Antoine Champagne (1892-1980)

Cleric, historian.

Born at St. Norbert, Manitoba on 21 January 1892, he was educated Notre Dame de Lourdes then entered the Order de les Chanoines reguliers de l’Immaculee Conception. In 1911 he was sent to Rome to complete his theological studies. He entered the priesthood in 1915 then received a doctorate in theology from the Universite de la Propagande in 1916. From 1916 to 1922 he taught at the Minor Seminary of Avignon and Lyon in France.

When he returned to Manitoba in 1922, he became connected with the Parish of Notre Dame de Lourdes, as an Assistant until 1932 then Pastor until 1948. He then retired in ill health and, in retirement, he undertook research in genealogy, history, and botany. In 1950 he began a project on the La Verendrye and Riel families. He was interested in finding the original sites of the French forts. He wrote several books, two of them being Les Vérendry et le Poste de l'Ouest (1968) and La Famille de Louis Riel (1969).

He died at St. Boniface on 7 September 1980 and was buried in St. Boniface Cemetery.

His articles for the Manitoba Historical Society:

Grand Rapids - an Old Historical Spot, 1727-1760
MHS Transactions, Series 3, 1962-63 Season

The Verendryes and Their Successors, 1727-1760
MHS Transactions, Series 3, Number 25, 1968-69 Season

Sources:

Obituary, Winnipeg Free Press, 9 September 1980.

Profile revised: 14 June 2009

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