Honorary degree citation - Pierre Dansereau*

By: D.A. Fraser, June 1971

Mr. Chancellor:

I have the honour to present to you Pierre Dansereau, distinguished biogeographer, botanist and author. Pierre Dansereau est né à Montréal et a voyagé à travers le monde. Au début de ses études, pour travailler avec des grands specialistes dans son domaine, et plus tard a séjourné plus ou moins longtemps à l'étranger; il est - présent et heureusement pour nous - rentré dans sa ville natale.

After graduating with a Bachelor of Arts from the University of Montreal, he continued his studies in Europe and received a doctorate from the University of Geneva, Switzerland. His marriage to Francoise Masson at Terrebonne, Quebec, in 1935, is another early milestone in his varied career, for it was Francoise who gave him her support as he moved first to study in France and Switzerland back to Montreal, where he was engaged in work at the Botanical Garden, the University of Montreal and Macdonald College, then to Brasil, the United States, back to Canada, the continental United States again, the Azores, and by now I cannot keep the countries in order, for shorter, but no less important assignments to New Zealand, Nigeria and Ghana, Puerto Rico, Hawaii, Scandanavia and the U.S.S.R. are crowding in. Let it be said that Pierre Dansereau contributed to the Biogeography of both the Arctic and the Tropics, while having his feet firmly planted in the temperate zone. His coi ninittment to ecology and the total environment has come, as witnessed by his books, much sooner than the public awareness of this world wide challenge. A recipient of many national and international honours, he has presently been appointed Professor at the University of Quebec and Scientific Director of the Centre of Ecological Research of Montreal. There, among his many activities, he is heading a team involved in the ecological implications of the new St. Scholastique Airport.

Mr. Chancellor, I am honoured to present to you, on behalf of the University Council, and authority of the Board of Governors, Pierre Dansereau, a Fellow of the Royal Society of Canada and a Companion of the Order of Canada, that you may confer on him the degree of Doctor of Science, honoris causa.

* deceased