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Jean-Louis Roy, journalist and diplomat (born 1 February 1941 in Beauce, Québec).
Jean-Louis Roy, journalist and diplomat (born 1 February 1941 in Beauce, Québec). After studying history at the Université de Montréal and McGill University, Roy served as director of McGill’s centre for French-Canadian studies from 1971 to 1981, while also conducting research for the Canada/United States research consortium established by Harvard University, McGill University, Université Laval and the Université de Montréal. He was president of the Québec League of Human Rights from 1976 to 1978 and commissioner of the Québec Commission of Human Rights and Freedoms from 1978 to 1980.
In February 1981, Roy became editor of the Montréal daily Le Devoir and tried to breathe new life into the struggling newspaper. During his five years as its editor, he had to cope with especially difficult economic conditions. As part of his efforts to revive the newspaper, he created an 8-to-12-page daily supplement, Le Devoir économique, designed to compete with the business coverage of English-language newspapers.
Upon leaving Le Devoir, Roy was appointed head of mission at the Québec Government Office in Paris in February 1986, and he held this position until January 1990. He was then elected Secretary General of the Agence de la coopération culturelle et technique (Agency for Cultural and Technical Cooperation, now the Agence de la Francophonie), and he held that position until April 1998. Serving Francophonie remains one of his central commitments and passions.
Since 1998, Jean-Louis Roy has served as president of Partenariat International, an international development think tank. A man of letters, he has authored some 20 books, ranging from poetry to politics and including La Francophonie, le Projet communautaire (1993) and Une Nouvelle Afrique (1999).
The French government has awarded Jean-Louis Roy the rank of Officer of the Legion of Honour. His knowledge and profound interest in French-speaking Africa have been recognized and honoured by many African countries, such as Benin, Burkina Faso, Gabon, Senegal and the Central African Republic.
