Olivar Asselin (November 8, 1874 – April 18, 1937) was a writer and journalist in
Quebec
Quebec ( ; )According to the Canadian government, ''Québec'' (with the acute accent) is the official name in Canadian French and ''Quebec'' (without the accent) is the province's official name in Canadian English is one of the thirtee ...
, Canada. He was a prominent
nationalist
Nationalism is an idea and movement that holds that the nation should be congruent with the state. As a movement, nationalism tends to promote the interests of a particular nation (as in a group of people), Smith, Anthony. ''Nationalism: The ...
,
pamphleteer
Pamphleteer is a historical term for someone who creates or distributes pamphlets, unbound (and therefore inexpensive) booklets intended for wide circulation.
Context
Pamphlets were used to broadcast the writer's opinions: to articulate a polit ...
and polemist.
Biography
Asselin was born in
Saint-Hilarion,
Charlevoix
Charlevoix ( , ) is a cultural and natural region in Quebec, on the north shore of the Saint Lawrence River as well as in the Laurentian Mountains area of the Canadian Shield. This dramatic landscape includes rolling terrain, fjords, headlands ...
, Quebec. His name is a combination of the French first name "
Olivier
Olivier is the French form of the given name Oliver. It may refer to:
* Olivier (given name), a list of people and fictional characters
* Olivier (surname), a list of people
* Château Olivier, a Bordeaux winery
*Olivier, Louisiana, a rural popul ...
" and the last name of
Latin American
Latin Americans ( es, Latinoamericanos; pt, Latino-americanos; ) are the citizens of Latin American countries (or people with cultural, ancestral or national origins in Latin America). Latin American countries and their diasporas are multi-eth ...
independence leader
Simón BolÃvar
Simón José Antonio de la SantÃsima Trinidad BolÃvar y Palacios (24 July 1783 – 17 December 1830) was a Venezuelan military and political leader who led what are currently the countries of Colombia, Venezuela, Ecuador, Peru, Panama and B ...
.
He did his
primary studies in a Sainte-Flavie school (near
Rimouski
Rimouski ( ) is a city in Quebec, Canada. Rimouski is located in the Bas-Saint-Laurent region, at the mouth of the Rimouski River. It has a population of 48,935 (as of 2021). Rimouski is the site of Université du Québec à Rimouski (UQAR), the C ...
) and his
secondary studies at the Séminaire de Rimouski.
For financial reasons, his family emigrated to the United States in 1891. After a while working at the Coton Mills there, he worked for numerous newspapers in what was then called the "
French Canadian
French Canadians (referred to as Canadiens mainly before the twentieth century; french: Canadiens français, ; feminine form: , ), or Franco-Canadians (french: Franco-Canadiens), refers to either an ethnic group who trace their ancestry to Fren ...
" community. He was first journalist for ''Le Protecteur Canadien'' of
Fall River
Fall River is a city in Bristol County, Massachusetts, United States. The City of Fall River's population was 94,000 at the 2020 United States Census, making it the tenth-largest city in the state.
Located along the eastern shore of Mount H ...
, in 1894. A year later, he was editor of ''Le National'' of
Lowell, Massachusetts
Lowell () is a city in Massachusetts, in the United States. Alongside Cambridge, It is one of two traditional seats of Middlesex County. With an estimated population of 115,554 in 2020, it was the fifth most populous city in Massachusetts as of ...
(notorious as an emigration target for Quebecers of the day) and ''Le Jean-Baptiste'' of
Pawtucket, Rhode Island
Pawtucket is a city in Providence County, Rhode Island, United States. The population was 75,604 at the 2020 census, making the city the fourth-largest in the state. Pawtucket borders Providence and East Providence to the south, Central Falls ...
. From 1896 to 1898, he was editorial secretary at ''La Tribune'' of
Woonsocket
Woonsocket ( ), is a city in Providence County, Rhode Island, United States. The population was 43,240 at the 2020 census, making it the sixth largest city in the state. Being Rhode Island's northernmost city, Woonsocket lies directly south of ...
.
During the
Spanish–American War
, partof = the Philippine Revolution, the decolonization of the Americas, and the Cuban War of Independence
, image = Collage infobox for Spanish-American War.jpg
, image_size = 300px
, caption = (clock ...
, he undertook a first brief military participation, from 1898 to 1899.
Demobilized
Demobilization or demobilisation (see spelling differences) is the process of standing down a nation's armed forces from combat-ready status. This may be as a result of victory in war, or because a crisis has been peacefully resolved and milita ...
in 1899, he moved to
Montreal
Montreal ( ; officially Montréal, ) is the List of the largest municipalities in Canada by population, second-most populous city in Canada and List of towns in Quebec, most populous city in the Provinces and territories of Canada, Canadian ...
and contributed to various papers, including ''Les Débats''.
On August 3, 1902, he married Alice Le Bouthillier.
From 1901 to 1903, he was secretary to Minister of Colonization
Lomer Gouin
Sir Jean Lomer Gouin, (March 19, 1861 – March 28, 1929) was a Canadian politician. He served as 13th premier of Quebec, as a Cabinet minister in the federal government of Canada, and as the 15th lieutenant governor of Quebec.
Biography ...
. He stood as a nationalist candidate in
Terrebonne
Terrebonne, meaning ''good earth'' in French, is a name of several places in North America:
;Canada
*Terrebonne, Quebec, a suburb of Montreal
** Terrebonne station, a commuter railway station in Terrebonne, Quebec
**Terrebonne City Council, the go ...
during the 1904 election, then in
Saint-James
Saint-James () is a commune in the Manche department in Normandy in north-western France. On 1 January 2017, the former communes of Argouges, Carnet, La Croix-Avranchin, Montanel, Vergoncey and Villiers-le-Pré were merged into Saint-James.
...
during the 1911 election.
In 1907, after a session of the
Legislative Assembly of Quebec
The Legislative Assembly of Quebec (French: ''Assemblée législative du Québec'') was the name of the lower house of Quebec's legislature from 1867 to December 31, 1968, when it was renamed the National Assembly of Quebec. At the same time, t ...
had ended, he came down from the
press gallery {{Short description, Parliamentary reporters
The press gallery is the part of a parliament, or other legislative body, where political journalists are allowed to sit or gather to observe and then report speeches and events. This is generally one of ...
to confront
Louis-Alexandre Taschereau
Louis-Alexandre Taschereau (; March 5, 1867 – July 6, 1952) was the 14th premier of Quebec from 1920 to 1936. He was a member of the Parti libéral du Québec.
Early life
Taschereau was born in Quebec City, Quebec, the son of Jean-Thoma ...
, Minister of The Public Works, and future Premier of Quebec, on the Assembly floor. He was upset over an allegation the Minister supposedly made about him during the session, implicating him in an affair over a false telegram. Asselin told him it was false, but Taschereau refused to admit he made such an allegation. Asselin slapped him in the face, earning him a stay in jail. The imprisonment was notably criticized by
Henri Bourassa
Joseph-Napoléon-Henri Bourassa (; September 1, 1868 – August 31, 1952) was a French Canadian political leader and publisher. In 1899, Bourassa was outspoken against the British government's request for Canada to send a militia to fight fo ...
.
From 1902 to 1910, he worked closely with Henri Bourassa and collaborated with him in the founding of ''
Le Devoir
''Le Devoir'' (, "Duty") is a French-language newspaper published in Montreal and distributed in Quebec and throughout Canada. It was founded by journalist and politician Henri Bourassa in 1910.
''Le Devoir'' is one of few independent large-c ...
'' in 1910. He was
President
President most commonly refers to:
*President (corporate title)
*President (education), a leader of a college or university
*President (government title)
President may also refer to:
Automobiles
* Nissan President, a 1966–2010 Japanese ful ...
of the
Saint-Jean-Baptiste Society
The Saint-Jean-Baptiste Society (french: Société Saint-Jean-Baptiste) is an institution in Quebec dedicated to the protection of Quebec francophone interests and to the promotion of Quebec sovereignism. It is known as the oldest patriotic assoc ...
of Montreal from 1913 to 1914. A nationalist militant, he set up the
Ligue nationaliste The Ligue nationaliste canadienne, also known as the Ligue nationaliste, was a nationalist and anti-imperialist organization in Quebec, Canada, during the early 20th century. Founded by Henri Bourassa and journalist Olivar Asselin, the newspaper '' ...
in March 1903 and launched the newspaper ''
Le Nationaliste'' a year later. It is during this time that he takes on him to defend the settlers right to cut trees and provide information to the Commission de la colonisation of 1904. In 1905, he began a campaign in favour of public
compulsory education
Compulsory education refers to a period of education that is required of all people and is imposed by the government. This education may take place at a registered school or at other places.
Compulsory school attendance or compulsory schooling ...
(it would become law under Premier
Adélard Godbout
Joseph-Adélard Godbout (September 24, 1892 – September 18, 1956) was a Canadian agronomist and politician. He served as the 15th premier of Quebec briefly in 1936, and again from 1939 to 1944. He served as leader of the Parti Libéral du Quà ...
in the 1940s).
The November 26, 1915,
Sir Sam Hughes, Minister of Militia and Defence, offered Asselin the honorary rank of Colonel, which entailed raising a battalion for the
Canadian Expeditionary Force
The Canadian Expeditionary Force (CEF) was the expeditionary field force of Canada during the First World War. It was formed following Britain’s declaration of war on Germany on 15 August 1914, with an initial strength of one infantry division ...
. Asselin recruited men to form the
163rd (Canadien-Francais) Battalion, CEF, known as the "Poils-aux-pattes", made up of French-Canadian volunteers, and placed them under the command of Captain Henri Desrosiers, accepting instead the rank of Major.
After training in Bermuda, the 163rd Battalion made its way to England, disembarking in December 1916, where the battalion was quickly dismantled and used to reinforce other depleted sections. Transferred to the
22nd Battalion, CEF
The 22nd Battalion (French Canadian), CEF, was a battalion of the Canadian Expeditionary Force in the Great War.
*
History
The battalion was authorized on 7 November 1914 and embarked for Great Britain on 20 May 1915. It disembarked in France ...
, Asselin participated in the
Battle of Vimy Ridge
The Battle of Vimy Ridge was part of the Battle of Arras, in the Pas-de-Calais department of France, during the First World War. The main combatants were the four divisions of the Canadian Corps in the First Army, against three divisions o ...
and the Battle of
Acheville
Acheville is a Communes of France, commune in the Pas-de-Calais Departments of France, department in northern France.
Geography
Acheville is situated some 4 miles (7 km) southeast of Lens, Pas-de-Calais, Lens, on the D33.
Population
See a ...
. However, he was later removed from the front after contracting
trench fever
Trench fever (also known as "five-day fever", "quintan fever" ( la, febris quintana), and "urban trench fever") is a moderately serious disease transmitted by body lice. It infected armies in Flanders, France, Poland, Galicia, Italy, Salonika, Ma ...
.
Alternately speaker and military attaché, Asselin found himself as a member of the Canadian Delegation at the
Paris Peace Conference of 1918, which led to the
Treaty of Versailles
The Treaty of Versailles (french: Traité de Versailles; german: Versailler Vertrag, ) was the most important of the peace treaties of World War I. It ended the state of war between Germany and the Allied Powers. It was signed on 28 June ...
and the end of World War I.
Asselin received the
Légion d'honneur
The National Order of the Legion of Honour (french: Ordre national de la Légion d'honneur), formerly the Royal Order of the Legion of Honour ('), is the highest French order of merit, both military and civil. Established in 1802 by Napoleon ...
from France in 1919.
In 1930, he became the editor-in-chief of ''
Le Canada'' and founded, five years later, his own newspapers, named ''L'Ordre'' and ''La Renaissance''.
Olivar Asselin died in 1937, in Montreal, at the age of 62. He was entombed at the
Notre Dame des Neiges Cemetery
Notre Dame des Neiges Cemetery (french: Cimetière Notre-Dame-des-Neiges) is a rural cemetery located in the borough of Côte-des-Neiges-Notre-Dame-de-Grâce, Montreal, Quebec, Canada which was founded in 1854. The entrance and the grounds run a ...
in Montreal.
See also
*
*
Quebec nationalism
Quebec nationalism or Québécois nationalism is a feeling and a political doctrine that prioritizes cultural belonging to, the defence of the interests of, and the recognition of the political legitimacy of the Québécois nation. It has been ...
Notes
References
* Hélène Pelletier-Baillargeon.
Asselin, Olivar, in ''Dictionary of Canadian Biography Online'', University of Toronto and Université Laval, 2000
* Olivar Asselin, ''A Quebec view of Canadian nationalism: an essay by a dyed-in-the-wool French-Canadian on the best means of ensuring the greatness of the Canadian fatherland'', 1909, 23,4 x 15,6 x 0,5 cm — Reprints from the collection of the
University of Michigan
, mottoeng = "Arts, Knowledge, Truth"
, former_names = Catholepistemiad, or University of Michigania (1817–1821)
, budget = $10.3 billion (2021)
, endowment = $17 billion (2021)As o ...
Library: Book on Demand
;In French
* Olivar Asselin, ''Liberté de pensée'' (préf. Robert Lahaise), Montréal : Typo, 1997, 160 p ;
* Claude-Henri Grignon, ''Olivar Asselin, le pamphlétaire maudit'' (dir. Pierre Grignon; préf. Victor-Lévy Beaulieu), Trois-Pistoles : Éditions Trois-Pistoles, 2007, 342 p ;
* Hélène Pelletier-Baillargeon, ''Olivar Asselin et son temps'',
**
ol 1''Le militant'', Montréal : Fides, 1996, 780 p (with an index) ;
**
ol 2
OL may refer to:
Arts and entertainment
* Orphaned Land, an Israeli progressive metal band
* Old Lace (comics) a telepathically linked dinosaur hero
Businesses and organizations
* OLT Express Germany (IATA code: OL), a scheduled and charter airl ...
''Le volontaire'', Montréal : Fides, 2001, 328 p (with an index) ;
**
ol 3''Le maître'', Montréal : Fides, 2010, 416 p (with an index) ;
* Denis Labarre, ''Olivar Asselin'', Montréal : Lidec, collection « Célébrités canadiennes », 1991, 53 p, 22 cm ;
* Marcel-Aimé Gagnon,
**
ol 1''La vie orageuse d'Olivar Asselin'', Montréal : Les Éditions de l'Homme, 1962, 302 p
**
ol 2
OL may refer to:
Arts and entertainment
* Orphaned Land, an Israeli progressive metal band
* Old Lace (comics) a telepathically linked dinosaur hero
Businesses and organizations
* OLT Express Germany (IATA code: OL), a scheduled and charter airl ...
''La vie orageuse d'Olivar Asselin : 1914–1937'' (préf. Lionel Groulx), Montréal : Les Éditions de l'Homme, 1962
* Marcel-Aimé Gagnon, ''Olivar Asselin toujours vivant'' (préf. Willie Chevalier), Montréal : Presses de l'Université du Québec, 1974, 215 p ;
* Hermas Bastien, ''Olivar Asselin'', Montréal : B. Valiquette, 1938, 220 p
* Joseph Gauvreau, ''Olivar Asselin, précurseur d'Action française, le plus grand de nos journalistes, 1875–1937'', s.n., 1937, 46 p
External links
e législature, 1re session: Analyse des journaux et des sources"">"12e législature, 1re session: Analyse des journaux et des sources"at the
National Assembly of Quebec
The National Assembly of Quebec (officially in french: link=no, Assemblée nationale du Québec) is the legislative body of the province of Quebec in Canada. Legislators are called MNAs (Members of the National Assembly; french: link=no, déput ...
website
"Acteurs de notre histoire"
{{DEFAULTSORT:Asselin, Olivar
1874 births
1937 deaths
Journalists from Quebec
Recipients of the Legion of Honour
Presidents of the Saint-Jean-Baptiste Society of Montreal
Canadian Expeditionary Force officers
People from Capitale-Nationale
Burials at Notre Dame des Neiges Cemetery