Alexandre Vachon

"...a rich chronicle of one of the greatest leaders of this diocese." -Marcel André Gervais, Archbishop Emeritus of Ottawa, Canada "...the opportunity to get to know a great figure of the Canadian Episcopate." -Luigi Ventura, former Apostolic Nuncio to Canada Alexandre Vachon 1885-1953 completed his studies for the Catholic Priesthood with distinction. He became a science teacher and pursued studies at Harvard and MIT. Early on, he realized the need to improve the lot of French-Canadians, not only in the Province of Quebec, but throughout Canada. As Director of the Advanced School of Chemistry and then Dean of the Faculty of Science, and finally as Rector at Laval University, he encouraged French-Canadian youth to choose scientific studies and, while maintaining good relations with English Canadians, to take their due place in the Canadian society. The Church recognized his talents and, in 1939, turned to him to lead the Ottawa diocese as Bishop. Rome noticed the success of his work, particularly the 1947 Marian Congress, and he was entrusted with new responsibilities which extended to the Catholic Church at large.