FRENCH-CANADIAN AND FRANCO-AMERICAN HEROES

[Gerard R. Bourassa]

As an individual of 100 percent French-Canadian descent,

(and proud of it), I have many French-Canadian and Franco-

American heroes. They include religious figures like Saint

Marguerite d'Youville, who when her ne'er do well husband

passed away leaving her in dire financial hardship, worked her

way out of debt, and went on to found the Grey Nuns, helping

countless poor, homeless, sick and elderly. They also include

military figures like Major Edmond Mallet,civil war hero and

collector of Franco-Americana. They include figures in the

field of music like Celine Dion, in architecture like Napoleon

Bourassa and in literature like Robert Cormier. They include

persons who are perhaps not world famous but figure prominently

in the history of the Franco-American community in my hometown

New Bedford, Massachusett, i.e. Fr. Hormisdas Deslauriers, first

pastor of the magnificent St. Anthony's Church in the city's North

End, so beloved by his flock that he was interred on church grounds

and Dr. Louis Z. Normandin who was as well known for his compassion

for the poor as for the record numbers of babies he delivered.

My question to my fellow Franco-American bloggers is-Who

are some of your favorite French-Canadian or Franco-American

heroes?


Gerard R. Bourassa

[Armand Chartier]

Hi, Gerry--Yes, I agree with your choice of heroes. I would add: Samuel de Champlain, our Founding Father; Rene Robert
Sieur Cavelier de La Salle, Prince of Explorers. In New England: Ferdinand Gagnon, the founder of Franco-American journalism; Adelard Lambert, folklorist and novelist; Father Thomas-M. Landry, one of the last defenders of "survivance,"
and several others, mostly writers.
Cordially--Armand Chartier

[Raymond Gagnon]

For me the heros of la franco-americanie are local - for the most part unknown & forgotten individuals, who came forward to make the lives of french speaking immigrants better. In my community, Claremont NH, Henri-Victor Charron comes to mind. The guy would meet quebecois immigrants as they got off the train where he would help them find an apartment - then a job etc... I suspect there are individuals like him thrhoughout New England - one in particular is the priest in Manchester who built Ste. Marie's church, then a school, followed by a hospital, and orphanage, and finally a credit union. Of course he did this along with the support and dimes of many unknown parishioners.