Bernard Descoteaux, former director of Quebec newspaper Le Devoir, dies at 77

Le Devoir managing editor Bernard Descoteaux poses for a photograph at the newspaper's office Wednesday, January 6, 2010 in Montreal. The French Montreal daily newspaper is celebrating its centennial this year. THE CANADIAN PRESS/Paul Chiasson

Former Le Devoir director Bernard Descoteaux died Saturday at the age of 77 after battling cancer, the Quebec newspaper has announced.

"In turbulent times, Le Devoir was able to count on this quiet force," the French-language publication said on social media platform X, previously known as Twitter.

Born in the town of Nicolet about halfway between Montreal and Quebec City, Descoteaux studied political science at the Universite de Montreal, then politics and economics at the University of Toronto.

He climbed through the ranks of the daily newspaper, working as a reporter, then parliamentary correspondent in Quebec City and Ottawa before becoming editor-in-chief. In 1999, he succeeded Lise Bissonnette as director, a post he held until 2016, when he was succeeded by Brian Myles.

The website of the Ordre national du Quebec, which honoured Descoteaux in 2010, notes that under his leadership, Le Devoir posted profits and maintained its circulation "despite a general downward trend" in the industry. The site also notes Le Devoir gained popularity during Descoteaux's tenure "given its growing influence on decision-makers and public opinion."

After leaving Le Devoir, he became chairman of the board of the non-profit Centre d'etudes sur les medias, housed in the Universite Laval in Quebec City. He stepped down from the position due to health issues in May.

"We consider ourselves extremely fortunate to have benefited for many years from the expertise and advice of this brilliant and generous man," the organization said in a statement online.

Descoteaux also wrote political columns on the website InfoBref between 2020 and 2022.

He authored several books and penned numerous prefaces, including that of current Parti Quebecois leader Paul St-Pierre Plamondon's 2010 book "Des Jeunes et l'Avenir du Quebec."

"I've always had the greatest admiration for Bernard Descoteaux," St-Pierre Plamondon wrote on X. "Calm, thoughtful and very generous with his time, he always spoke with measure, objectivity and accuracy, qualities that are increasingly rare these days. He was both a mentor and an inspiration to me."

Quebec Premier Francois Legault was also among those who shared condolences on X, calling the former Le Devoir director a "brilliant and kind man."

Descoteaux was awarded a medal of honour by Quebec's National Assembly in 2017.

This report by The Canadian Press was first published Jan. 13, 2024.