Memorable Manitobans: Joseph-Azarie Senecal (1841-1917)

Joseph-Azarie Senecal Click to enlarge

Architect, contractor.

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
St. Francois Xavier Convent	RM of St. Francois Xavier	c1892	Burned (1915)
Ste. Anne Roman Catholic Church	162 Centrale Avenue, Ste. Anne	1895-1898
Convent of the Sisters of the Holy Names of Jesus and Mary	St. Jean Baptiste, RM of Ritchot	1897-1898
Holy Ghost Roman Catholic Church	Selkirk Avenue, Winnipeg	1899	Demolished (1986)
Convent of the Sisters of the Holy Names of Jesus and Mary	St-Pierre-Jolys	1900
Canadian Northern Railway Station	236 Aubert Street, St. Boniface	1901	Demolished (c1962)
St. Boniface Normal School	210 rue Masson, St. Boniface	1902
St. Mary’s Academy	Academy Road, Winnipeg	1902
St. Francois Xavier Roman Catholic Church	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
St. Boniface Cathedral	190 Avenue de la Cathedrale, Winnipeg	1906-1908	Burned (1968)
St. Michael’s Academy	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
Académie Saint-Joseph	321 Avenue de la Cathedrale, Winnipeg	1912
Excelsior Macaroni Factory and Constant House	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.

Sources:

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 and Nathan Kramer for providing additional information used here.

This page was prepared by Gordon Goldsborough.

Page revised: 8 August 2023

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