurisdiction to enquire upon the RCMP.


1979

* Jacques Lanctôt returns from exile. * On November 26, publishing of the first report of the McDonald Commission (''Sécurité et information : premier rapport'').


1980

* On July 8, Nigel Hamer is arrested for his involvement in the kidnapping of Cross. He pleads guilty and is sentenced to 12 months in prison with community service. * On October 9, the Minister of Justice of Quebec publishes an incomplete edition of the ''Rapport sur les événements d'octobre 1970'' by Jean-François Duchaîne. * On November 17, Hamer was charged and sent to 12 months in prison for conspiracy, kidnapping, forcible detention, and extortion.


1981

* On XX XXXX, publishing a new edition of the ''Rapport sur les événements d'octobre 1970'' by Jean-François Duchaîne. * On January 26, publishing the two volumes of the report of the McDonald Commission (''La liberté et la sécurité devant la loi : deuxième rapport''). * On February 15, Pierre-Paul Geoffroy is released under conditions after 12 years of incarceration. * On March 6, publishing of the Keable Commission report. * On August, publishing of the final report by the McDonald commission (''Certaines activités de la GRC et la connaissance qu’en avait le gouvernement : troisième rapport'').


1982

* In September, Paul Rose is the last member of the FLQ to be released from prison. * On September 27, Yves Langlois is sentenced to two years in prison for the kidnapping of Cross.


1984

* Raymond Villeneuve is the last FLQ member to come back.


Notes


References

* Fournier, Louis (1998). ''FLQ : Histoire d’un mouvement clandestin'', Outremont: Lanctôt, 533 p. imeline for 1960–1995 on pages 475-494* Claude Bélanger.
Chronology of the October Crisis, 1970, and its Aftermath
, in ''Quebec History''. Marianopolis College, August 23, 2000 * Julien Gaudreau.

, in ''AmériQuébec.net'', October 7, 2006 * Éric Sarault.

, in ''Bilan du Siècle''. Université de Sherbrooke, October 20, 2002 * Julien Paré.

, in ''Bilan du siècle''. Université de Sherbrooke, March 9, 2005 * Renaud Lavoie.

, in ''Site historique du Front de libération du Québec'', August 25, 2005 * McLoughlin, Michael. "Last Stop, Paris: the assassination of Mario Bachand and the death of the FLQ" (Viking: Toronto, 1998) {{DEFAULTSORT:Timeline Of The Flq Front de libération du Québec