Educated at the Séminaire de Québec and Université Laval, Turcot enlisted in the Canadian Militia in 1935.

[1] He served in World War II, joining Royal 22e Régiment, part of the 1st Canadian Division under Major General Andrew McNaughton, in 1939.

After training in England for several years and defending the coast, the Regiment was sent in on the Allied invasion of Sicily, where Turcot was injured.

In 1952 he was appointed Director of Military Operations and Planning at National Defence Headquarters and in 1957 he was transferred to the International Commission for Supervision and Control of Laos.

[4] Subsequent to retirement he led the administration of the Montreal Olympics and later served as Honorary Colonel of the Royal 22e Régiment.