Bishop Valois was bishop of Saint-Jérôme for two decades, beginning in 1977 and ending with his resignation, due to health reasons, in 1997.

Born in Montreal, Bishop Valois was ordained to the priesthood for his hometown archdiocese in 1950 by Cardinal Paul-Émile Léger. Following his ordination to the priesthood, Bishop Valois had taught at the Seminary of Sainte-Thérèse in Sainte-Thérèse, Que. After a study leave from 1955 to 1957, he continued to teach at the seminary until 1962. He was then appointed a chaplain to the Jeunesse Étudiante Catholique (the JEC or Young Catholic Students), a ministry he continued to 1964. In 1968 he was appointed Vice-Rector and later Rector of the seminary. In the wake of the educational reforms taking place in Quebec at the time, this became the CÉGEP Collège Lionel-Groulx, of which he was in charge from 1968 to 1973.

In 1973, he was named pastor of Sainte-Adèle Parish in the diocese of Saint-Jérôme. Two years later, he was appointed Vicar General of the diocese and was also responsible for its pastoral services. He was the vicar capitular (diocesan administrator) before being ordained bishop.

As member of the Canadian Conference of Catholic Bishops (CCCB), Bishop Valois served on its Administrative Board (today its Permanent Council) and on the former Episcopal Commissions for Clergy and for Social Affairs (today the Commission for Justice and Peace), as well as the former French Sector Episcopal Commission for Social Communications. He was also a member of the Commission de la vidéo religieuse, a foundation established by the bishops of Canada to encourage Catholic broadcasting and film production in the French language.

His funeral Mass will be celebrated at Saint-Jérôme’s Cathedral on Aug. 9 at 10:30 a.m.