Marie-Victorin Kirouac facts for kids
Quick facts for kids
Bro. Marie-Victorin Kirouac, F.S.C.
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| Born |
Joseph-Louis-Conrad Kirouac
April 3, 1885 Kingsey Falls, Quebec, Canada
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| Died | July 15, 1944 (aged 59) Montreal, Quebec, Canada
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| Resting place | Notre Dame des Neiges Cemetery |
| Nationality | Canadian |
| Occupation | Religious Brother, teacher and botanist |
Brother Marie-Victorin, F.S.C. (born April 3, 1885 – died July 15, 1944), was a Canadian member of the Brothers of the Christian Schools. He was a very important botanist in Quebec, Canada. He is often called the "father" of the Montreal Botanical Garden.
Contents
Life Story of Brother Marie-Victorin
Brother Marie-Victorin was born Joseph-Louis-Conrad Kirouac in Kingsey Falls, Quebec. His father, Cyrille Kirouac, sold flowers. Before he became a religious Brother, people knew him as Conrad.
Creating the Montreal Botanical Garden
As early as 1919, Brother Victorin suggested that Montreal should build its own botanical garden. However, the Garden was not officially approved until 1929 by Montreal Mayor Camillien Houde. Construction then began in 1931.
Many people in government did not support the Garden. They thought it was a waste of money. But Brother Victorin never gave up. He kept promoting the Garden whenever he could. He led trips to collect plant samples. He also hired Henry Teuscher to design the Garden. He even protected it from being turned into a military flight school during Second World War.
His Important Writings
Brother Victorin is also famous for his books. His most important work is Flore laurentienne. This book is a detailed record of all the native plant species found in southern Quebec. It was the first book of its kind.
His Final Years
Brother Victorin died in Montreal in July 1944. He was in a car accident. He was buried at the Notre Dame des Neiges Cemetery in Montreal. A building at the Université de Montréal, where he taught botany, was later named after him.
Brother Marie-Victorin's Legacy
Many things have been named in honor of Brother Marie-Victorin. These include a special rose and a park.
The Marie-Victorin Rose
A type of rose, called the Marie-Victorin rose, was named after him. It was created by Agriculture and Agri-Food Canada.
Parc Marie-Victorin
In 1985, a park was created in his hometown of Kingsey Falls. This was to celebrate 100 years since his birth. The park was named Parc Marie-Victorin. It started as 3 acres but has grown to almost 30 acres. It is known for its work in horticultural development.
Other Honors
In the early 1990s, a private high school in Montréal was opened and named for him. The school is still open today, but its name was changed in 2006. Brother Victorin has also been added to the Canadian Science and Engineering Hall of Fame.
In Film
Brother Victorin has even been shown in movies. He is a main character in André Forcier's 2019 film Forgotten Flowers (Les fleurs oubliées). In this movie, he is played by Yves Jacques. He is also played by Alexandre Goyette in Lyne Charlebois's 2023 film Tell Me Why These Things Are So Beautiful (Dis-moi pourquoi ces choses sont si belles).
Gallery
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The Brother Marie-Victorin Statue at the Montreal Botanical Garden.
