Memorable Manitobans: Valance St. Just Patriarche (1877-1970)

Author, journalist, censor.

Born at Toronto, Ontario on 21 July 1877, daughter of Charles Valance Berryman, she wrote her first novel at the age of 10 and, by 15, was writing regularly for a Toronto weekly newspaper. At age 18, she moved to Chicago, Illinois and became a newspaper reporter, returning to Toronto a few years later. where she wrote a column “Alleged Rumor” for the Toronto Star. She remained with the paper for several years and wrote two more books, magazine articles, verse, two one-act plays, and one full-length play.

She moved to Winnipeg and spent 30 years writing for the Winnipeg Free Press. In 1916, she was appointed to Manitoba Motion Picture Board of Censors, the first woman in Canada to serve in this capacity, and spent 20 years in the position. She and husband Hugh Racy Patriarche (?-?) had a son, Valance Heath Patriarche (1907-1990). She moved to Victoria in 1960.

She died at Victoria, British Columbia on 18 January 1970.

Sources:

“Will censor ‘movie’ films,” Winnipeg Tribune, 17 May 1916, page 11.

“An album of Winnipeg women,” Winnipeg Tribune, 2 May 1936, page 14.

Death registrations, British Columbia Vital Statistics.

“Author dies at 94,” Winnipeg Free Press, 23 January 1970.

This page was prepared by Gordon Goldsborough.

Page revised: 15 December 2021

Memorable Manitobans

Memorable Manitobans

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