Lucien Boudreau
Encyclopedia
Lucien Boudreau was a politician, mayor of St. Albert, Alberta
, and member of the Legislative Assembly of Alberta
(then called the Provincial Parliament).
in 1874. In 1893, he moved to Prince Albert, Saskatchewan
, where he spent two years before moving to Alberta
. He found employment as a clerk in a store in Strathcona
(now part of Edmonton
). Before long, he went into business himself, founding a real estate
business that he sold in 1901 to Michael Hogan.
That same year, he married Marie Renault of St. Albert and became proprietor of the Astoria Hotel in that city. He ran this hotel until it burned down in 1912.
In the meantime, he became interested in provincial politics. He ran for the Provincial Parliament in the 1905 election
as the Alberta Liberal Party
candidate, but was defeated by Henry William McKenney
, who was running as an independent Liberal (the only other candidates were Arthur Guilbault and Wilfrid Gariépy
, both of whom were also running as independent Liberals and both of whom withdrew before the election).
Before the ensuing election
, boundary redistribution led to McKenney running in Pembina
(where he was elected), freeing St. Albert up for Boudreau to run again. He was elected this time, defeating Gariépy (who was running as an independent Liberal after refusing to contest the Liberal nomination on the grounds that it was rigged in Boudreau's favour) and Conservative Omer St. Germain
(who would leader represent the riding for the United Farmers of Alberta
and Liberals). He was re-elected in 1913
and 1917
, defeating Conservative candidate Hector Landry both times.
In 1916, Boudreau was the only member of the Provincial Parliament to vote against the Alberta Equal Suffrage Act, which granted women political rights, including the right to vote. He argued that "the place of women was in the home", that "the duty of women, dictated by Providence, was greater than that of men and if the time had come when it was necessary that the administration of the country should be shared by them it looked as if the men were becoming tired of their responsibility." He alleged that women who had signed petitions in favour of suffrage had done so "without knowing what it was all about," and expressed a hope that "though they were going to get the franchise...the women would do the best they could for its welfare without meddling in the public affairs of the province." For his performance, the Calgary Morning Albertan lauded him as "fearless champion of a lost cause" and suggested that he had voiced "sentiments which perhaps many of the present legislators felt but lacked the courage to make public." The paper further recorded that he was congratulated in private by many of his colleagues after his speech.
Federally, when many Liberals rushed to support Sir Robert Laird Borden's Union Government during the Conscription Crisis of 1917
, Boudreau remained loyal to Sir Wilfrid Laurier
's anti-conscription Liberal stub.
During the 1921 election
, Boudreau was defeated by Télesphore St. Arnaud
of the United Farmers of Alberta
. He returned to office in 1926
(when St. Arnaud did not run), but was defeated again in 1930
by St. Germain, this time running for the UFA. Over the course of the next five years, St. Germain became disillusioned with the UFA, and crossed the floor to the Liberals, meaning that when Boudreau challenged him in the 1935 election
, he had to do so as an independent Liberal trying to unseat the Liberal incumbent. He defeated St. Germain on the first ballot (Alberta used a single transferable vote
electoral system at the time), but was defeated on the second by Lucien Maynard
of the Alberta Social Credit Party. This was the end of Boudreau's political career.
Boudreau, who stood little over five feet tall, was given the nickname "the Little Napolean of St. Albert" by Perrin Baker, minister of education in the cabinet of John Edward Brownlee
.
under Sir Wilfrid Laurier
. His sister-in-law, Alice Renault, was married to Boudreau's sometime electoral opponent Omer St. Germain
.
Boudreau Road in St. Albert is named in his honour.
St. Albert, Alberta
St. Albert is a suburban city in Alberta, located northwest of Edmonton, on the Sturgeon River. It was originally settled as a Métis community, and is now the second largest city in the Edmonton area. St...
, and member of the Legislative Assembly of Alberta
Legislative Assembly of Alberta
The Legislative Assembly of Alberta is one of two components of the Legislature of Alberta, the other being the Queen, represented by the Lieutenant-Governor of Alberta. The Alberta legislature meets in the Alberta Legislature Building in the provincial capital, Edmonton...
(then called the Provincial Parliament).
Early life
Boudreau was born in St-Gregoire de Nicolet, QuebecQuebec
Quebec or is a province in east-central Canada. It is the only Canadian province with a predominantly French-speaking population and the only one whose sole official language is French at the provincial level....
in 1874. In 1893, he moved to Prince Albert, Saskatchewan
Prince Albert, Saskatchewan
Prince Albert is the third-largest city in Saskatchewan, Canada. It is situated in the centre of the province on the banks of the North Saskatchewan River. The city is known as the "Gateway to the North" because it is the last major centre along the route to the resources of northern Saskatchewan...
, where he spent two years before moving to Alberta
Alberta
Alberta is a province of Canada. It had an estimated population of 3.7 million in 2010 making it the most populous of Canada's three prairie provinces...
. He found employment as a clerk in a store in Strathcona
Strathcona
Strathcona is an 19th century variation of "Glen Coe", a river valley in Scotland. The word was invented for use in the title Baron Strathcona and Mount Royal, first used for Donald Smith, a Canadian railway financier, in order to avoid association with the Massacre of Glencoe of 1692...
(now part of Edmonton
Edmonton
Edmonton is the capital of the Canadian province of Alberta and is the province's second-largest city. Edmonton is located on the North Saskatchewan River and is the centre of the Edmonton Capital Region, which is surrounded by the central region of the province.The city and its census...
). Before long, he went into business himself, founding a real estate
Real estate
In general use, esp. North American, 'real estate' is taken to mean "Property consisting of land and the buildings on it, along with its natural resources such as crops, minerals, or water; immovable property of this nature; an interest vested in this; an item of real property; buildings or...
business that he sold in 1901 to Michael Hogan.
That same year, he married Marie Renault of St. Albert and became proprietor of the Astoria Hotel in that city. He ran this hotel until it burned down in 1912.
Public service
When St. Albert was incorporated as a town in 1904, Boudreau was elected as a member of its first town council. He served in this capacity until 1908, when he was elected to serve as mayor during 1909.In the meantime, he became interested in provincial politics. He ran for the Provincial Parliament in the 1905 election
Alberta general election, 1905
The Alberta general election of 1905 was the first general election held in the Province of Alberta, Canada. It was held on 9 November 1905, to elect members of the Alberta legislature to the 1st Alberta Legislative Assembly, shortly after the province was created out of the Northwest Territories...
as the Alberta Liberal Party
Alberta Liberal Party
The Alberta Liberal Party is a provincial political party in Alberta, Canada. Originally founded in 1905, when the province was created, it was the dominant political party until 1921 when it was defeated. It has never been in government since that time...
candidate, but was defeated by Henry William McKenney
Henry William McKenney
Henry William McKenney was a politician from Alberta, Canada.-Political career:McKenney was first elected to the Legislative Assembly of Alberta in the 1905 Alberta general election in the provincial electoral district of St. Alberta...
, who was running as an independent Liberal (the only other candidates were Arthur Guilbault and Wilfrid Gariépy
Wilfrid Gariépy
Wilfrid Gariepy was a Canadian politician, member of the Legislative Assembly of Alberta and provincial cabinet minister, member of the Canadian House of Commons, and municipal councillor in Edmonton.-Early life:...
, both of whom were also running as independent Liberals and both of whom withdrew before the election).
Before the ensuing election
Alberta general election, 1909
The Alberta general election was 1909 was the second general election for the Province of Alberta, Canada. It was held on 22 March 1909 to elect members of the Legislative Assembly of Alberta....
, boundary redistribution led to McKenney running in Pembina
Pembina (Alberta provincial electoral district)
Pembina was a provincial electoral district in Alberta, Canada. It was mandated to return a single member to the Legislative Assembly of Alberta from 1909 to 1971.-1957 liquor plebiscite:...
(where he was elected), freeing St. Albert up for Boudreau to run again. He was elected this time, defeating Gariépy (who was running as an independent Liberal after refusing to contest the Liberal nomination on the grounds that it was rigged in Boudreau's favour) and Conservative Omer St. Germain
Omer St. Germain
Omer St. Germain was a barrister, solicitor, notary, publisher and a provincial politician from Canada. He served as the first mayor of Morinville, Alberta, and became a perennial candidate in Alberta elections hold office as a member of the Legislative Assembly of Alberta from 1930 to 1935...
(who would leader represent the riding for the United Farmers of Alberta
United Farmers of Alberta
The United Farmers of Alberta is an association of Alberta farmers that has served many different roles throughout its history as a lobby group, a political party, and as a farm-supply retail chain. Since 1934 it has primarily been an agricultural supply cooperative headquartered in Calgary...
and Liberals). He was re-elected in 1913
Alberta general election, 1913
The Alberta general election of 1913 was the third general election for the Province of Alberta, Canada. The writ was dropped on 25 March 1913 and election day was held 17 April 1913 to elect members of the Legislative Assembly of Alberta. Elections in two northern districts took place on 30 July...
and 1917
Alberta general election, 1917
The Alberta general election of 1917 was the fourth general election for the Province of Alberta, Canada, held on 7 June 1917 to elect members of the Legislative Assembly of Alberta....
, defeating Conservative candidate Hector Landry both times.
In 1916, Boudreau was the only member of the Provincial Parliament to vote against the Alberta Equal Suffrage Act, which granted women political rights, including the right to vote. He argued that "the place of women was in the home", that "the duty of women, dictated by Providence, was greater than that of men and if the time had come when it was necessary that the administration of the country should be shared by them it looked as if the men were becoming tired of their responsibility." He alleged that women who had signed petitions in favour of suffrage had done so "without knowing what it was all about," and expressed a hope that "though they were going to get the franchise...the women would do the best they could for its welfare without meddling in the public affairs of the province." For his performance, the Calgary Morning Albertan lauded him as "fearless champion of a lost cause" and suggested that he had voiced "sentiments which perhaps many of the present legislators felt but lacked the courage to make public." The paper further recorded that he was congratulated in private by many of his colleagues after his speech.
Federally, when many Liberals rushed to support Sir Robert Laird Borden's Union Government during the Conscription Crisis of 1917
Conscription Crisis of 1917
The Conscription Crisis of 1917 was a political and military crisis in Canada during World War I.-Background:...
, Boudreau remained loyal to Sir Wilfrid Laurier
Wilfrid Laurier
Sir Wilfrid Laurier, GCMG, PC, KC, baptized Henri-Charles-Wilfrid Laurier was the seventh Prime Minister of Canada from 11 July 1896 to 6 October 1911....
's anti-conscription Liberal stub.
During the 1921 election
Alberta general election, 1921
The Alberta general election of 1921 was the fifth general election for the Province of Alberta, Canada. It was held on July 18, 1921 to elect members to the 5th Alberta Legislative Assembly....
, Boudreau was defeated by Télesphore St. Arnaud
Télesphore St. Arnaud
Télesphore St. Arnaud was a provincial politician from Alberta, Canada. He served as a member of the Legislative Assembly of Alberta from 1921 to 1926 sitting with the United Farmers caucus in government.-Political career:...
of the United Farmers of Alberta
United Farmers of Alberta
The United Farmers of Alberta is an association of Alberta farmers that has served many different roles throughout its history as a lobby group, a political party, and as a farm-supply retail chain. Since 1934 it has primarily been an agricultural supply cooperative headquartered in Calgary...
. He returned to office in 1926
Alberta general election, 1926
The Alberta general election of 1926 was the sixth general election for the Province of Alberta, Canada. It was held on June 28, 1926 to elect members of the Legislative Assembly of Alberta. The writs of election were issued on May 10, 1926 allowing for an election period of 40 days.After Herbert...
(when St. Arnaud did not run), but was defeated again in 1930
Alberta general election, 1930
The Alberta general election of 1930 was the seventh general election for the Province of Alberta, Canada. It was held on June 19, 1930 to elect members of the Legislative Assembly of Alberta....
by St. Germain, this time running for the UFA. Over the course of the next five years, St. Germain became disillusioned with the UFA, and crossed the floor to the Liberals, meaning that when Boudreau challenged him in the 1935 election
Alberta general election, 1935
The Alberta general election of 1935 was the eighth general election for the Province of Alberta, Canada. It was held on August 22, 1935 to elect members of the Legislative Assembly of Alberta....
, he had to do so as an independent Liberal trying to unseat the Liberal incumbent. He defeated St. Germain on the first ballot (Alberta used a single transferable vote
Single transferable vote
The single transferable vote is a voting system designed to achieve proportional representation through preferential voting. Under STV, an elector's vote is initially allocated to his or her most preferred candidate, and then, after candidates have been either elected or eliminated, any surplus or...
electoral system at the time), but was defeated on the second by Lucien Maynard
Lucien Maynard
Joseph Lucien Paul Maynard was a lawyer and a provincial level politician from Alberta, Canada. He served a long career as a member of the Legislative Assembly of Alberta from 1935 to 1955 sitting with the governing Social Credit caucus.Maynard served as a cabinet minister under Premier's William...
of the Alberta Social Credit Party. This was the end of Boudreau's political career.
Boudreau, who stood little over five feet tall, was given the nickname "the Little Napolean of St. Albert" by Perrin Baker, minister of education in the cabinet of John Edward Brownlee
John Edward Brownlee
John Edward Brownlee was the fifth Premier of Alberta, Canada, serving from 1925 until 1934. Born in Port Ryerse, Ontario, he studied history and political science at the University of Toronto's Victoria College before moving west to Calgary to become a lawyer...
.
Family and legacy
Lucien Boudreau's brother, Rudolphe, was Secretary of the Privy CouncilPrivy council
A privy council is a body that advises the head of state of a nation, typically, but not always, in the context of a monarchic government. The word "privy" means "private" or "secret"; thus, a privy council was originally a committee of the monarch's closest advisors to give confidential advice on...
under Sir Wilfrid Laurier
Wilfrid Laurier
Sir Wilfrid Laurier, GCMG, PC, KC, baptized Henri-Charles-Wilfrid Laurier was the seventh Prime Minister of Canada from 11 July 1896 to 6 October 1911....
. His sister-in-law, Alice Renault, was married to Boudreau's sometime electoral opponent Omer St. Germain
Omer St. Germain
Omer St. Germain was a barrister, solicitor, notary, publisher and a provincial politician from Canada. He served as the first mayor of Morinville, Alberta, and became a perennial candidate in Alberta elections hold office as a member of the Legislative Assembly of Alberta from 1930 to 1935...
.
Boudreau Road in St. Albert is named in his honour.