Joseph Hamelin (1873-1947)

Merchant, MLA (1914-1915), MLA (1916-1920), MLA (1921-1922), MLA (1923-1927).

Born at St. Vital, Manitoba on 22 February 1873, son of Firmin Hamelin and Clemence Breland, grandson of Salomon Hamelin and of Pascal Breland. He was raised on a cattle ranch and later educated at St. Boniface College and Juniorate of the Sacred Heart (Ottawa). In 1898, he opened a general store at Ste. Rose du Lac, Manitoba under the name of Joseph Hamelin Company.

On 12 February 1900, he married Parmelie Gamache, daughter of Pierre Gamache, of St. Georges d'Henriville, Quebec. They had six boys and four girls. He was elected Reeve of the Rural Municipality of Ste. Rose in 1910 and served as such for six years. He was first elected to the Manitoba Legislature at the 1914 general election. Following the downfall of the Conservative government of Rodmond Roblin in the 1915 election, he was one of a handful of Conservatives returned to power. He served until 1928.

He died at Niagara Falls, Ontario on 29 August 1947. His body was returned to Manitoba for burial in the Fort Garry Cemetery.

Sources:

The Canadian Parliamentary Guide, 1915.

“Joseph Hamelin, former M.L.A., dies in Ontario”, Winnipeg Free Press, 3 September 1947, page 19.

We thank Robert Clark for providing additional information used in this profile.

This profile was written by Gordon Goldsborough.

Profile revised: 20 November 2009

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