Bordeleau families in Alberta

Bordeleau families in Alberta

Life wasn't all that kind to Ludger Bordeleau, as five of his children died before they were a year old, including a set of twin girls. The last child, Emma, was named after her mother, but neither of them survived the birth. Ludger waited two years to remarry in 1906, and the year after, they and their remaining 5 children left for Bonnyville, Alberta.
So, Ludger and his brother Joseph, as well as Henri and Ovila Bordeleau, two of Ludger's sons, were able to receive Dominion land grants in Alberta. Several Bordeleau now reside in this small town of about 5 000 inhabitants, many of whom are descendants of Adrien and Albert Bordeleau, both grandsons of Ludger.

Click to enlarge C-030621

Enlarged view (42K) Van Slyke plough made in 1910, in Red Deer, Alberta. It was made by the blacksmith Frank Van Slyke, and is currently exhibited in the Provincial Museum of Alberta. Such a plough is typical of the kind that Albert Bordeleau would have used on his farm.
Enlarged view (34K)

Nearly one-third of Bonnyville's residents can trace their ancestry back to France; and many others back to the original settlers who helped found the town nearly 100 years ago. The French influence in Bonnyville dates back to 1902, when French Catholic missionaries settled the area. That influence took hold in the medical and education sectors, as the Grey Nuns established the St. Louis Hospital, and the Nuns of the Holy Cross and the Nuns of the Assumption undertook teaching area students. This chapter of history came to an end in June, 1996 as the Sisters of the Assumption closed their convent and left Bonnyville after nearly 60 years of service.
The first to arrive in the area in 1907 were French-Canadians settlers. Father Francis Bonny, after whom Bonnyville takes its name, was ministering to them from the very beginning. A few years later, Father Adéodat Thérien was instigated by the famous Father Albert Lacombe to come and help the Métis settle in the area.
In 1908, the first school was established by Ernestine Ouimet to teach seven students, while Father Bonny built the first catholic church. A year later, the Reverend John Duclos, a French protestant minister, established a Presbyterian mission. Also in 1910, Father Bonny opened the first post office under the name of Bonnyville. The municipal district was formed in 1915 as the result of a petition circulated by Pierre Robitaille.

Commentaries: bordeleauc@hotmail.com

Life wasn't all that kind to Ludger Bordeleau, as five of his children died before they were a year old, including a set of twin girls. The last child, Emma, was named after her mother, but neither of them survived the birth. Ludger waited two years to remarry in 1906, and the year after, they and their remaining 5 children left for Bonnyville, Alberta. So, Ludger and his brother Joseph, as well as Henri and Ovila Bordeleau, two of Ludger's sons, were able to receive Dominion land grants in Alberta. Several Bordeleau now reside in this small town of about 5 000 inhabitants, many of whom are descendants of Adrien and Albert Bordeleau, both grandsons of Ludger.
	Click to enlarge	C-030621