Marie-Victorin
Encyclopedia
Brother Marie-Victorin (born Joseph Louis Conrad Kirouac, April 3, 1885 in Kingsey Falls, Quebec
- July 15, 1944) was a De La Salle Christian Brother and botanist in Quebec
, Canada
, best known as the father of the Jardin botanique de Montréal
.
build its own botanical garden
s as early as 1919, the Jardin was only authorized by Montreal mayor Camillien Houde
in 1929, and work only began on construction in 1931.
Subsequent administrations, both municipal and provincial, opposed the Jardin as a boondoggle
; however, Brother Marie-Victorin continued to champion the Jardin's cause, promoting it at every opportunity, leading specimen-collection expeditions, and even (during the Second World War) protecting it from being converted into a military flight school.
Brother Marie-Victorin is also known for his writing: his Flore laurentienne is a botanical record of all southern Quebec indigenous species, and was the first such record to be compiled. As well, he is known for being a relative of Jack Kerouac
.
Brother Marie-Victorin died in a car accident in July 1944; a building at the Université de Montréal
, where he had taught botany, was subsequently named for him.
In early 90's, a private high school in Montréal has been created and named with his name. The school is still open but its name has changed in 2006.
He is a member of the Canadian Science and Engineering Hall of Fame
Kingsey Falls, Quebec
Kingsey Falls, Quebec is a town in Centre-du-Québec, Quebec, Canada. It is 30 Km east of Drummondville and west of Route 116.-Sources:*...
- July 15, 1944) was a De La Salle Christian Brother and botanist in Quebec
Quebec
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....
, Canada
Canada
Canada is a North American country consisting of ten provinces and three territories. Located in the northern part of the continent, it extends from the Atlantic Ocean in the east to the Pacific Ocean in the west, and northward into the Arctic Ocean...
, best known as the father of the Jardin botanique de Montréal
Jardin botanique de Montréal
The Montreal Botanical Garden is a large botanical garden in Montreal, Quebec, Canada comprising of thematic gardens and greenhouses. It was designated a National Historic Site of Canada in 2008 as it is considered to be one of the most important botanical gardens in the world due to the extent...
.
Biography
Although Brother Marie-Victorin is on record as having suggested that MontrealMontreal
Montreal is a city in Canada. It is the largest city in the province of Quebec, the second-largest city in Canada and the seventh largest in North America...
build its own botanical garden
Botanical garden
A botanical garden The terms botanic and botanical, and garden or gardens are used more-or-less interchangeably, although the word botanic is generally reserved for the earlier, more traditional gardens. is a well-tended area displaying a wide range of plants labelled with their botanical names...
s as early as 1919, the Jardin was only authorized by Montreal mayor Camillien Houde
Camillien Houde
Camillien Houde was a Quebec politician, a Member of Parliament, and a four-time mayor of Montreal.-Political career:...
in 1929, and work only began on construction in 1931.
Subsequent administrations, both municipal and provincial, opposed the Jardin as a boondoggle
Boondoggle
Boondoggle or boon doggle may refer to:* Boondoggle , term for a scheme that wastes time and money* Scoubidou, a knotting and plaiting craft known in the U.S. as "boondoggle"...
; however, Brother Marie-Victorin continued to champion the Jardin's cause, promoting it at every opportunity, leading specimen-collection expeditions, and even (during the Second World War) protecting it from being converted into a military flight school.
Brother Marie-Victorin is also known for his writing: his Flore laurentienne is a botanical record of all southern Quebec indigenous species, and was the first such record to be compiled. As well, he is known for being a relative of Jack Kerouac
Jack Kerouac
Jean-Louis "Jack" Lebris de Kerouac was an American novelist and poet. He is considered a literary iconoclast and, alongside William S. Burroughs and Allen Ginsberg, a pioneer of the Beat Generation. Kerouac is recognized for his spontaneous method of writing, covering topics such as Catholic...
.
Brother Marie-Victorin died in a car accident in July 1944; a building at the Université de Montréal
Université de Montréal
The Université de Montréal is a public francophone research university in Montreal, Quebec, Canada. It comprises thirteen faculties, more than sixty departments and two affiliated schools: the École Polytechnique and HEC Montréal...
, where he had taught botany, was subsequently named for him.
Legacy
The Marie-Victorin rose, developed by Agriculture and Agri-Food Canada, was named in his honour.In early 90's, a private high school in Montréal has been created and named with his name. The school is still open but its name has changed in 2006.
He is a member of the Canadian Science and Engineering Hall of Fame
Canadian Science and Engineering Hall of Fame
The Canadian Science and Engineering Hall of Fame, located at the at the Canada Science and Technology Museum in Ottawa, Ontario, honours Canadians who have made outstanding contributions to society in science and engineering. It also promotes role models to encourage young Canadians to pursue...