DESJARDINS, Alphonse - Accompanied the British Association in 1884
Alphonse Desjardins(1841-1912) was the Conservative M.P. for the Quebec constituency of Hochelaga. From 1862-1867 he practiced law after which he turned to journalism, retiring as editor of “Le Nouveau Monde” in 1878. As a Conservative Member of the Canadian Parliament (1874-1887) Desjardins was a great supporter of the construction of the Canadian Pacific Railway.
In 1879 he married Marie-Clara Dorimène Roy (1858-1952); they raised four girls and six boys,although she was the primary spouse tasked with this job. In 1900, they also co-founded the first Credit Union, known in Quebec as the "caisses populaires".
The “Montreal Gazette” Sept, 17, 1884 and the “Report of the Visit of the British Association to the Canadian North-West” both refer to Alphonse Desjardins as being one of the excursionists that travelled with Sir Richard Temple, who visited the Bell Farm Sept. 14, 1884.
SOURCES:
Photo source (1882) - http://collections.musee-mccord.qc.ca/en/collection/artifacts/II-64954.1
1875 biography and /photo - https://archive.org/details/McGillLibrary-104368-11/page/n99/mode/2up
1892 biography - https://archive.org/details/McGillLibrary-rbsc_lc_montreal-history-gazeteer_Lande00051-15422/page/n255/mode/2up /
“Montreal Gazette”, Sept. 17, 1884 – report on the British Association tour and list of travellers, including Desjardins.
Report of the visit of the British Association to the Canadian North-West [microform] : description of the trip to the Rocky Mountains, addresses presented, report of speeches delivered, doings in Winnipeg : Richardson, R. L. (Robert Lorne), 1860-192
T.H. Thomas, special artist of the Graphic extends special thanks to Alphonse Desjardins MP for Hochelaga for varied information and cheerful companionship in travel - p.2 - https://static.torontopubliclibrary.ca/da/pdfs/37131055429096d.pdf
Biography, The Canadian Encyclopedia - https://www.thecanadianencyclopedia.ca/en/article/alphonse-desjardins
RESEARCH BY:
Michelle Cabana, Saskatoon, Sask.