Louis Fortier, O.C., O.Q.

In addition to his position as a professor at Université Laval in the Department of Biology, Dr. Louis Fortier is the scientific director of ArcticNet, a Canadian research network, and project leader for the Canadian research icebreaker, Amundsen.

Dr. Fortier received his B.Sc. and M.Sc. at Université Laval (1976, 1979), his PhD from McGill University (1983), and an honorary PhD from the University of Manitoba (2007). In 2001, he created Québec-Océan, an inter-institutional research group that coordinates the efforts of oceanographers based at Quebec universities and government laboratories. He also holds the Canada Research Chair on the Response of Arctic Marine Ecosystems to Climate Change. Dr. Fortier has led the Canadian efforts on several international programs such as the Saroma-Resolute Study (SARES) with Japan, and the Northeast Water Polynya Study (NEW) with Germany. Since 1997, he has spearheaded the International North Water Polynya Study (NOW) and the Canadian Arctic Shelf Exchange Study (CASES), two international research endeavours that study the effects of global change on the Arctic Ocean.

Université Laval awarded Dr. Fortier the title of Grand Diplomé and the Gloire de l’Escolle Medal of the Alumni Association in 2006. In 2007, Dr. Fortier was made an Officer of the Order of Canada. In 2008, the Government of Québec made him Officier de l’Ordre National du Québec. He received the Stefansson Medal from the Explorers Club in 2009, and the prestigious Prix Armand-Frappier of the Québec Government in 2010.

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