Joseph William (Willie) Comeau (March 12, 1876 – January 11, 1966) was a Canadian educator and political figure in
Nova Scotia
Nova Scotia ( ; ; ) is one of the thirteen provinces and territories of Canada. It is one of the three Maritime provinces and one of the four Atlantic provinces. Nova Scotia is Latin for "New Scotland".
Most of the population are native Eng ...
, Canada. He represented Digby County in the
Nova Scotia House of Assembly
The Nova Scotia House of Assembly (french: Assemblée législative de la Nouvelle-Écosse; gd, Taigh Seanaidh Alba Nuadh), or Legislative Assembly, is the deliberative assembly of the General Assembly of Nova Scotia of the province of Nova Scotia ...
from 1907 to 1925 and from 1928 to 1948 as a
Liberal
Liberal or liberalism may refer to:
Politics
* a supporter of liberalism
** Liberalism by country
* an adherent of a Liberal Party
* Liberalism (international relations)
* Sexually liberal feminism
* Social liberalism
Arts, entertainment and m ...
member. Comeau sat for Clare division in the
Senate of Canada
The Senate of Canada (french: region=CA, Sénat du Canada) is the upper house of the Parliament of Canada. Together with the Crown and the House of Commons, they comprise the bicameral legislature of Canada.
The Senate is modelled after the B ...
from 1948 to 1966.
Early life and education
He was born in
Comeauville, Nova Scotia, the son of Louis Comeau and Catherine Bourneuf, and was educated at the
Collège Sainte-Anne.
[Fonds Willie J. Comeau, Archives du centre acadien de l'université Sainte-Anne](_blank)
(French)
Political career
Comeau served as a
minister without portfolio
A minister without portfolio is either a government minister with no specific responsibilities or a minister who does not head a particular ministry. The sinecure is particularly common in countries ruled by coalition governments and a cabinet w ...
in the province's Executive Council from 1911 to 1917, from 1921 to 1925 and from 1933 to 1948. He was a member of the
Nova Scotia Legislative Council
A nova (plural novae or novas) is a transient astronomical event that causes the sudden appearance of a bright, apparently "new" star (hence the name "nova", which is Latin for "new") that slowly fades over weeks or months. Causes of the dramat ...
from 1925 to 1928. Comeau resigned his seat in the provincial assembly in 1917 to run unsuccessfully for a seat in the House of Commons.
Death
He died in office at the age of 89 in Yarmouth.
Personal life
Comeau was married twice: first to Grace Sheehan and then, after her death, to Zoé Doucet.
His son,
Benoit Comeau
Benoit Comeau (July 23, 1916 – December 9, 1995) was a Canadian politician. He represented the electoral district of Clare in the Nova Scotia House of Assembly from 1967 to 1981. He was a member of the Nova Scotia Liberal Party.
Early life
C ...
served as the MLA for Clare from 1967 to 1981 and his grandson
Robert Thibault
Robert G. Thibault, (born September 29, 1959) is a Canadian politician.
Early life
Thibault was born in Digby, Nova Scotia in 1959. He is the grandson of former provincial politician, Joseph William Comeau.
Political career
Thibault served a ...
served in the House of Commons from 2000 to 2008.
See also
*
Nova Scotia Heritage Day
In most provinces of Canada, the third Monday in February is observed as a regional statutory holiday, typically known in general as Family Day (french: Jour de la famille)—though some provinces use their own names, as they celebrate the day fo ...
References
*
1876 births
1966 deaths
Nova Scotia Liberal Party MLAs
Nova Scotia Liberal Party MLCs
Canadian senators from Nova Scotia
Acadian people
Liberal Party of Canada candidates for the Canadian House of Commons
Nova Scotia candidates for Member of Parliament
Liberal Party of Canada senators
Place of death missing
{{NovaScotia-MLA-stub