Thursday, November 20, 2008

Public Meeting in Caraquet

The Comité organisateur pour la fête des Léger/Légère/Trahan 2009 (family reunion committee) will hold a public meeting in Caraquet on Saturday, November 22nd. All are welcome.

Tuesday, October 21, 2008

Biography: Arthur Trahan

Arthur TRAHAN (1877-1950)

Born in Nicolet on May 26 1877, son of Narcissus Trahan, merchant, and Adeline-Rebecca Rousseau.

Arthur Trahan was educated at Nicolet Seminary and Laval University in Montreal. Was accepted to the Bar of the Province of Quebec on July 12 1901. Established consulting king's law on August 9 1912.

Practiced law in Nicolet. Was secretary of the Commission for Municipal Code Review in Quebec from 1910 to 1912. President of the Bar for the District of Trois-Rivières in 1916 and 1917. Member of the Montreal reform club. Nicolet alderman from 1911 to 1917. Elected Liberal MLA for Nicolet at the by-election on June 2 1913. Re-elected unopposed in 1916. Resigned on November 14 1917 to be a candidate in federal elections. Elected without opposition Liberal MP in the House of Commons in Nicolet in 1917. Reelected in 1921.

His seat became vacant after his appointment as judge of the Superior Court on May 5 1923.

Died in Montreal on September 22 1950 at the age of 73 years and 4 months. Buried at Nicolet, September 26 1950.

First married in Nicolet, September 24 1902, to Josephine Dufresne, daughter of Honoré Dufresne, notary, and Josephine Blondin; then in Hull, in the parish of Notre-Dame-de-Grace on June 26 1924, Diane Leduc, daughter of Charles Leduc and Ursula Gravel.

Arthur's two sons were also illustrious lawyers. The following biographies are from Mémoire du Québec (Internet).

Jacques TRAHAN: lawman (lawyer) born in 1911 in Nicolet. Studied at Nicolet Seminary and the University of Montreal. Judge of the Municipal Court of Montreal (1963-1964). Judge of the Court of Sessions of Peace (1964-1981). President of the Liquor License Control Commission (1971-1980). Deputy Judge in the Tax Court of Canada (1983-1994). Acted as ad hoc coroner in response to the tragedy of the Monsanto plant, the Turcot exchange in Montreal, the Trois-Rivieres bridge and following the assassination of Pierre Laporte in 1970. Died in 2004 in Montreal.

Marcel TRAHAN: lawman (lawyer) born in 1914 in Nicolet. Studied at Nicolet Seminary, at St. Joseph Seminary in Trois-Rivieres and the University of Montreal. Legal Counsel (1943-1948) and Registrar (1948-1950) of the Court of juvenile offenders. Clerk of the Court of Welfare (1950-1961). Coroner district of Montreal (1961-1965). Judge of the Court of Welfare (1965-1984). Member of the Higher Council of Education (1980 -). Chaired the inquest on the violent death of Vincent O'Neil and indicted 21 members of the FLQ. Died in 2006 in Montreal. Children of Marcel: Dominique, Étienne and Anne-Marie (graduated in law from the University of Montreal in 1967. At the Canadian Transport Commission since 1981, Anne-Marie Trahan agreed to come to the Department of Justice in Ottawa as Deputy Minister and became one of the few women to occupy such a high position within the public service. In 1994, Anne-Marie Trahan became a judge of the Superior Court of Quebec.)

Bibliography:
Marcel Trahan. En quête de justice et de fraternité (Renée Joyal and Jean Trépanier, 2005).

Monday, October 20, 2008

Unveiling of a sculpture by Monette Léger in Grand-Barachois

From left to right: Monette Léger, Viola Léger, Yvonne Arsenault, aged 97 years,
and Marcel Arsenault. (Photo: Gerard Lessard)

The unveiling of a sculpture by artist Monette Léger took place Sunday afternoon at the Arsenault family home in Grand Barachois, New Brunswick. The event was attended by over sixty people, including family and friends of the artist. This work has been carved into the trunks of an old poplar that had been planted there are about sixty years by Yvonne Arsenault. Marcel Arsenault had to cut it down two years ago, but had decided to retain the trunks in order to do something in the future.

After discussions with the artist, the latter decided to sculpt the masterpiece entitled "Regard" (Eng. "View"), which represents heritage. On this magnificent work which stands 11 feet tall, there are herons because of the Arsenault family's affection for the sea birds. The image of grandfather Théotime Robichaud is also represented holding a lantern that illuminates a nest containing 7 eggs, to represent the 7 grandchildren.

According to Marcel Arsenault, this work is a gift for the whole Arsenault family and its descendants. This sculpture by Monette Léger, her fifth in the region, is located at the Arsenault residence at 1934, Route 133 in Grand-Barachois. Although on private property, Mr. Arsenault invites people to come and appreciate the sculpture.

Wednesday, October 15, 2008

Biography: Dominique Léger

The following biography was taken from the book L’Acadie de mes ancêtres, the work of Yvon Léger, o.m.i. , Published in Montreal in 1987 by Les Editions de l'Alternative.

Dominique-S. Léger, Assumptionist.

In the historic Memramcouque Valley, the cradle of the Acadian Renaissance, twenty-three years before the founding of the Collège Saint-Joseph, Dominique Léger was born. After graduation, he became a professor at Pointe-à-l’Église in Nova Scotia. He was later in Moncton for a few years where he worked in the hospitality industry. He then went to Lynn, New England where there was already an important community of Acadian immigrants. Far from their homeland, these Acadians wanted to retain close ties among themselves and with Acadia. To do so, a small group of them, including Dominique Léger, decided to hold a congress, a general meeting, as there had been in Memramcouque and Miscouche. So on August16th 1902, more than two thousand Acadians from all corners of New England, Acadia and even distant Louisiana met in Waltham, Massachusetts. It was then decided to create a mutual Acadian Society. It was also suggested that a school fund be created for young Acadians wishing to pursue higher education. Soon after, none other than Dominique Leger, head of the first constitution of the new company, was elected Chairman of the Executive Committee. Thanks to his know-how and tenacity, the Société Mutuelle de l'Assomption was born. Twenty years later, there were over two hundred and sixty branches of the Société l’Assomption in New England, Acadia, Québec and in Ottawa (the Razilly branch was founded in 1911). Dominique became the first Chancellor of the Society.

On August 15th 1908 in Memramcouque, during the fourth convention of the society, the first to be held in Acadia, Dominique Léger was appointed Honorary Lifetime Member of the Executive Committee of the Mutual Assumption Society. In 1910, in Lynn, where he still resided, his countrymen wanted to emphasize the golden wedding anniversary of Mr. and Mrs. Léger. In its July 21 edition, the Moniteur Acadien reported on the event movingly.

An accomplished poet, the aging Acadian loved his native Acadia so that he wrote a few folk songs for his compatriots settled in New England. During the twilight years of his life, Dominique Léger was known for his piety and religious fervour. In Lynn, he was regarded as a saint and his death in 1915 left no one indifferent.

Thursday, July 10, 2008

Biography: Marie Landry-Léger

This biography is drawn from the book Silhouettes acadiennes - biographies de femmes, the work of authors Teresa Lemieux and Gemma Caron, published in 1981 by the Federation des Dames d'Acadie.

Marie Landry Léger

To have rescued many families bereaved by the death of loved ones, Mrs. Marie Landry Léger will present the Creator a magnificent bouquet of good deeds picked throughout her life.

Marie was born on February 20, 1892 in the parish of Lourdes in Memramcook-east. Her mother was Marguerite Vienneau of the same parish and her father, François Landry, related to the illustrious Pierre Amand Landry, the first Acadian judge. As a child, she spent a happy childhood in her family of ten children, then she attended school and convent in her village.

At the end of her adolescence, Marie met Édouard S. Léger, whom she joined for life. Édouard worked for his father, who was the funeral director in the region. The young couple moved to Memramcook-west, where Marie became an assistant in the family business. Mr. Léger, who was taskedb with making the last tributes to the deceased, led the beautiful horse drawn hearse until the advent of the automobile. The couple therefore decided to open a funeral home in the town.

In 1939, Mr. Leger got into politics and became Liberal MLA for Westmorland County in the provincial legislature. He was re-elected for a few mandates and held the county seat until 1952. During this period, Ms. Léger assumed full responsibility and stewardship of the funeral home; meetings with professional embalmers enable interesting exchanges. At that time, she received from a colleague in Amherst NS, a book on modern embalming techniques; later, she completed her diploma in this field in Saint John, NB, and graduated with the highest grade in her class, thus becoming one of very few women embalmers in Canada. Marie returned to her parish to work with her newly aquired skills. She always showed great generosity and discretion during the many years that she was a professional embalmer. The poor received the same care as the rich. She also took advantage of her free time to make clothing that she would discreetly offer to the neediest families. She would also cover and garnish wooden coffins with velvet and satin, to make them more suitable. Very often witness to the dismay of a husband before the death of his wife, or parents suffering the loss of their beloved child, Ms. Leger showed humanity by offering comforting words or benevolent gestures that inspired courage.

Despite her many responsibilities, Ms. Léger was the wife of a distinguished MLA, which she accompanied in various political activities. Wherever she went, she was respected and admired. Organist at her parish for several years, she often contributed her talents as a musician and singer. Besides music, this lady also had a penchant for manual work and was an excellent seamstress. One thing that must be noted, Ms. Léger blazed paths for the evolution of women, first by the trade that she practiced and also for being one of the first women to drive an automobile in the community. Not having had the opportunity to experience the joys of motherhood, Marie offered great generosity to her nephews and nieces, and prodigal tenderness to children as well as assistance and hospitality to beggars.

The death of her husband, which occurred on January 1st, 1971, disrupted her life at a time when old age becomes an increasingly heavy burden. She decided to dispose of her property and go and live with other people in a foster home in Moncton. Ms. Leger, the population of Memramcook-west and the families that you comforted, pay tribute to you and may you live the remaining years of your life in peace and serenity among your friends of the Villa du Repos.

Note: Ms. Landry Leger died in 1991.

Sunday, June 15, 2008

Biography: Évariste L. Léger

The following is taken from the book L'histoire de la paroisse Saint-Antoine (1867-1967) by Évariste L. Léger inspired articles written by Jaddus-N. LeBlanc and published in the Évangeline in 1950 and 1951.

The following biography was written in 1950 by Jaddus-N.LeBlanc, who was Évariste's first schoolmaster in 1904.

Évariste L. Léger

Évariste L. Léger was born in St-Antoine de Kent on March 29, 1898, the fourth child from the marriage of Laurent Michel Leger and Émélie Leon Breau.

After completing his primary education in the village school, he enrolled at St. Joseph College in September 1914 and completed his education in 1917 when he obtained his degree with distinction.

During wartime, he went to work for the Robb Engineering Works, in Amherst, Nova Scotia where he was employed for one year. In 1918, he went to work for his father who was then in the timber trade and remained there until November 1923.

In February 1925 he joined the Metropolitan Life Company as an insurance agent and two years later he was promoted to the rank of assistant manager in the district of Lewiston, Maine, with jurisdiction of their section from Rumford, Maine.

On June 17, 1926, he married Florence, daughter of Thomas Bourque, who bore him four girls and two boys.

He received his American citizenship in 1935 and, in January 1936, his superiors made him one of three Acadian managers out of a total of 825 managers, with his office in Calais, Maine. Some time later he was transferred to Lowell, Massachussetts where he was made manager. He remained there for five years until September 1941 when he was made responsible for the district of West Warwick in the state of Rhode Island, which includes the southern part of this state. At that time, he hade under his responsibility 22 agents.

Université St. Joseph awarded him an honorary title in Commercial Sciences in June 1945 and his company, following this example, called on various occasions as an honorary chairman of the Association of Managers of Rhode Island and the southern part of Massachusetts.

In 1950, his Chapter 30 from Providence, R.I., named him president of the Veterans' Association, which included 200 employees with over twenty years of service in the states of Rhode Island and Massachusetts.

He took an active interest in civic, religious and fraternal in his adoptive city and was a member of the Lions Club, Elks, Club Frontenac, the Chamber of Commerce, the Insurance Agents' Association and the Assumption Society. He was president of the Belle-Alliance branch in Rumford, Maine, and the first chairman for the state of Maine for regional conventions.

He often talked with pride of his record annual visits to his hometown parish of Saint-Antoine, which he visited with his wife and family for 27 consecutive years. This is clear proof that although he lived abroad, he always held fond memories of his good friends in St-Antoine.

He was also a diligent reader of the Evangeline newspaper. He told me some time ago that when receives his mail, the first thing that he thinks of is the Evangeline. Other newspapers are all secondary.

As has already been said in a preceding paragraph, in 1918 my friend was working for his father. It was then that the Spanish flu, which caused so much devastation in our parishes, made its appearance in St-Antoine. During a period of one month, 17 people died from this terrible disease.

In the space of just eight days, I saw my only three girls, aged 6, 13 and 17 years, follow their eternal path to the cemetery. Earlier when this disease began to appear, doctors stated that the disease was contagious. Their persistence was so great that nobody dared venture to treat their neighbors, or even their parents.

After the death of my children, my wife and my boy - no older than 11 years - were sick in bed. As for me, I wasn't much better. If we finally made it through this misery, it is thanks to my friend and his cousin, Prosper Leger, who spent entire nights caring for us. In the morning before they would leave, they made sure we had everything we needed for the day.

Thus, they continued their nightly visits until the time came when we were we able to care for ourselves. I believe that such dedication deserves to be rewarded here on earth. This is probably why he managed to get so many promotions, as mentioned in this biography.

Saturday, June 14, 2008

Membership forms now available on-line

Membership forms for the Association des Léger/Légère d'Acadie are now available for download. Simply follow the link to the left of the screen.

Thursday, June 5, 2008

Biography: Théophile J.B. Léger (1878-1915)

The following biography was penned by Éloi Degrâce. It is taken from the Dictionnaire biographique du nord-est du Nouveau-Brunswick (Biographical Dictionary of northeastern NB, vol. 4.) published by the SHND.

Léger, Théophile J.B. (1878-1915)
Merchant, municipal councillor in Gloucester County

Théophile was born on January 6, 1878, the child of Jean-Baptiste Léger and Rose Blanchard. From 1892 to 1894, he was a student at the Sainte-Anne-de-la-Pocatière College and then he continued his studies at St. Joseph de Memramcook College. On October 17, 1904, he married Catherine Comeau, widow of Charles Doucet. They had two children.

Théophile was a merchant in Caraquet. The ads he ran in newspapers from 1906 to 1907 indicate that you could buy a little bit of everything in his store: groceries, shoes, hats for men and women, dress fabric, skirts and bodices, and an assortment of clothing for men.

His education enabled him to deal with public affairs and the patriotic cause of the Acadians. From 1902 to 1908, he was a municipal councillor for Gloucester County. From 1913 until his death, he was a member of the Executive Committee for the Caraquet branch of the Assomption Insurance Company. He was also a member of the Sacred Heart League.

Théophile Leger died on March 19, 1915 after a brief illness.

Monday, May 26, 2008

Where to Stay?

Planning a trip to Caraquet for the World Acadian Congress in 2009? If so, perhaps you are looking for places to stay. Whether you're interested in inns, hotels, B&B or camping, the World Acadian Congress website has an exhaustive list of available accommodation in the beautiful Acadian Peninsula.

Check it out:
http://www.cma2009.ca/index.php?page=hebergement&lang=en

Saturday, May 24, 2008

We Need Volunteers!

Planning for the 2009 family reunion is well underway, but we need a helping hand. If you are interested to give a little of your time to assist us in organizing this event, please contact us!

In NB, you can call one of our regional coordinators:

  • South-East: Luc Légère (506) 389-8479
  • Acadian Peninsula: Rodrigue Léger (506) 727-2475
  • Fredericton: Victor Léger (506) 454-8992

You can also contact us by e-mail: info@legere.ca.

Monday, January 28, 2008

Public Meeting in Bertrand, N.-B.

The organizing committee of the Léger / Légère / Trahan Family Reunion held a public meeting Sunday, January 27, 2008 at the Louis C. Godin room in Bertrand. Several people attended to hear about the latest developments. The Léger / Légère d'Acadie family reunion will be held on August 11 and 12, 2009. Become a member now to be kept up to date of what's going on. Memberships are valid from now until the World Acadian Congress in 2009: $ 10 (adults aged 16 and over).