Memorable Manitobans: Louis Lavallee (1852-1935)

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Louis Lavallee
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Farmer, municipal official, community activist.

Born on his parents’ homestead that is now the grounds of the Riverview Health Centre on 10 February 1852, son of Pierre Lavallee and Emerance Plante, he was educated at the St. Boniface Hospital. In 1875, he married Octavie Riel (1852-1890, daughter of Louis Riel Sr.), Louis Riel’s fourth sister. The couple had six children: Pierre “Pedro” Lavallee (1878-?), Joseph Lavallee (1880-?), Louis David Lavallee (1890-?), Marie Lavallee (1875-?), Marguerite Lavallee (1882-?), and Moise Lavallee (1884-?).

He fought in the Riel Rebellion of 1885 and, along with Charles Sauve, was sent by the Metis National Committee to bring his brother-in-law Riel’s body from Regina, Saskatchewan home to St. Boniface for burial. He worked briefly as a merchant, after which he took up farming on Lot 50 in the Rural Municipality of St. Vital and made his residence near what is now St. Anne’s Road. An officer of the Metis National Union and patron of the Metis Historical Society, he was active in municipal affairs in St Vital and the Rural Municipality of Ritchot and also served as Secretary-Treasurer of the St. Vital School District for 27 years.

He died at his St. Vital home on 9 June 1935 and was buried in the St. Boniface Cemetery. He was commemorated by Lavallee Avenue and Lavallee School.

See also:

Historic Sites of Manitoba: Lavallee School No. 1538 (548 St. Anne’s Road, Winnipeg)

Historic Sites of Manitoba: Lavallee School / Ecole Lavallee (505-511 St. Anne’s Road, Winnipeg)

Sources:

Marriage and death registrations, Manitoba Vital Statistics.

1881 and 1891 Canada censes, Library and Archives Canada.

1901 Canada census, Automated Genealogy.

“Death of Louis Lavallee recalls stirring times in early days of West,” Winnipeg Free Press, 10 June 1935, page 1.

“Metis leader dies,” Winnipeg Tribune, 10 June 1935, page 2.

“Louis Lavallee, brother-in-law of Riel, dead,” Winnipeg Tribune, 10 June 1935, page 2.

Obituary, Winnipeg Tribune, 11 June 1935, page 18.

“Funeral service for Louis Lavallee is largely attende'd [sic],” Winnipeg Free Press, 13 June 1935, page 2.

This page was prepared by Nathan Kramer.

Page revised: 23 July 2018

Memorable Manitobans

Memorable Manitobans

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