GIROUX, FATHER HENRI O.M.I. (206 ENGLISH)
Henri Giroux - son of
b. 1869-08-08 St-Sébastien, QC
ord. 1896-05-31 by Mgr. Duhamel, Ottawa, ON
d. 1956-12-25 Whitelaw, AB, buried Girouxville
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Named as a missionary-in-charge-of-settlers for the future Francophone region of the Peace River area in Alberta.
The politics of immigration was that, in all practical aspects, of an open-door policy: first come, first served. In 1911 in a meeting with Bishop Grouard, Father Falher and Father Giroux, the latter priest was named as an agent of repatriation and settlement for the vicariate of Grouard. If the race towards the United States had slowed down there was only the Peace River area left which was at the farthest corner of the world from Quebec and for the 350,000 Franco-phones born in Canada, but living in the United States (1900).
Once Father Giroux was in the United States, he could exaggerate the length of the summers and mildness of the winters and add a few inches to the average size of the cabbages and carrots; but he could not err on the fertility of the soil; proof had been made as far north as Fort Vermilion. And so far as his vision and that of his bishop’s, prosperous parishes built by “our own people” here were possible; this vision was to be proven absolutely realizable.
Ref: The Sacred Heart Parish of Donnelly, 1922-1982
The following may have a bit of repetition:
In 1911, Bishop Grouard named Father Henri Giroux as a missionary-settler; he could not have made a better choice simply because Father Giroux was a man who liked people and liked to speak to them and to laugh with them.
He left for Montreal and began his advertizing campaign in this big city and had his office on St. Antoine Street. Father Giroux’ arrival there caused quite a stir; it was the news of the day: everyone talked about this: in the families, on the streets, in the tramway, everywhere. Father Giroux did not waste time; he spoke to everyone. He went to the states of Rhode Island and Massachusetts to preach on Sundays, to organize meetings for all interested parties. If the people accused Father Giroux of being too good a salesman, Mrs. Dandurand said that Father Giroux had not exaggerated when she heard him speak in her house. In his sermons, he said “It takes strong arms and courageous people to go West.”
The date of the first departure was June 1st, 1912. Father Giroux went aboard the train interested in the well-being of everyone. There was no change of trains between Montreal and Edmonton, but in Edmonton everyone disembarked and took the train to Athabasca Landing. Father Giroux knew the schedule and had made arrangements to have the arrival dates coincide.
From Athabaska Landing passengers took a boat, then they had to portage for a while, then another boat and finally, they arrived at their destination: Grouard, Alberta..
In Grouard there was a bishop, Emile Grouard, Sisters of Providence, the bishop’s residence, a hospital, and many people who spoke French. The population of Grouard was about 2000 people.
Father Giroux continued to be busy with the well-being of his people. After a few days spent in Grouard, where the sisters and the priests welcomed the new settlers then he with them left for the “promised land”. On the first day, when they arrived south of Donnelly, someone suggested they erect a cross and inscribe on it the names of all present. They ended that first evening by a prayer and the next day they rose early to find these fertile, promised areas which suited each one. The land had been surveyed so now they had to return to Grouard to register their choice at the official Lands and Titles Office. During all this, Father Giroux followed his people.
As soon as winter seemed close, nearly everyone returned to Grouard. A lot of work was found there, room and board seemed adequate and they earned rather good wages. It is also during this time that the men made moonshine for their return to their land the following summer. A little before their return in the spring, they met with Father Giroux to make him aware of this prohibited activity. It was, after all, during the Prohibition era. They wondered how they could bring their liquor back home to their corner of the land! Father Giroux promised them he’d find a way.
To begin with, it was a Sunday that the settlers were to return to Falher and Donnelly. Everyone went to mass and received the sacraments. After a fine meal served by the Sisters of Providence, Father Giroux suggested to the superior that she should give her housekeepers and cooks a holiday and, although she probably suspected something was up, Sister Superior agreed.
The police also knew that it was the day that the settlers were to return home, and the police knew that the settlers had moonshine with them. The police waited at the edge of town. In town the wagons were loaded; the moonshine was put into the first wagon in wooden boxes, and these were covered by blankets over wooden beams. The nuns were made to sit on these boxes. The driver was to leave the sisters at their residence in High Prairie.
When the police saw that the first wagon went only to High Prairie, they did not suspect that the settler-driver would continue on to Donnelly and Falher. No one dared doubt the sisters; therefore they were let to pass on freely, while the second wagon was rummaged through and through; the same was done with the third and fourth wagon, but nothing was found. Thanks to Father Giroux, the settlers had their moonshine in the summer after a day’s hard work breaking the land.
In 1926, when Father was pastor of the parish of Joussard, he’d go to visit my grandparents in the neighboring parish of Kinuso where my grandfather had a store. They were the only franco-phone people in Kinuso. My grandmother liked the Oblate priests and always invited Father Giroux to dine with them. One day my grandmother asked him, “Do you know any good French-Canadian men for my daughter?” Father replied,” Yes, I know a few and one in particular.” My grandmother added : “My eldest daughter is a 25-year- old nurse and will be with us during the third week in March.” Father Giroux replied “I’ll look into this and will give you an answer.”
The communication was done and my parents met each other on the 19th of March and were married on January 4th 1927. Father Giroux assisted at the wedding, and according to the church registers, this was the first marriage of a white couple in Kinuso.
One day, Father Giroux came to see my father who was absent. My mother offered him a cup of coffee and asked him if he was returning by way of McLennan (his two sisters were nuns of the Sisters of Providence). My mother added “Tell the sisters to get a room ready for me for next week.” Father Giroux replied, “Sure, I’ll do that.”
When he arrived at the hospital and gave the message to the sisters, the sisters replied, as they giggled “We don’t believe you’re serious.” We saw Mrs. Cimon just last week and what you’re saying is not true!” as they laughed at getting one over on him! He didn’t reply.
The following week my mother entered the hospital, and I was born (November 1933.)
The joke had boomeranged back on his sisters!
When my little sister died in 1938, she was a victim of the flesh-eating disease…a sickness that lasted 4 to 6 days during which time my parents never left her alone. My mother could see that Simonne’s temperature was rising continually so she told Simonne (aged 7) “You will probably be taking a short trip.” And Simonne answered, “This night I will sleep with Jesus.”She died on September 13th, then our parents and friends kept vigil for one day. Our house was full of people all day, especially since all the school children came. Father Giroux came, shook my parents’ hands and said, “I congratulate you for having an angel already in heaven.” The next day was he feast of Our Lady of the Seven Sorrows, patroness of he Sisters of Holy Cross in Donnelly.
I was only 5 then, but I remember this especially because of Father Giroux’ visit whom I knew. It was his way…always ready to help everyone without exception.
Feeling himself growing old, he went to the hospice in Whitelaw, AB which was run by nuns, and he spent two years there. He died Christmas Day; his funeral was held in Girouxville, the village named in his honor; he was buried in this same parish in the section where the Oblates are buried
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