A Tribute to a pioneer Franco-Ontarian
Submitted by Denise-Rose,s.a.s.v. (#187)
daughter of Joseph-William-Henri Leclerc
Henri was born in Saint-Louis de Lotbinière, the son of Josephat [VIII] Leclerc and Marie Bédard. They were the descendants, therefore, of Michel [V] Leclerc, one of the founders of Leclercville, Quebec. By the same token Henri was the fourth cousin of Félix, our national troubadour (poet-musician), and the youngest of a family of six children, with a soft, calm and always happy disposition.
So that he could find suitable work to feed his family and improve their life style, Josephat moved his family from Lac Magantic to Trois-Rivières, to Shawinigan, and to Montreal. Despite much relocation, Henri was able to complete his primary school and two years of technical school, considered a good education at that time.
Then the big adventure happened. In 1934, Henri, just 20 years of age, headed to Northern Ontario with his parents, settling at a place called Hallébourg today. It is a small village located 85 kilometres west of Kapuskasing and 10 kilometres from the town of Hearst. The village is on the Trans-Canada Highway, south of the tundra. It is a magnificent area for nature lovers and their pursuits. The Leclercs of this area would be pleased to accommodate you if you visit the region.
Henri helped his father clear a property and build a family home. He farmed the land in the summer and worked in the bush in the winter, as did all the pioneers. Then, he cleared his own plot of land and built a house on it, with the idea of starting his family. On July 15, 1942, he married Rose-Alma Létourneau in Hallébourg, and they raised nine beautiful children, five boys and four girls, who all settled in the region, except for the author, who flew the nest.
He avoided conscription due to medical reasons and concentrated on the development of his farm and of the region. He was one of the founders of the "Cooperative Agricole" (a farmer's cooperative) and of the Caisse Populaire Sainte-Anne-d'Hallébourg (a banking institution), serving as president for three terms. He became the owner of a general store as well as the Postmaster. He was a very sociable man, serving at various times as president of the "Ligue du Sacré-Coeur" (League of the Sacred Heart), treasurer of "Lacordaire" (an anti-alcohol organization), a school board trustee, a councillor on the Parish Council and on the Diocesan Council of Business Economics.
But no, that was not all. He was a pioneer of the Club l'Age d'Or de Hallébourg (Golden Age Club of Hallébourg), secretary-treasurer of the Club Richelieu of Hearst (a fraternity) and one of the founders of the newspaper Le Nord. He was an ardent defender of the French language and of religion. He was always available and rushed to the needs of each one. He was a listener to his customers who came to him for advice, or only to tell him of their troubles.
He died on May 31, 1992 at the age of 72 at the Sensebrenner Hospital at Kapuskasing. They asked me if I could write an article for the Association and here it is, the summary of the life of one Leclerc of whom we are very proud.
Grand-parents et parents
Famille Aubert Leclerc