Volume 7 • 2020 • Issue 7

Remembering Dentistry Leaders Dr. LouisDubé Dr. Louis Dubé of Sherbrooke, Quebec, passed away on September 21, 2020, at the age of 62. D r. Dubé studied dentistry at the University of Montreal, where he received his DMD in 1980. During his studies, Dr. Dubé contributed to the dental faculty newspaper. In September 1980, he established a private practice with his colleague Dr. Claude Beauchemin in Sherbrooke. Dr. Dubé was a caring and dedicated dentist whose passion for his profession led to numerous leadership positions in organized dentistry. In his early years of practice in Sherbrooke, Dr. Dubé joined the Estrie Dental Society and soon became involved on its Board. He was president of the College of Sherbrooke Foundation between 1991 and 1997. He was active in the affairs of the Quebec Dental Surgeons Association (ACDQ), becoming a director in 1992. That same year, he became a member of the Board of Examiners of the Order of Dentists of Quebec (ODQ). In 1994, he became a member of the National Dental Examining Board of Canada. In 1994, Dr. Dubé joined the CDA Board of Governors and Executive Council. For the following eight years, Dr. Dubé served on many committees, including student affairs, communications, education, claims management and dental benefits. In 2001, he was elected vice-president and he became CDA president in 2003. During his term as president, Dr. Dubé wanted to strengthen CDA’s position as the representative of all dentists in Canada, including its Quebec members. He advocated for a strong and unified profession in an ever-changing landscape. His colleagues from this time unanimously remember him as a great ambassador for CDA. “Louis and I were classmates in dental school and I have had the honour of calling him a friend since 1976,” says Dr. Benoit Soucy, CDA director of clinical and scientific affairs. “Throughout his career, Louis looked for ways to serve in a positive fashion, without looking for honours, he simply accepted when asked.” Dr. Dubé will be remembered by all who have known him as a warm, generous person who always believed things would get better. After his presidency, Dr. Dubé agreed to continue to work for CDA and sat on the Advocacy Committee until 2015. His role was extremely important in government relations, as he would represent CDA in all French language meetings with Quebec MPs during Days on the Hill and throughout the year. His credibility and persuasive abilities have led to improvements in many oral health care programs, including Veterans Affairs’, Non-Insured Health Benefits (NIHB) and CDA’s tobacco cessation initiatives. In 2006, he received the Certificate of Merit from CDA for his work with the organizing committee for the 2005 FDI meeting in Montreal. In 2014, in recognition of his exceptional contributions to organized dentistry and to the improvement of oral health care in Canada, he was presented with CDA’s Distinguished Service Award. Dr. Dubé is survived by his wife, Diane; his mother, Marguerite; his sisters, Esther and Dominique; his mother‑in‑law, Pierrette; his brothers-in-law, Lorne and Jean-Marc; as well as many other family members. O bituaries 45 Issue 7 | 2020 |