Georges Brossard: Canadian Entomologist and Founder of the Montreal Insectarium

Work and public outreach

Brossard's most prominent achievement was founding the Montreal Insectarium, a natural history museum dedicated to insects that opened in February 1990. The institution displays mounted specimens, living colonies and interpretive exhibits designed to explain insect biology, ecology and the role of insects in human life. He also presented and advised on film and television projects about insects, including the documentary series Insectia, which reached international audiences and highlighted exotic species and scientific research.

Collections, methods and approach

Throughout his career Brossard assembled and curated extensive insect collections, emphasizing both fieldwork and collaboration with scientists, hobbyists and conservation groups. His approach blended showmanship and scholarship: exhibits were intended to attract public curiosity while supporting scientific identification, species documentation and educational programs. The Insectarium and related displays aimed to shift popular perceptions of insects from fear or indifference toward appreciation and understanding.

Honours and recognition

For his contributions to public science and natural history, Brossard received several formal honours. He was named a Member of the Order of Canada in 1999 (Order of Canada) and was made a Knight of the National Order of Quebec in 2006. His career is often cited as an example of how outreach and museum work can elevate public interest in biodiversity and conservation. Contemporary descriptions refer to him as an influential entomologist and communicator.

Later life and legacy

Georges Brossard died on June 26, 2019, after a battle with lung cancer; his death occurred in Saint‑Mathieu‑de‑Beloeil, Quebec. Reports of his illness and passing note both his role in establishing permanent public displays about insects and his wider impact on environmental education and museum practice. His life’s work left institutional and cultural traces: the Insectarium continues to serve researchers, educators and visitors, and media projects he helped produce remain resources for introductory entomology.

Notable facts

• Founder of the Montreal Insectarium, opened in February 1990.
• Host and contributor to televised insect documentaries, including Insectia.
• Recipient of national honours such as the Order of Canada and Quebec’s national order.
• His illness was reported as lung cancer (health report), and he passed away in Saint‑Mathieu‑de‑Beloeil.