MONTREAL, QUEBEC -- (Marketwire) -- 04/28/12 -- On behalf of the Honourable Steven Blaney, Minister of Veterans Affairs, Senator Jacques Demers attended the launch of the biography of Brigadier-General Guy Gauvreau, DSO, written by the respected journalist Pierre Vennat. Senator Demers was joined by business people, politicians and senior officers from the Canadian Forces at the Fusiliers Mont-Royal armoury to mark the launch of the book.

"Brigadier-General Guy Gauvreau was a prominent figure in Canadian military history and the Quebec military community," said Minister Blaney. "Our Government is proud to acknowledge the important contributions made by Brigadier-General Guy Gauvreau. His determination and passion in the theatre of operations, as well as in his civilian career after the war, made him one of our nation's truest heroes."

"Mr. Vennat's work is a fitting tribute to such a leading figure in Canada's military history, recognizing the enormous contributions made by Brigadier-General Gauvreau to the Fusiliers Mont-Royal regiment, to his community and to our country," said Senator Demers.

Guy Gauvreau joined the Fusiliers Mont-Royal in 1935 as a sub-lieutenant and, when war was declared in 1939, voluntarily enlisted in the active battalion. He followed the regiment to Iceland and then England, and in 1941, was named to the staff of the Second Canadian Division. Promoted to brigadier-general in Normandy in 1944, he was badly wounded by a mine in the fall of the same year. In civilian life after the war, Mr. Gauvreau held a number of public positions, notably becoming the founding president of Place Bonaventure in Montreal.

Veterans Affairs Canada believes in the importance of sharing the stories of the men and women who have served for Canada, to keep their memory alive as part of our collective history.

To discover other stories of Canadian heroes, visit the "Canada Remembers" section of the Veterans Affairs Canada Web site at veterans.gc.ca.