He was a church organist and taught at several educational and religious institutions in Montreal, Quebec.
Poirier was born Benjamin Perry in Tignish, Prince Edward Island.
He was the director of the Conservatoire national de musique from 1923 to 1925 and also served on the school's board of examiners for many years.
In 1921 he succeeded Joseph-Daniel Dussault as the organist at Notre-Dame Basilica, remaining in that post through 1954.
Pourier created a number of compositions during his career,[6][7] including several motets, patriotic songs, and works for solo piano and organ, the latter being most well-known.