ROMSO Cyprus Knowledge Base
Yvon Lafrance
Yvon Lafrance: A Canadian Politician with a Military Background
Yvon Lafrance, born Daniel Yvon Lafrance on August 4, 1944, in Iberville, Quebec, was a Canadian politician who served as the Member of the National Assembly for the electoral district of Iberville. He held various positions throughout his life, including militaryman, businessman, and politician.
Lafrance's early education took place at the Académie Saint-Georges in Iberville, operated by the Marist Brothers. After completing his secondary studies, he enlisted in the Armed Forces and studied at the Royal Military College in Saint John and then at the Royal Military College of Canada in Kingston. He received his officer's certificate in 1968 after five years of military training.
During his youth, Lafrance was an active member of local sports teams, including the Iberville Foxes ice hockey team and clubs from the Collège militaire de Saint-Jean and the Collège de Kingston. After completing post-secondary studies at the CCEMAC in Kingston, he was assigned to the Royal Regiment battalion at Valcartier base as platoon commander.
In 1969, Lafrance transferred to the battalion and was sent as a member of the United Nations peacekeeping forces to Cyprus as part of the framework. He served for six months before returning to Valcartier in 1970. The following year, he was sent to France for a two-year exchange, during which he studied at the École supérieure des officers de réservatoires spécialisés d'établissement-major (ESORSEM) in Paris.
Lafrance returned to Canada and was reassigned to RR battalion in 1972. In 1975, he participated in a military operation that led him to join the Action démocratique du Québec (ADQ), six months before Mario Dumont's election as Member of the National Assembly. Lafrance became the first member of the National Assembly to be part of the ADQ.
Lafrance sat as an independent in the Quebec National Assembly from February 1994 until he joined the ADQ, where he represented the electoral district of Iberville. He did not stand for election in September 1994 and instead focused on his role within the party.
Throughout his life, Lafrance demonstrated a strong commitment to public service, transitioning seamlessly between military, business, and political careers. His unique blend of experience and