Calixa Lavallée is best known for composing the music for O Canada. It officially became the national anthem of Canada in 1967. Lavallée was born in Verchères in 1842.
Lavallée was a pioneer who made a huge contribution to the development of early Canadian music. Due to his influence on Québec music, the St-Jean-Baptiste Society of Montreal named the Prix de musique Calixa-Lavallée in his honour.
