About Us

An 80-Year History of Québec Funeral Directors

1931—The Beginning of Alfred Dallaire Inc.

Alfred Dallaire and his wife Aline Dupuis, owners of a barbershop in the Hochelaga district of Montréal, are deeply upset by the tragic news of an impoverished young Ukrainian woman who has been hit by a train and killed. To compound the tragedy, no funeral director is willing to undertake a viewing, due to the woman’s poverty. It is then that Mr. Dallaire and Ms. Dupuis, two ambitious entrepreneurs with a large back room in their shop, agree to Father Vladimir Sluzar’s request that they open their premises as a funeral home to pay tribute to the poor woman without a family.

1952—Expansion

Alfred Dallaire and Aline Dupuis pass the torch to their daughter, Thérèse, and their son-in-law, Paul-Émile Légaré, each of whom has creative and entrepreneurial instincts. Together, they develop Alfred Dallaire Inc. In 1967, Mr. Légaré, a pioneer in the funeral business, establishes a prearrangement service that allows recipients to inform loved ones of their wishes for funeral arrangements. This cutting-edge service relieves the bereaved of the pressure of difficult decisions, and protects against the extravagant choices often made by loved ones facing painful and demanding circumstances.

As years go by, Mr. Légaré relies upon his vision for the future to guide him in his acquisitions as he develops the concept of the funeral complex, in which viewing rooms, chapels, reception halls, child-care facilities and even art galleries are gathered together under the same roof.

Still expanding, in 1983 Mr. Légaré and Ms. Dallaire develop their first cemetery: Longueuil’s Cimetière Près du Fleuve. As time passes, they continue to expand their network of funeral homes, complexes and cemeteries all the way through Montréal to the city of Laval.

In developing their business, they revolutionize the Québec funeral industry.

2003—Groupe Yves Légaré Inc. Is Born

Son of Paul-Émile Légaré and Thérèse Dallaire, Yves Légaré, embalmer by profession, and his life partner Diane Laberge continue to develop the Alfred Dallaire legacy by building the Ste. Dorothy Complex, the Du Ruisseau Mausoleum and the second cemetery of the network, Cimetière Papineau. The Yves Légaré Group is formed in 2003.

Philanthropy

Yves Légaré and Diane Laberge continue a family tradition by offering displays of art throughout their funeral complexes. Furthermore, they participate (with their son Éric) in a variety of charity events, through which they have, to date, given over $250,000 to different foundations.

In order to be recognized as not only the largest, but also the finest network of funeral homes in Québec, the Yves Légaré Group continues its persistent innovation by providing quality services with prices affordable to all budgets. Thanks to a dynamic team with imaginative leadership, the company that Alfred Dallaire began has been ensured continuing prosperity.