Dr. Armand Frappier
His career
The school of hygiene
In 1927, Armand Frappier set up the diagnostic laboratory at Saint-Luc Hospital; he managed it until 1943.
The thirties were hard and sad. The economic crisis dragged on. Institutions were just scraping by. In Quebec, the university and the scientific community had to fight for their survival. The construction of the new building for the Université de Montréal, on Mont Royal, was interrupted for lack of money. In the middle of these gray times, Armand Frappier returned from abroad, his head full of projects…
But his employer, the Université de Montréal, was unable to offer him a decent salary. To make a living, he had to take up a second position as chief of laboratories at the Hôpital Saint-Luc.
Elsewhere in the world, bacteriology was making big strides. After his studies in the United States and France, Dr. Frappier attacked head on the work of creating a modern bacteriology department in Montreal at the Faculty of Medicine of the Université de Montréal. During the reorganization of the department, he introduced the Master’s and Doctoral programs. From 1933 on, Dr. Frappier taught microbiology and preventive medicine there, and continued to do so for more than 35 years. He was the founder and dean of the university’s school of hygiene for 20 years. This school was the first and only French language university of its kind in the world. Armand Frappier was a pioneer in the school’s organization.
BCG vaccine production
The Université de Montréal named Dr. Frappier assistant professor in bacteriology and director of the BCG laboratory. This laboratory would eventually become the most important one of its kind in the Americas and Canada was the second country, after France, to produce the BCG vaccine.
The BCG vaccine against tuberculosis contained no preservatives. The technique used allowed it to be prepared quickly and specific conditions ensured its preservation. Neither the vaccine nor the strain was ever contaminated in more than 50 years.
In March 1938, Dr. Frappier founded the Institut de microbiologie et d’hygiène de Montréal, and served as its director for 38 years.
In 1939, the lack of space and the need to build a « hyperimmunization stable » led the Institute’s administrators to buy a farm in Laval-des-Rapides, a suburb of Montreal. Over the years, the acquired land covered 168 arpents, which is equivalent to 142 acres or 6,213,723 square feet; on it now stand 24 buildings, including several laboratories.
It is this research center that since 1975 has been called the Institut Armand-Frappier.
Since 1998, this teaching and research institute has been part of the Institut national de la recherche scientifique (INRS), a constituent of the Université du Québec.
Foundation of the Institute
Despite the prevailing economic crisis, financial aid to found the Institute was sought from the Quebec Premier, Maurice Duplessis, with the support of Dr. Préfontaine and his friends. The Institute was initially housed in the Mount Royal building of the Université de Montréal. The Institute was on the 6th floor, and as there was no elevator, the personnel had to climb 240 stairs to get to it. Heifers used in research were carried up on men’s backs.
The beginnings of the Institut in Laval
The beginnings of the University of Montreal’s Institut de microbiologie et d’hygiène at 531, boulevard des Prairies in Laval.
Located, at first, in the main building of the Université de Montréal on Mont Royal, the Institute moved to the present Laval campus in 1963. This land was part of a farm that had been bought in 1939 in order to keep the big animals (horses and calves) needed in the production of serums, diphtheria and tetanus toxoids, as well as smallpox vaccines. The food for the Institute’s numerous laboratory animals was also grown at the farm.
War effort
World War II broke out in 1939. The young director of the Institute (Dr. Frappier was only 35 years old) convinced the Red Cross and the National Defense minister that his team could take over the lyophilization of blood serum for the armed forces. This first big challenge was met with success: 150,000 units of serum were sent to the Canadian and allied forces. At the end of the war, in 1945, the Institute is in a good position and called to a promising future.
The Canadian Red Cross Society awarded Dr. Armand Frappier its highest distinction, the honorary member’s medal, to reward the team at the Institut de microbiologie et d’hygiène de l’Université de Montréal for their great effort during the Second World War.
Production of vaccines and antibiotics
In 1942, the Institute produced the diphtheria, whooping cough (pertussis), and tetanus vaccine (DPT), and the antibiotics gramicidin and penicillin.
The Institute’s clientele was composed of more than 14 countries, all the Canadian provinces, the federal government and all its civil services, its military services and its aid programs to developing nations, hospitals, and pharmaceutical companies.
After the war, penicillin and streptomycin were put at the disposal of civilians. It was at that time that the Institut Armand-Frappier, along with industry, allowed these antibiotics to be distributed to Canadians.
At the time, penicillin was only distributed for military use. One day, when a civilian patient was on the verge of dying, Dr. Frappier was asked to determine the nature of the infection from a microbial point of view. He took action and showed the test results to a committee. The committee was satisfied and made penicillin available to him. Within just a few hours following treatment, the patient’s condition was remarkably improved and within a few days he was in perfect health. Dr. Frappier was thus the first civilian doctor in Quebec to treat a civilian patient with penicillin by injection. Since then this treatment has been used to cure numerous infections!
The new great challenge of the Institute: the fight against two great viral diseases which are a menace to public health: influenza and poliomyelitis. Dr. Vytautas Pavilanis developed the virology department of the Institute and managed the team that produced vaccines against polio and influenza. With time running out, the Institute was able to produce, beginning in 1957, the anti-polio Salk vaccine as well as the vaccine against Asian flu.
Vaccination campaign
In 1946, Indian and Northern Affairs Canada asked Dr. Frappier to conduct sanitation studies of the First Nations communities of Quebec and Canada.
The mission given to Dr. Frappier consisted of studying the opportunity and feasibility of vaccinating the nomadic First Nations people against tuberculosis. The first region he visited in 1949 was Waswanipi, north of Senneville. Dr. Frappier participates in vaccination campaigns with First Nations by administering the tuberculosis vaccine himself.
Dr. Frappier demonstrated to the authorities the importance of vaccinating indigenous populations, who were being ravaged by tuberculosis. In 1950 and 1952, he went to the Mistassini and Manawan reserves to convince the populations to accept vaccination and to teach the technique to the nurses. BCG vaccination succeeded in eradicating the tuberculosis epidemic in these populations at the time.
Candling device used in the production of the influenza vaccine : In 1957, the Institute became the only continuous influenza vaccine producer in Canada.
Production of vaccines : Production of the Salk and Sabin vaccines for the prevention of poliomyelitis. Rotating system for stirring tubes containing tissue culture of monkey kidneys and viruses for the production of Salk vaccine against poliomyelitis by the Institut de microbiologie et d’hygiène de l’Université de Montréal.
His retirement
A well-deserved retirement!
Armand Frappier was a welcoming, joyful, and dynamic man. His tenacity and perseverance allowed him to achieve the goals he set for himself. He was a philosopher of lively spirit and sound judgment. Moreover, he always looked at both sides of the coin before giving his opinion. At his conferences, his charisma was apparent and he excelled in the art of making even the driest subject matter seem interesting. He was a good speaker and could easily make the transition from seriousness to frank light-heartedness. cc In business matters, he had a good sense of organization and administration. His files were always well prepared. He was also a tireless reader. During his numerous travels, he would take the time to read up on the major and the less major historical aspects of cities and towns.
Dr. Frappier retired in 1974, at the age of 70.
Photograph of Dr. Frappier sitting at his desk at the Institut Armand-Frappier.
A gift for Dr. Frappier
A photograph of Dr. Frappier with bound copies of his writings, a gift from the personnel of the Institut de microbiologie et d’hygiène de Montréal when he retired
His awards
The hard work that leads to the realization of a great dream is, in itself, its own reward. The Canadian and Quebec governments have shown their appreciation for the Institute’s services to the population, by awarding to Dr. Frappier their highest awards. Six universities (of Montreal, Laval, McGill, Quebec, Paris, and Krakow) have given him honorary doctorates. Several science academies and medical associations have given him medals and honorary diplomas; he is one of the rare foreigners to have received the Jean-Toy award from the Académie des Sciences de l’Institut de France.
Consult the table below for more information on some of Dr. Frappier’s awards.
Officer of the Order of the British Empire
©Musée de la santé Armand-Frappier
During World War II, the Institute contributed to setting up blood donor clinics for the Red Cross in the province of Quebec. Dr. Frappier managed the human serum desiccation laboratories at the institute he directed. Human serum, which was desiccated and bottled, was labeled with the names of the Red Cross and of the Institute. This serum was distributed to armies all over the world. After the war, he received the OBE (Order of the British Empire) for services rendered. This medal, the highest distinction of the Order, was awarded to Dr. Frappier in 1946 by King George VI, in recognition of his war effort.
For more information
This medal was created by King George V during the First World War to recognize the services rendered to the war effort by civilians and military personnel assigned to auxiliary functions. During the war of 1939-1945, the Institute provided services to the armed forces by analyzing the effect of certain textiles on the development of gas gangrene caused by anaerobic bacteria. Beginning in 1941, the Institute moved into the unfinished building at the Université de Montréal in order to provide vaccines, serums, and other products (diphtheria and tetanus toxoids, anti- typhoid and anti-smallpox vaccines, serum and freeze-dried blood) to the Canadian and allied armies. The rapid scientific and technological developments required because of the war enhanced the reputation of the Institute’s researchers. Furthermore, the Institute became a respected provider of vaccines and biological products in Quebec and in Canada. This, in turn, ensured that funding was sufficient to allow the Institute to develop.
Medal signed by H. Dubois commemorating the 50th anniversary of the death of Louis Pasteur
©Musée de la santé Armand-Frappier
Medal signed by H. Dubois commemorating the 50th anniversary of the death of Louis Pasteur This medal was awarded to Dr. Armand Frappier when he represented Canada at the International Congress of Pasteurian Sciences in 1946. The Congress took place in Paris, Dôle, and Arbois, three cities that Pasteur visited throughout his career. Dr. Frappier was one of the first Canadians to visit France after the Second World War.
Medal of the Officier d’Académie de France
©Musée de la santé Armand-Frappier
This medal of the Officier d’Académie de France was awarded to Dr. Frappier in 1951 for services rendered to the French cause by the Ministère de l’Éducation Nationale de la République française.
In a transcription of a speech by Dr. Albert Jutras, who was a medical student with Dr. Frappier, to the St-Laurent Kiwanas Club on June 17, 1964, in honor of the 25th anniversary of the Institute, one can read, on page 2: « At the crossroads of medical trends, I remember us receiving together, with worried looks and trembling hands, the Palmes Académiques that France bestowed upon us in 1951 ».
Medal of the Association canadienne-française pour l’avancement des sciences
©Musée de la santé Armand-Frappier
This medal was a tribute to Dr. Armand Frappier from the Association canadienne-française pour l’avancement des sciences (ACFAS). The medal, bearing the effigy of Urgel Eugène Archambault, the first principal of the École Polytechnique de Montréal, was awarded to him in 1954. The ACFAS was founded in 1923 by the country’s first francophone scientists, notably Mgr Vincent Piette, the president of the Université de Montréal, brother Marie-Victorin, Doctors Léo Pariseau, Arthur Bernier, and Édouard Asselin, the economist Édouard Montpetit, the Société de Biologie de Montréal, etc. Today, the ACFAS is known as the Association francophone pour le savoir.
Medal of the Académie nationale de médecine de France
©Musée de la santé Armand-Frappier
The medal of the Académie nationale de médecine de France awarded to Dr. Frappier in 1957, when he was nominated as foreign correspondent member in replacement of Sir A. Fleming, deceased. Dr. Fleming, who discovered penicillin, visited the Institut de microbiologie et d’hygiène de l’Université de Montréal, founded by Dr. Armand Frappier, on July 10, 1945.
Medal signed P. Turin commemorating the centennial of the birth of professor Albert Calmette
©Musée de la santé Armand-Frappier
Medal signed P. Turin commemorating the centennial of the birth of professor Albert Calmette (1863-1933), co-discoverer of the BCG vaccine with professor Camille Guérin at the Institut Pasteur de Paris. This medal was offered to Dr. Armand Frappier in 1963 when he was a guest of the French government for the third time since 1945, in order to take part in the festivities surrounding this event.
Honoris causa doctoral degree from the Université de Paris
©Musée de la santé Armand-Frappier
Plaque offered to Dr. Armand Frappier when he received a honoris causa doctoral degree from the Université de Paris in 1964.
Medal of the Centennial of the Canadian Confederation
©Musée de la santé Armand-Frappier
Medal of the Centennial of the Canadian Confederation awarded to Dr. Armand Frappier, by the government of Canada on July 1, 1967.
Companion of the Order of Canada
©Musée de la santé Armand-Frappier
October 28, 1969: Dr. Frappier received Canada’s highest decoration: the Companion of the Order of Canada for services rendered to his country and to humanity.
The ribbon of the Companion of the Order of Canada, the country’s highest decoration, was awarded to Dr. Frappier by His Excellency, Roland Michener, Governor General of Canada, on October 28, 1969, for his research in microbiology.
Honoris causa doctoral degree from Université Laval
©Musée de la santé Armand-Frappier
Gown offered to Dr. Armand Frappier when he received a honoris causa doctoral degree from Université Laval on June 5, 1971.
Bene Merenti Pro Patria silver medal from the Société St-Jean-Baptiste de Montréal
©Musée de la santé Armand-Frappier
Bene Merenti Pro Patria silver medal from the Société Saint-Jean-Baptiste de Montréal awarded to Dr. Armand Frappier by Monseigneur P. Caza in 1972.
Quote: We are offering you this medal in appreciation of the universally recognized scientific work you have accomplishing since the founding of your institute in 1938. Our Society would also like to underline the exceptional honor that was bestowed upon you last December when the Jean Toy prize was awarded to you by the Académie des Sciences de l’Institut de France.
Prairie des Vins d’Arbois medal
©Musée de la santé Armand-Frappier
Pairie des Vins d’Arbois medal awarded to Dr. Armand Frappier during the festivities surrounding the 150th anniversary of the birth of Pasteur, at the Grange Grillard estate, during an evening in honor of the directors of research institutes the world over, after their visit to Dole and Arbois, where Louis Pasteur was born and raised. The celebration was held on May 5, 1973.
Medal of a knight of the Military Order of Saint Lazarus of Jerusalem
©Musée de la santé Armand-Frappier
Medal of a knight of the Military Order of Saint Lazarus of Jerusalem, given to Dr. Armand Frappier in 1974.
Medal of the Institut de microbiologie et d’hygiène de Montréal
©Musée de la santé Armand-Frappier
This medal, bearing the logo of the Institut de microbiologie et d’hygiène de Montréal (IMHM) was given to Dr. Armand Frappier by the Institute when he retired from his director’s post in 1974. He received the medal at the party celebrating the event held in 1975. The same year, the Institute took on the name of its founder and today it is called the INRS-Institut Armand-Frappier.
Honoris causa doctoral degree from the Université de Montréal
©Musée de la santé Armand-Frappier
Gown offered to Dr. Armand Frappier when he received his honoris causa doctoral degree from the Université de Montréal on May 28,1976.
Medal of the Académie nationale de médecine de Paris
©Musée de la santé Armand-Frappier
Foreign associate medal of the Académie nationale de médecine de Paris. It was sent by mail to Dr. Armand Frappier in 1977, when he was nominated as a foreign associate.
Honoris causa doctoral degree from the Université du Québec
©Musée de la santé Armand-Frappier
Gown offered to Dr. Armand Frappier when he received his honoris causa doctoral degree from the Université du Québec on September 27, 1978.
Honoris causa doctoral degree from Krakow University
©Musée de la santé Armand-Frappier
This medal, struck on the occasion of the sixth centennial of the faculty of medicine of the Nicolas Copernicus Academy of Medicine of Krakow (Academiae Medicae Nicolao Copernicanae Cracoviensis) was awarded to Dr. Frappier by the president of this Polish institution, professor Tadeusz Popiela. The address and the medal were given to him during the ceremony to award his honoris causa doctoral degree from the Krakow Medical Academy on February 17, 1978, at the Institut Armand-Frappier in Laval, by Professor Marian Sliwinski, the Polish Minister of Health and Social Welfare.
Frederic Newton Gisborne Starr medal from the Canadian Medical Association
©Musée de la santé Armand-Frappier
Frederic Newton Gisborne Starr medal from the Canadian Medical Association. It was awarded to Dr. Armand Frappier on June 20, 1979, during the association’s annual congress.
The Royal Society of Canada’s Thomas W. Eadie medal
©Musée de la santé Armand-Frappier
The Royal Society of Canada’s Thomas W. Eadie medal awarded to Dr. Armand Frappier in Saskatoon, in 1979 during the society’s annual meeting.
Prix Marie-Victorin
©Musée de la santé Armand-Frappier
The Marie-Victorin medal was awarded to Dr. Frappier by the Quebec government’s Ministère des affaires culturelles (MAC) in October, 1979.
In an interview with the Devoir, Dr. Frappier stated that Marie-Victorin, whom he knew very well, encouraged him to continue his research in microbiology in the laboratories of Hôpital Saint-Luc.
Excerpt from a leaflet: Les prix du Québec: It was the idea of Athanase David, the Province’s secretary at the time, to showcase the excellence of Quebecers in various areas. During 40 years, from 1922 to 1966, the Concours litéraires et scientifiques du Québec crowned the work of more than 500 individuals who also received, for one of their works in particular, the highest distinction awarded by the government of the province of Quebec, the prix David. It was only in 1967 and 1968 that it was decided to award the prix Athanase-David and the scientific awards to men and women for their entire body of work. In 1977, aiming to reflect as accurately as possible the dynamism of our culture, the government of Quebec regrouped the scientific awards under the name prix Marie-Victorin, reserving the prix Athanase-David for literary creation and creating 3 other awards: the prix Denise-Pelletier (performing arts), the prix Paul-Émile-Borduas (visual arts), and the prix Léon-Gérin (social sciences). Prix Marie-Victorin: this is the highest distinction awarded to a scientist to highlight the excellence of his work. The award was named in honor of brother Marie-Victorin, author of La flore Laurentienne and founder of the Montreal Botanical Garden.
The Meritas trophy of the Laval Chamber of Commerce
©Musée de la santé Armand-Frappier
A shrewd businessman, Dr. Armand Frappier contributed to the creation of several high technology companies in the biomedical field through the Institut de microbiologie et d’hygiène de Montréal, renamed the Institut Armand-Frappier in 1975. For example, in 1978, the Institut set up IAF Production Inc., which later became IAF Diagnostic. In 1981, the Laval Chamber of Commerce honored Dr. Frappier’s entire career by giving him the Meritas trophy. A souvenir certificate accompanied the trophy.
Prix du Mérite de la Fondation Jean-Louis Lévesque
©Musée de la santé Armand-Frappier
The medal of the Prix du Mérite de la Fondation Jean-Louis Lévesque was given to Dr. Frappier on October 19, 1983, at the Institute.
The prix J.-L. Lévesque includes a $100,000 bursary that Dr. Frappier turned over to the foundation that bears his name. This award honors a Canadian citizen or a group for an exceptional contribution in one of the following areas of activity: the arts, natural sciences and social work, medical or scientific research, business, industry, and communication. The award was created in 1980.
Knight of Malta medal
©Musée de la santé Armand-Frappier
Towards the end of his life, Dr. Armand Frappier was honored in many different ways for the quality of his career devoted to healing the sick. In 1984, the Ordre Souverain Militaire Hospitalier St-Jean-de-Jérusalem et de Malte (OSMM) honored Dr. Frappier by knighting him. During the knighting ceremony, Dr. Frappier received this medal bearing the Order’s insignia: an eight-pointed golden cross on white enamel topped with a crown and a gold ribbon bearing a crossed shield. The medal is worn around the neck on a red ribbon. Several photographs from the Collections bear witness to this particular moment. The OSMM is a Catholic chivalry order founded during the Middle Ages, but today it has abandoned its military vocations and is devoted to medical and humanitarian endeavors.
Grands Officiers of the Ordre national du Québec
©Musée de la santé Armand-Frappier
In 1985, Dr. Frappier was one of five Grands Officiers of the Ordre national du Québec.
L’Ordre du Québec was created on June 20, 1984, by a law creating the Ordre national du Québec. On the recommendation of the Prime Minister and on the advice of a 9-member consulting committee, the government appointed the members of the Ordre National du Québec. Dr. Frappier was part of the first cohort of appointees.
Medal of the 125th anniversary of the Canadian confederation
©Musée de la santé Armand-Frappier
Medal of the 125th anniversary of the Canadian confederation 1867-1992 received by Dr. Armand Frappier posthumously in 1993.