Prof. Pawel Wyczynski (1921-2008), poet, professor of French literature. He graduated from the University of Lille, France. In 1951, he emigrated to Canada, where he became a lecturer in French literature at the University of Ottawa. He received his doctorate in 1957 and his professorship in 1964. In his academic work he specialised in the study of Canadian French-language literature. He was particularly renowned for his work on the life and works of the poet Emil Nelligan (a biography and an edition of his complete works jointly with R. Robidoux) and his studies on the works of Laberge. For seven years he served on the Royal Commission, appointed by Prime Minister Lester Pearson, to study the introduction of two official languages (French and English) in Canada - The Royal Commission on Biligualism and Biculturalism. He has taught at many universities, including Brazil, France, England, Italy and Poland. He has received four honorary doctorates (Laurencienne University in Sudbury, University of Guelph, Laval University, Catholic University of Lublin). He has authored, co-authored and edited over 62 books and over 100 critical and literary articles. He is the author of a play in Polish and has published two volumes of poetry in Polish: W słonecznej ciemni and Mowa korzeni . He has received numerous awards for his academic achievements, including Canada's highest honour, the Order of Canada (Member).