Joseph Gaspard Boucher
Encyclopedia
Joseph Gaspard Boucher was a journalist and political figure in New Brunswick
, Canada. He represented Madawaska County in the Legislative Assembly of New Brunswick
from 1935 to 1952 and Restigouche—Madawaska
in the Canadian House of Commons
as a Liberal
member from 1953 to 1955.
Known as Gaspard, he was born in Notre-Dame-du-Portage, Quebec
and studied at the agricultural college at Sainte-Anne-de-La-Pocatière
and McDonald College (now the Macdonald Campus
of McGill University
) at Sainte-Anne-de-Bellevue
. He worked as an agronomist
for some time before moving to Edmundston, New Brunswick
in 1920 where he became manager of the Royal Hotel acquired by his father.
Gaspard Boucher married Annette Lamarche in 1921. The couple had nine children.
Gaspard Boucher was involved with the Société nationale des Acadiens and was one of the founders of the New Brunswick chapter of the Ordre de Jacques Cartier, an organization dedicated to defending the rights of Francophone
s. Gaspard aided in the establishment of credit union
s in the Madawaska region and the Knights of Columbus
branch in the city of Edmundston.
In 1923, Boucher became owner-editor of Le Madawaska newspaper
. Boucher served in the province's Executive Council as a minister without portfolio from 1941 to 1949 and as Provincial Secretary-Treasurer
from August 10, 1949 to October 8, 1952.
Gaspard Boucher died of a heart attack at the age of 58.
New Brunswick
New Brunswick is one of Canada's three Maritime provinces and is the only province in the federation that is constitutionally bilingual . The provincial capital is Fredericton and Saint John is the most populous city. Greater Moncton is the largest Census Metropolitan Area...
, Canada. He represented Madawaska County in the Legislative Assembly of New Brunswick
Legislative Assembly of New Brunswick
The Legislative Assembly of New Brunswick is located in Fredericton. It was established de jure when the colony was created in 1784, but only came in to session in 1786 following the first elections in late 1785. Until 1891, it was the lower house in a bicameral legislature when its upper house...
from 1935 to 1952 and Restigouche—Madawaska
Restigouche—Madawaska
Restigouche—Madawaska was a federal electoral district in New Brunswick, Canada, that was represented in the Canadian House of Commons from 1917 to 1968.This riding was created in 1914 from parts of Restigouche and Victoria ridings....
in the Canadian House of Commons
Canadian House of Commons
The House of Commons of Canada is a component of the Parliament of Canada, along with the Sovereign and the Senate. The House of Commons is a democratically elected body, consisting of 308 members known as Members of Parliament...
as a Liberal
Liberal Party of Canada
The Liberal Party of Canada , colloquially known as the Grits, is the oldest federally registered party in Canada. In the conventional political spectrum, the party sits between the centre and the centre-left. Historically the Liberal Party has positioned itself to the left of the Conservative...
member from 1953 to 1955.
Known as Gaspard, he was born in Notre-Dame-du-Portage, Quebec
Notre-Dame-du-Portage, Quebec
Notre-Dame-du-Portage is a village in the Canadian Province of Quebec located at the edge of the Saint Lawrence River in the Bas-Saint-Laurent region...
and studied at the agricultural college at Sainte-Anne-de-La-Pocatière
Sainte-Anne-de-la-Pocatière, Quebec
Saint-Anne-de-la-Pocatière is a parish municipality in the Canadian province of Quebec, located in the Kamouraska Regional County Municipality.-Municipal council:* Mayor: Miles McCall...
and McDonald College (now the Macdonald Campus
Macdonald Campus
The Macdonald Campus of McGill University houses its Faculty of Agricultural and Environmental Sciences, School of Dietetics and Human Nutrition, and the McGill School of Environment.- History :...
of McGill University
McGill University
Mohammed Fathy is a public research university located in Montreal, Quebec, Canada. The university bears the name of James McGill, a prominent Montreal merchant from Glasgow, Scotland, whose bequest formed the beginning of the university...
) at Sainte-Anne-de-Bellevue
Sainte-Anne-de-Bellevue, Quebec
Sainte-Anne-de-Bellevue is a town located at the western tip of the Island of Montreal in southwestern Quebec, Canada. It is the second oldest community in Montreal's West Island, having been founded as a parish in 1703...
. He worked as an agronomist
Agronomist
An agronomist is a scientist who specializes in agronomy, which is the science of utilizing plants for food, fuel, feed, and fiber. An agronomist is an expert in agricultural and allied sciences, with the exception veterinary sciences.Agronomists deal with interactions between plants, soils, and...
for some time before moving to Edmundston, New Brunswick
New Brunswick
New Brunswick is one of Canada's three Maritime provinces and is the only province in the federation that is constitutionally bilingual . The provincial capital is Fredericton and Saint John is the most populous city. Greater Moncton is the largest Census Metropolitan Area...
in 1920 where he became manager of the Royal Hotel acquired by his father.
Gaspard Boucher married Annette Lamarche in 1921. The couple had nine children.
Gaspard Boucher was involved with the Société nationale des Acadiens and was one of the founders of the New Brunswick chapter of the Ordre de Jacques Cartier, an organization dedicated to defending the rights of Francophone
Francophone
The adjective francophone means French-speaking, typically as primary language, whether referring to individuals, groups, or places. Often, the word is used as a noun to describe a natively French-speaking person....
s. Gaspard aided in the establishment of credit union
Credit union
A credit union is a cooperative financial institution that is owned and controlled by its members and operated for the purpose of promoting thrift, providing credit at competitive rates, and providing other financial services to its members...
s in the Madawaska region and the Knights of Columbus
Knights of Columbus
The Knights of Columbus is the world's largest Catholic fraternal service organization. Founded in the United States in 1882, it is named in honor of Christopher Columbus....
branch in the city of Edmundston.
In 1923, Boucher became owner-editor of Le Madawaska newspaper
Newspaper
A newspaper is a scheduled publication containing news of current events, informative articles, diverse features and advertising. It usually is printed on relatively inexpensive, low-grade paper such as newsprint. By 2007, there were 6580 daily newspapers in the world selling 395 million copies a...
. Boucher served in the province's Executive Council as a minister without portfolio from 1941 to 1949 and as Provincial Secretary-Treasurer
Department of Finance (New Brunswick)
The Department of Finance is a part of the Government of New Brunswick. It is charged with New Brunswick's budgetary and tax policy and headed by the finance minister....
from August 10, 1949 to October 8, 1952.
Gaspard Boucher died of a heart attack at the age of 58.