Gérard Dufresne (Shawinigan)
Encyclopedia
Gérard Dufresne was a well-known local politician and a military officer in Shawinigan, Quebec
.
Born in East Angus, Quebec
, Eastern Townships
in 1918, he got a degree from the Shawinigan Technical Institute and would later make career as an insurance agent.
During World War II he commanded an infantry
company in England and served in the Netherlands
, with the Régiment des Fusiliers Mont-Royal and in Germany.
After the war, he became the Commanding Officer of the Shawinigan-based C Company of the Régiment de Joliette.
In 1953, Dufresne was promoted lieutenant colonel and served as Commander of the 62nd (Shawinigan) Field Artillery Regiment, which he had joined in 1948, until 1960.
From 1966 to 2005, he was the Honorary Colonel of the same unit.
In 2006, local military author Captain (ret) Guy Arcand, CD published a book on Gérard Dufresne 'Biographie du Col Gerard F. Dufresne, CM, ED, OSTJ, CD' La Societe d'histoire militaire mauricienne.
.
Under his tenure, the old City Market (located downtown) was demolished to make room for a Woolworth's
retail store and Boulevard Royal was extended to the current location of the Biermans movie theater. Also, the construction of the Centre des Arts de Shawinigan (located at 2100 Boulevard des Hêtres and completed in 1967) began.
In 1966 he lost his bid for re-election to Maurice Bruneau
.
In 1970
, Dufresne was the Liberal candidate in the district of Saint-Maurice
. He finished third with 24.3% of the vote, behind Union Nationale incumbent Philippe Demers
(36.9%) and Parti Québécois
candidate Yves Duhaime
(24.4%).
Duhaime had been an officer of the 62nd (Shawinigan) Field Artillery Regiment at the time Dufresne was its Commanding Officer.
Dufresne is a federalist
, a loyal supporter of Prime Minister Jean Chrétien
and has remained a card-carrying member of the Liberal Party of Canada
for decades.
Shawinigan, Quebec
Shawinigan is a city located on the Saint-Maurice River in the Mauricie area in Quebec, Canada. It has a population of approximately 51,904 people ....
.
Born in East Angus, Quebec
East Angus, Quebec
East Angus is a city in Le Haut-Saint-François Regional County Municipality, in Quebec, Canada. The city had a population of 3,357 in the Canada 2006 Census....
, Eastern Townships
Estrie
The Estrie is an administrative region of Quebec that overlaps mostly the Eastern Townships. Estrie, a French neologism, was coined as a derivative of est, "east."...
in 1918, he got a degree from the Shawinigan Technical Institute and would later make career as an insurance agent.
Military
Dufresne became a member of the 694 Army Cadet Corps (Collège Immaculée-Conception) in 1933 and then became a reservist with the Régiment de Joliette.During World War II he commanded an infantry
Infantry
Infantrymen are soldiers who are specifically trained for the role of fighting on foot to engage the enemy face to face and have historically borne the brunt of the casualties of combat in wars. As the oldest branch of combat arms, they are the backbone of armies...
company in England and served in the Netherlands
Netherlands
The Netherlands is a constituent country of the Kingdom of the Netherlands, located mainly in North-West Europe and with several islands in the Caribbean. Mainland Netherlands borders the North Sea to the north and west, Belgium to the south, and Germany to the east, and shares maritime borders...
, with the Régiment des Fusiliers Mont-Royal and in Germany.
After the war, he became the Commanding Officer of the Shawinigan-based C Company of the Régiment de Joliette.
In 1953, Dufresne was promoted lieutenant colonel and served as Commander of the 62nd (Shawinigan) Field Artillery Regiment, which he had joined in 1948, until 1960.
From 1966 to 2005, he was the Honorary Colonel of the same unit.
In 2006, local military author Captain (ret) Guy Arcand, CD published a book on Gérard Dufresne 'Biographie du Col Gerard F. Dufresne, CM, ED, OSTJ, CD' La Societe d'histoire militaire mauricienne.
Politics
In 1963, Dufresne was elected Mayor of Shawinigan against François RoyFrançois Roy
François Roy was a local politician in Shawinigan, Quebec. He was the 12th Mayor of Shawinigan, Quebec from 1946 to 1954.Roy was born in 1896 in Rivière-des-Prairies, near Montreal. He successfully ran for mayor in 1946 and was re-elected in 1948 and 1951...
.
Under his tenure, the old City Market (located downtown) was demolished to make room for a Woolworth's
F. W. Woolworth Company
The F. W. Woolworth Company was a retail company that was one of the original American five-and-dime stores. The first successful Woolworth store was opened on July 18, 1879 by Frank Winfield Woolworth in Lancaster, Pennsylvania, as "Woolworth's Great Five Cent Store"...
retail store and Boulevard Royal was extended to the current location of the Biermans movie theater. Also, the construction of the Centre des Arts de Shawinigan (located at 2100 Boulevard des Hêtres and completed in 1967) began.
In 1966 he lost his bid for re-election to Maurice Bruneau
Maurice Bruneau
J.-Maurice Bruneau was a local politician in Shawinigan, Quebec. He was the 16th Mayor of Shawinigan from 1966 to 1970.He was born in 1908 in Saint-Maurice, Mauricie and once owned a butcher shop on 5e rue...
.
In 1970
Quebec general election, 1970
The Quebec general election of 1970 was held on April 29, 1970 to elect members of the National Assembly of Quebec, Canada. The former Legislative Assembly had been renamed the "National Assembly" in 1968...
, Dufresne was the Liberal candidate in the district of Saint-Maurice
Saint-Maurice (provincial electoral district)
Saint-Maurice is a provincial electoral district located in the province of Quebec, Canada. Situated in the Mauricie region, the riding was created in 1792...
. He finished third with 24.3% of the vote, behind Union Nationale incumbent Philippe Demers
Philippe Demers
Philippe Demers was a veterinarian and a politician in Quebec, Canada. He served as member of the Legislative Assembly of Quebec.-Early life and career:He was born in 1919 in Saint-Sébastien, Montérégie...
(36.9%) and Parti Québécois
Parti Québécois
The Parti Québécois is a centre-left political party that advocates national sovereignty for the province of Quebec and secession from Canada. The Party traditionally has support from the labour movement. Unlike many other social-democratic parties, its ties with the labour movement are informal...
candidate Yves Duhaime
Yves Duhaime
Yves Duhaime is a former politician in Quebec, Canada. He served as Cabinet Member and Member of the National Assembly of Quebec.-Early life:Duhaime was born in Chicoutimi, Saguenay-Lac-Saint-Jean and grew up in Shawinigan, Mauricie....
(24.4%).
Duhaime had been an officer of the 62nd (Shawinigan) Field Artillery Regiment at the time Dufresne was its Commanding Officer.
Dufresne is a federalist
Canadian federalism
Canada is a federation with two distinct jurisdictions of political authority: the country-wide federal government and the ten regionally-based provincial governments. It also has three territorial governments in the far north, though these are subject to the federal government...
, a loyal supporter of Prime Minister Jean Chrétien
Jean Chrétien
Joseph Jacques Jean Chrétien , known commonly as Jean Chrétien is a former Canadian politician who was the 20th Prime Minister of Canada. He served in the position for over ten years, from November 4, 1993 to December 12, 2003....
and has remained a card-carrying member of the Liberal Party of Canada
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...
for decades.
See also
- 62nd (Shawinigan) Field Artillery Regiment
- Liberal Party of CanadaLiberal Party of CanadaThe 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...
- Liberal Party of Quebec
- Mayors of Shawinigan
- MauricieMauricieMauricie is a traditional and current administrative region of Quebec. La Mauricie National Park is contained within the region, making it a prime tourist location. The region has a land area of 35,855.22 km² and a 2006 census population of 258,928 residents...
- Saint-Maurice Provincial Electoral DistrictSaint-Maurice (provincial electoral district)Saint-Maurice is a provincial electoral district located in the province of Quebec, Canada. Situated in the Mauricie region, the riding was created in 1792...