(Quebec) One of Quebec’s greatest builders is no more. Engineer Armand Couture died Thursday at the age of 91, his family announced in a statement Saturday morning.
Posted at 11:48 am
Armand Couture was a member of the management of Lalonde Valois Lamarre Valois et Associates, which became Lavalin, then SNC-Lavalin (1968-1991).
During his young career as an engineer, he was the chief designer of the Louis-Hippolyte-La Fontaine Bridge-Tunnel, which opened on March 11, 1967, the project launched by Prime Minister Daniel Johnson and his predecessor, Jean Lesage. Also the mayor of Montreal at the time, Jean Drapeau.
Armand Couture is seen as a pioneer in his field. He was involved in the sale of the first major contracts of Quebec engineering firms internationally.
He was also President and Chief Operating Officer of Hydro-Québec from 1992 to 1996.
His name is closely associated with the construction and operation of the James Bay hydroelectric complexes. He was also appointed Chairman of the Board of the Société d’Nergie de la Baie-James during the negotiations of the Treaty of James Bay and Northern Quebec and several other agreements with Quebec natives.
Armand Couture was made an Officer of the National Order of Quebec in 1999.
He was also named a Member of the Order of Canada in 2001 and Grand Builder of the Polytechnic Alumni Association in 2006.
Armand Couture sits on the board of many public organizations and businesses. He notably held the reins of the board of the National Institute of Scientific Research (NRS) in Quebec from 1998 to 2012.
He is survived by three children, Luke, Denis and Benoit, several grandchildren and great-grandchildren.
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