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By Valérie Garneau, 1996
All rights reserved
The Corporation des thanatologues du Québec was founded following the dissolution of the first association of funeral directors and embalmers of the province of Québec. The association’s incorporation was published in the Gazette officielle on May 25,1957. Mr. Ubald Lalime was the new association’s president at the time. The association’s first convention took place in Sherbrooke, on October 17, 18, and 19, 1957. The idea of starting the first college of embalmers was discussed at a meeting in September 1957. By the end of the first year, the Corporation had 473 members.
In 1958, more precisely on December 6th, the Corporation founded the Institut des embaumeurs. Classes were initially given at the University of Montréal. In June 1959, 59 students were enrolled. In 1960, enrolment was limited to a maximum of 50 students. The course consisted of two semesters of 120 hours each. The first woman to graduate from the Institute was Lise Lépine, in 1964.
In November 1962, Robert Lépine succeeded Ulbald Lalime as president, following the latter’s death. Mr. Lépine’s tenure as president was the longest in the Corporation’s history. Achievements during his term in office include the drafting of the first Code of Ethics in 1965, and the passing of relevant legislation concerning the practice of the profession.
On February 19, 1972, the Corporation changed its name from the Corporation of funeral directors and embalmers to the Corporation des thanatologues du Québec. At the same time, the old emblem was replaced with a more contemporary corporate image.
In 1978, the Corporation abandoned its private education activities. The Collège de Rosemont, in Montréal, has been dispensing courses in funeral services technology since 1980. About twenty new students enrol in the program every year and roughly 75% are women.
The Corporation, like the profession, is perpetually changing. It adopted a new Code of Ethics and new bylaws in 2002, and changed secretary general in 2003.
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