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Joseph-Azarie Senecal
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Born at St. Marc, Quebec on 14 November 1841, son of Jerome Senecal, he was educated in Verchère County Public School. After farming for several years he became a contractor at Belveil. From 1874 to 1877, he owned a sash and door factory at Montreal. In 1877 he came to Baie St. Paul where he farmed for seven years. From 1884 to 1891, he farmed at St. Francois Xavier and also kept a general store. He moved from there to St. Boniface to become an architect, planning many important buildings including churches, hospitals, schools and convents.
In October 1869, he married Philomene Marie Pepin (1840-1902) and they had three children: Marie Antoinette Senecal (1870-?, wife of Henri Cusson), Georges Senecal (1876-?), and Francois Xavier Senecal (1888-1888). He was Justice of the Peace for East Marquette (1877-1880), and for eleven years for Manitoba. He was Reeve of St. Francois Xavier (1881-1884), Councillor for St. Boniface (1896), Mayor of St. Boniface (1901), and a school trustee for 29 years. He was a President of the St. Jean Baptiste Society (1901).
He died at St. Boniface on 20 March 1917 and was buried in the family tomb in the St. Boniface Cemetery.
Some of his architectural and building works in Manitoba included:
Building
Location
Year
Status
RM of St. Francois Xavier
c1892
Burned (1915)
St. Mary’s Academy (addition)
161 Pioneer Avenue, Winnipeg
1892
Demolished (July 1959)
162 Centrale Avenue, Ste. Anne
1895-1898
St. Jean Baptiste, RM of Ritchot
1897-1898
Holy Ghost Roman Catholic Church
Selkirk Avenue, Winnipeg
1899
Demolished (1986)
St-Pierre-Jolys
1900
236 Aubert Street, St. Boniface
1901
Demolished (c1962)
210 rue Masson, St. Boniface
1902
Academy Road, Winnipeg
1902
50 rue St. Pierre, Winnipeg
1904-1905
Demolished (1996)
St. Francois Xavier, RM of St. Francois Xavier
1905
Letellier Convent
Letellier, RM of Montcalm
c1905
Misericordia Hospital (expansion)
20 Sherbrook Street, Winnipeg
1906-1907
190 Avenue de la Cathedrale, Winnipeg
1906-1908
Burned (1968)
10 Victoria Avenue East, Brandon
1909-1910
Demolished (?)
Misericordia Hospital (expansion)
20 Sherbrook Street, Winnipeg
1910-1913
Asile Ritchot (expansion)
35 Avenue de la Digue, Winnipeg
1911
321 Avenue de la Cathedrale, Winnipeg
1912
254 Dumoulin Street, Winnipeg
1912-1913
Factory destroyed by fire (1962)
St. Boniface Hospital (Centre Wing)
409 avenue Taché, Winnipeg
1914
St. Boniface Waterworks
St. Boniface
?
Misericordia Hospital Chapel
Winnipeg
?
Redemptorist Convent
Elmwood, Winnipeg
?
See also:
Joseph-Azarie Senecal, Dictionary of Canadian Biography XIV, 921-23.
1901 Canada census, Automated Genealogy.
“St. Michael’s day celebrated,” Brandon Sun, 7 October 1909, page 19.
Who's Who and Why, Volumes 6 and 7, 1915-1916, page 523.
“Widely known architect dead,” Manitoba Free Press, 21 March 1917.
“Would upset will made by father,” Manitoba Free Press, 21 September 1917, page 8.
“Ask court to set aside will,” Winnipeg Tribune, 8 February 1921, page 4.
Birth, marriage, and death registrations, Manitoba Vital Statistics.
Pioneers and Early Citizens of Manitoba, Winnipeg: Manitoba Library Association, 1971.
Dictionary of Manitoba Biography by John M. “Jack” Bumsted, Winnipeg: University of Manitoba Press, 1999.
We thank Leslie Kozma, Nathan Kramer, and Jordan Makichuk for providing additional information used here.
This page was prepared by Gordon Goldsborough.
Page revised: 29 March 2025
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