Albert Prefontaine (1861-1935)

Farmer, merchant, MLA (1903-1907), MLA (1908-1910), MLA (1911-1914), MLA (1916-1920), MLA (1923-1927), MLA (1927-1932), MLA (1933-1936).

Born at Upton, Quebec on 11 October 1861, son of Firman Prefontaine and Matilda Desautel, he was educated at Greenfield, Massachusetts. He came to Manitoba in 1880. He served as Reeve of the Rural Municipality of DeSalaberry from 1894 to 1899, continued in office until 1896. He was President of the Carillon Agricultural Society, President of the Carey Elevator Company, and President of the St. Pierre Trading Company, which operated a general store at that place starting in 1907.

He was elected to the Manitoba Legislature as a Conservative in 1903, holding that position until 1920, when he was defeated by Maurice Duprey. He was Leader of the Conservative Opposition in the Legislature from 1915 to 1920. Became a member of the Bracken Government; re-elected for Carillon as Provincial Secretary and Commissioner of Lands and Railways. Roman Catholic. Address: St. Pierre, Manitoba.

On 13 February 1888, he married Albina L’Heureux (deceased 1908), with whom he had eight children, including Edmund Prefontaine.

Sources:

Who’s Who in Western Canada: A Biographical Dictionary of Notable Living Men and Women of Western Canada, Volume 1, 1911. C. W. Parker, editor. Canadian Press Association, Vancouver.

Profile revised: 30 October 2009

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