Allyre Sirois
Encyclopedia
Allyre Louis Joseph Sirois (born 25 August 1923) is a retired Canadian judge of the Court of the Queen's Bench
in Saskatchewan
(Canada
), living in Saskatoon
.
during his elementary-school years; his parents were Paul Emile Siroir and Bertha Pion Siroir. He was educated in several secondary schools, and enrolled in Toronto's Radio College of Canada (1940–1941). In 1941 he responded to the call to aid Great Britain
in World War II
by enrolling in the Canadian Army, being assigned to the Signal Corps. In 1943 he was loaned to the War Office (M15
) for espionage duty in Occupied France, primarily owing to his fluency in the French Language. He was an agent in Special Operations Executive
's F section and was sent to occupied France as a radio operator under the codename Gustave. Operating from Angoulême
, he organised 24 arms drops and the bombing of Angoulême.http://eric.hurtebis.chez-alice.fr/bombarde.htm He returned to Saskatchewan shortly before Christmas 1944.
and graduated Bachelor of Arts
in 1948 and Bachelor of Laws
in 1950.http://www.usask.ca/alumni/alumnisite/publications/green_white/issues/fall2005/fall2005.pdf He passed the Bar in 1951, and practiced as an attorney in Gravelbourg, Saskatchewan
from 1951 until 1964, when he was appointed to the Bench.
Sirois retired from the Bench in 1998. He lived in Saskatoon after retiring.
Siroir married Madeline Anne Marie Ehman on 14 September 1948; she preceded him in death. During their marriage they had six children, Valerie, Richard, Guy, Marianne, Lisa and Norman.
", and having in 1993 referred to prostitutes as belonging to "a different caste". He was also derided in a newspaper article for stating in 1992 that a female who had been assaulted when she was 12 years old that she bore some responsibility for the incident.
Court of Queen's Bench for Saskatchewan
The Court of Queen's Bench of Saskatchewan is the superior trial court for the Canadian province of Saskatchewan. The Court hears civil and criminal law cases. It is a court of inherent jurisdiction and there is no monetary limit on the claims which it may hear. It also has original jurisdiction...
in Saskatchewan
Saskatchewan
Saskatchewan is a prairie province in Canada, which has an area of . Saskatchewan is bordered on the west by Alberta, on the north by the Northwest Territories, on the east by Manitoba, and on the south by the U.S. states of Montana and North Dakota....
(Canada
Canada
Canada is a North American country consisting of ten provinces and three territories. Located in the northern part of the continent, it extends from the Atlantic Ocean in the east to the Pacific Ocean in the west, and northward into the Arctic Ocean...
), living in Saskatoon
Saskatoon
Saskatoon is a city in central Saskatchewan, Canada, on the South Saskatchewan River. Residents of the city of Saskatoon are called Saskatonians. The city is surrounded by the Rural Municipality of Corman Park No. 344....
.
Wartime experience
Sirois was born and raised in Vonda, SaskatchewanVonda, Saskatchewan
Vonda is located on Highway 27, a half-hour drive north east of Saskatoon, Saskatchewan. The town was named after the daughter of British journalist Cy Warman....
during his elementary-school years; his parents were Paul Emile Siroir and Bertha Pion Siroir. He was educated in several secondary schools, and enrolled in Toronto's Radio College of Canada (1940–1941). In 1941 he responded to the call to aid Great Britain
Great Britain
Great Britain or Britain is an island situated to the northwest of Continental Europe. It is the ninth largest island in the world, and the largest European island, as well as the largest of the British Isles...
in World War II
World War II
World War II, or the Second World War , was a global conflict lasting from 1939 to 1945, involving most of the world's nations—including all of the great powers—eventually forming two opposing military alliances: the Allies and the Axis...
by enrolling in the Canadian Army, being assigned to the Signal Corps. In 1943 he was loaned to the War Office (M15
M15
-In firearms and military equipment:* M15 mine, a United States anti-tank mine* M15 rifle, a United States military rifle* Grigorovich M-15, a Russian World War I-era biplane flying boat* M15 pistol, a General Officer's variant of the M1911A1-In transportation:...
) for espionage duty in Occupied France, primarily owing to his fluency in the French Language. He was an agent in Special Operations Executive
Special Operations Executive
The Special Operations Executive was a World War II organisation of the United Kingdom. It was officially formed by Prime Minister Winston Churchill and Minister of Economic Warfare Hugh Dalton on 22 July 1940, to conduct guerrilla warfare against the Axis powers and to instruct and aid local...
's F section and was sent to occupied France as a radio operator under the codename Gustave. Operating from Angoulême
Angoulême
-Main sights:In place of its ancient fortifications, Angoulême is encircled by boulevards above the old city walls, known as the Remparts, from which fine views may be obtained in all directions. Within the town the streets are often narrow. Apart from the cathedral and the hôtel de ville, the...
, he organised 24 arms drops and the bombing of Angoulême.http://eric.hurtebis.chez-alice.fr/bombarde.htm He returned to Saskatchewan shortly before Christmas 1944.
Education and career
Sirois enrolled in the University of SaskatchewanUniversity of Saskatchewan
The University of Saskatchewan is a Canadian public research university, founded in 1907, and located on the east side of the South Saskatchewan River in Saskatoon, Saskatchewan, Canada. An "Act to establish and incorporate a University for the Province of Saskatchewan" was passed by the...
and graduated Bachelor of Arts
Bachelor of Arts
A Bachelor of Arts , from the Latin artium baccalaureus, is a bachelor's degree awarded for an undergraduate course or program in either the liberal arts, the sciences, or both...
in 1948 and Bachelor of Laws
Bachelor of Laws
The Bachelor of Laws is an undergraduate, or bachelor, degree in law originating in England and offered in most common law countries as the primary law degree...
in 1950.http://www.usask.ca/alumni/alumnisite/publications/green_white/issues/fall2005/fall2005.pdf He passed the Bar in 1951, and practiced as an attorney in Gravelbourg, Saskatchewan
Gravelbourg, Saskatchewan
-Education:The town has for the past four decades been noteworthy for College Mathieu, a francophone boarding school for boys and girls who wish to acquire or retain fluency in French...
from 1951 until 1964, when he was appointed to the Bench.
Sirois retired from the Bench in 1998. He lived in Saskatoon after retiring.
Personal life
Sirois was active in the community. He was president of the Gravelbourg School Board for 10 years (1953–1963), president of the ACFC, the national network of French-language theaters (1963-1963), served as fundraising co-chair of the La Troupe du Jour finance campaign to erect a performing studio, and served on several other municipal boards.Siroir married Madeline Anne Marie Ehman on 14 September 1948; she preceded him in death. During their marriage they had six children, Valerie, Richard, Guy, Marianne, Lisa and Norman.
Professional controversy
On 26 September 1996 an investigation began into remarks he had made at a bail hearing apparently blaming a woman for the physical assault her former partner inflicted on her (after being beaten by a boyfriend because she failed to get up and hand him the TV remote), he is reported to have remarked that "it takes two to tangoTakes two to tango (idiom)
It takes two to tango is a common idiomatic expression which suggests something in which more than one person or other entity are paired in an inextricably-related and active manner, occasionally with negative connotations....
", and having in 1993 referred to prostitutes as belonging to "a different caste". He was also derided in a newspaper article for stating in 1992 that a female who had been assaulted when she was 12 years old that she bore some responsibility for the incident.
Recognition
For his service behind the lines in World War II, Sirois received three distinguished honors:- UK : member of the Order of the British EmpireOrder of the British EmpireThe Most Excellent Order of the British Empire is an order of chivalry established on 4 June 1917 by George V of the United Kingdom. The Order comprises five classes in civil and military divisions...
(MBE) - France : Croix de guerre 1939-1945 (CG) with palms.
- Town of AngoulêmeAngoulême-Main sights:In place of its ancient fortifications, Angoulême is encircled by boulevards above the old city walls, known as the Remparts, from which fine views may be obtained in all directions. Within the town the streets are often narrow. Apart from the cathedral and the hôtel de ville, the...
: Medal and honorary diploma of the town of Angoulême