Born on November 1, 1933, in Saint-Jean-de-Dieu (Rimouski), Br. Jacques Bélanger entered the Capuchin novitiate in Cacouna in 1953 (Province of Eastern Canada); he was ordained a priest in 1961. After three years of study in Rome, he devoted the next eight years to the formation of young religious. Since 1972 he has held leadership positions within the Order, notably during four terms as provincial minister and as General Councilor of the Order in Rome from 1982 to 1988.
During his term as provincial minister, he was one of the initiators of the Social Justice Committee at the Canadian Conference in Quebec. His attention to people, aimed at their human and spiritual development, denoted exceptional pastoral qualities. He possessed the special gift of compassionate listening to the poor and spiritual guidance of people from diverse backgrounds.
He died May 11, 2025, in Laval and was laid to rest at the Capuchin Mausoleum in Montreal.