Lefort, Paul Auguste | Biographical Dictionary of Architects in Canada

LEFORT, Paul Auguste (1871-1946) was active in Montreal, Que. where he was in partnership with Joseph O. Turgeon (see list of works under Turgeon & Lefort). Born in Montreal on 21 October 1871, Lefort studied architecture at McGill University under Prof. Stewart H. Capper for two years, and served a four year apprenticeship with the firm of Taylor & Gordon, and later worked as assistant in the office of Perrault, Mesnard & Venne. In 1898 he and Turgeon opened an new office, but their partnership was dissolved in late 1901. In early January 1902 Lefort moved to Ottawa to accept an appointment as a staff architect with the Dept. of Public Works, working under the direct supervision of David Ewart. This appointment was made permanent in September 1908 and Lefort spent the remaining period of his career with that Department until 1933. His membership in the Ontario Association of Architects lapsed in 1936, and Lefort died in Ottawa on 12 May 1946 (obituary Ottawa Journal, 13 May 1946, 14; Evening Citizen [Ottawa], 13 May 1946, 7; inf. Canada, Sessional Papers, 1919, Report No. 30, Civil Service List, 431-35; inf. Ontario Assoc. of Architects.). His son Jean S. Lefort later practised architecture in Ottawa under his own name from 1936 onward.