Post by Rick (Admin) on Mar 9, 2013 12:39:57 GMT -5
Father Thériault a Timmins legend
TIMMINS - When I was in grade school (about a million years ago), we all trundled over to the auditorium at École secondaire Thériault to watch a play written and performed by “les Flammèches,” the school’s very accomplished drama group.
The play was entitled “Le roi du nord” (The King of the North), and it really had a profound impact on me.
The performances were great fun, but the story was gripping — it brought our local history to life and put it out there for all of us to see. I liked that idea. Too often, we never got to hear about our own stories.
I knew an awful lot about American historical figures, some Canadian ones (although less than the American ones) but hardly any of our local bits of history (maybe this is why I ended up in museums — who knew?).
In any case, the play itself featured a larger-than-life character who played an important role in the development of the Porcupine Camp. That person was none other than Father Charles-Eugene Thériault.
We know him today because we named a school after him (and the boulevard where that school sits), but who exactly was this man?
Charles Eugène Thériault was born on April 25, 1886, the son of Jacques and Rachel (Langelier) Thériault, in the tiny parish of St Eloi, Que.
Destined for the priesthood, he joined many young Quebec men his age at the Seminary in Rimouski, where he received his education.
He completed his studies in 1910, and attended a conference in Montreal where he met (and impressed) Monseigneur Latulippe, the bishop in Haileybury.
The Monseigneur recognized right away that this young man would be an asset to the developing north, and urged him to consider accepting a post in this new land.
Thériault accepted the challenge (and adventure), much to the horror of the Bishop of Rimouski, who had pegged the young scholar as his future financial officer for the seminary (makes you wonder how those two Bishops got along after that nifty swipe … just sayin’).
On Sept. 29 of that year, Bishop Latulippe consecrated his new priest in the cathedral at Haileybury, and Father Thériault began his career as a priest in Cobalt.
Father Thériault was not the only priest in his family. His brother Léonce was also a priest who worked in East Africa for many years. His sister Marie-Louise joined the Order of “Les Soeurs de la Providence” and worked in the hospital at Rivière-du-Loup.
This family connection would prove useful later on when Father Thériault made his way to the Porcupine.
While the young priest was content to remain in Cobalt, Monseigneur Latulippe had other ideas.
Father Alexandre Pelletier had built a small church in the Porcupine in 1911, but his services were needed in the new community of Iroquois Falls. The Bishop in Haileybury appointed Father Thériault as the new priest in the mining community of Timmins on Oct. 10, 1912.
With a generous donation of land from the Hollinger Mine (Noah Timmins, benefactor, to be exact), Father Thériault built the first St. Anthony’s church and manse.
He performed the first Catholic baptism in South Porcupine for Alice-Déliane-Olive Leroy, and on Oct. 20, 1912, the first baptism in Timmins for Domitilde-Marie Girard.
He celebrated his first marriage on Dec. 10, 1912 between Samuel McCloud and Elsie Drake.
A new community, with newly married couples usually means that the next things you will probably need to think about are schools.
Father Thériault held classes in the basement of his church for many years.
In 1916, construction started on St. Antoine school. The eight-room facility opened in 1918 when five Sisters of the Assumption arrived as teachers.
Father Thériault also had a hand in the development of the catholic school board as well as two other schools: St. Charles for francophone students and Holy Family school for English pupils.
The good father was also involved with the creation of a hospital in Timmins.
Working with his friend Noah Timmins, a proper hospital for all residents was built. St. Mary’s General Hospital, under the guidance of the Sisters of Providence served the community for many years.
A nursing school was soon opened. The Reverend Mother Superior for the facility, Sister Mary Liguori was a graduate of the school.
Friend to one and all, Father Thériault had quite the reputation in the town.
In 1935, he celebrated his 25th anniversary in the priesthood. Festivities were held in the parish. The committee was chaired by none other than Noah Timmins and included such local luminaries as R.J. Ennis, President of the McIntyre Mine, H.R. Mascioli and Charles Pierce.
A banquet in his honour was held at the Timmins Arena. More than 800 people attended, including the Honourable Paul Leduc, Minister of Mines. Noah Timmins addressed the crowd in French and 10 other speakers followed suit.
The Timmins Citizens Band provided the entertainment along with special selections performed by Lucien Jutras, Louis Paré, Mrs. N. Tanner, Mrs. J-A Thériault and Miss Thérèse Sauvé.
The singers were accompanied by Mrs. O. Sauvé and C.M. Boutin.
Sadly, barely one year later, Father Thériault attended the funeral of his friend Noah Timmins, in Montreal.
He then visited his ailing mother in St. Eloi, only to be called back to Timmins with more bad news. His beloved church had burnt to the ground.
Not a man to waste a moment, Father Thériault raised the funds needed to rebuild the church and within the year, St. Anthony’s was reconsecrated.
Father Thériault remained at the church until 1940. He then moved to Notre Dame de Lourdes church.
While still the priest at Notre dame de Lourdes, Father Thériault passed away on May 1, 1956 at the age of 70.
His contributions to the Porcupine Camp are legendary. A friend to one and all, he truly deserved the title “le roi du nord”.
— Karen Bachmann is the director/curator of the Timmins Museum and a local author.
www.timminspress.com/2013/03/08/father-theriault-a-timmins-legend