Bona Arsenault facts for kids
Quick facts for kids
Bona Arsenault
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| Member of the National Assembly of Quebec for Matapédia | |
| In office 1968–1976 |
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| Preceded by | Clovis Gagnon |
| Succeeded by | Léopold Marquis |
| Member of the Canadian Parliament for Bonaventure |
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| In office 1945–1957 |
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| Preceded by | Alphée Poirier |
| Succeeded by | Nérée Arsenault |
| Personal details | |
| Born | October 4, 1903 Bonaventure, Quebec |
| Died | July 4, 1993 (aged 89) |
| Political party | Liberal |
| Other political affiliations |
Quebec Liberal Party |
| Cabinet | Quebec: Minister of Lands and Forests (1960–1962) Minister of Fisheries and Game (1962–1963) Provincial Secretary (1963–1966) |
Bona Arsenault (born October 4, 1903 – died July 4, 1993) was an important Canadian figure. He was a historian, meaning he studied and wrote about the past. He was also a genealogist, someone who researches family histories. On top of that, he was a politician, serving in both federal and provincial governments in Canada.
Contents
Early Life and Education
Bona Arsenault was born in a town called Bonaventure, in Quebec. His parents were Joseph-Georges Arsenault and Marcelline Gauthier. He went to university at Université Laval and also studied at the University of Connecticut.
A Career in Politics
Bona Arsenault had a long career in politics, trying to make a difference for people. He ran in many elections, sometimes winning and sometimes not.
Provincial Elections in Quebec
His first attempts at politics were in Quebec's provincial elections.
- In 1931, he ran in the area of Bonaventure but did not win.
- He tried again in 1935 in Gaspé-Sud and was also defeated.
Federal Politics in Canada
Later, he decided to try for a seat in the Canadian federal government.
- In 1940, he ran in the federal area of Bonaventure but lost.
- He finally won in 1945, running as an independent candidate. This means he didn't belong to a specific political party at that time.
- He was re-elected in 1949 and 1953, this time as a member of the Liberal Party.
- He was defeated in the 1957 election.
Back to Quebec Politics
After his time in federal politics, he returned to the provincial scene in Quebec.
- In 1960, he was elected as a Liberal in the area of Matapédia.
- He was very popular and was re-elected several times: in 1962, 1966, 1970, and 1973.
- During this time, he also served as a cabinet minister in the government led by Jean Lesage. This meant he had important jobs, like being in charge of different government departments. He was:
- Minister of Lands and Forests (1960–1962)
- Minister of Fisheries and Game (1962–1963)
- Provincial Secretary (1963–1966)
- He was defeated in his last election in 1976.
Historian and Author
Besides his political work, Bona Arsenault was also known for his writing. He wrote an important book called Histoire et généalogie des Acadiens. This book is about the history and family trees of the Acadians, a group of French-speaking people who settled in parts of Eastern Canada.
Recognition
In 1980, Bona Arsenault was recognized for his contributions to Canada. He was made a Member of the Order of Canada, which is one of the highest honors a Canadian citizen can receive.
Family Connection
Interestingly, his grandson by marriage is Patrick Roy, a very famous Canadian hockey goalie.
