Roger Teillet facts for kids
Quick facts for kids
Roger Teillet
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| Member of the Legislative Assembly of Manitoba for St. Boniface |
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| In office 1953–1959 |
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| Premier | Douglas Lloyd Campbell |
| Member of Parliament for St. Boniface |
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| In office 1962 – July 5, 1968 |
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| Prime Minister | Lester B. Pearson, Pierre Elliott Trudeau |
| Minister of Veterans Affairs | |
| In office April 22, 1963 – July 5, 1968 |
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| Personal details | |
| Born |
Jean-Baptiste Roger Joseph Camille Teillet
August 21, 1912 St. Vital, Manitoba |
| Died | May 1, 2002 (aged 89) Ottawa, Ontario |
| Political party | Liberal Party of Canada, Liberal-Progressive |
| Spouse | Jeanne Boux |
| Relations | Louis Riel (great uncle) |
| Parents | Sara Riel and Camille Teillet |
Roger Teillet (born August 21, 1912 – died May 1, 2002) was a Canadian politician. He made history in 1963 by becoming the first person to openly identify as Métis while serving in the Canadian Cabinet.
He was a member of the Legislative Assembly of Manitoba from 1953 to 1959. He then served in the House of Commons of Canada from 1962 to 1968. Roger Teillet was a cabinet minister for Prime Minister Lester B. Pearson. He kept his role when Pierre Elliott Trudeau became the new Liberal leader.
Contents
Roger Teillet's Life Story
Early Years and Family
Jean-Baptiste Roger Joseph Camille Teillet was born in St. Vital, Manitoba, on August 21, 1912. His parents were Sara Riel and Camille Teillet. Roger came from a very well-known Métis family in Manitoba.
He was a direct descendant of Marie-Anne Gaboury and Jean-Baptiste Lagimodière. They were among the first European settlers in Western Canada. They were also the grandparents of Louis Riel, a famous Métis leader. Roger Teillet was the grandson of Joseph Riel, Louis Riel's younger brother.
Roger went to school in St. Vital and St. Boniface, Manitoba. He also studied at St. Boniface College.
Serving in World War II
During the Second World War, Roger Teillet joined the Royal Canadian Air Force. He was a flight lieutenant and a navigator on a Halifax bomber plane. He flew 24 successful bombing missions over Germany.
In 1943, his plane was shot down over France. He managed to avoid German soldiers for 15 days. However, he was eventually captured and became a prisoner of war. He spent almost three years at Stalag Luft III, a prison camp in what is now Żagań, Poland. This camp was for officers, so conditions were not as harsh as in other camps. While there, he continued his studies through a special education program for prisoners. This camp became famous because of the book and movie, The Great Escape.
In January 1945, prisoners from many camps were forced to march across Germany. This was to avoid the advancing Allied armies. On May 5, 1945, Roger and other prisoners were handed over to the British Army. They were then flown to Brussels.
After returning to Canada, Teillet started an insurance business in Winnipeg. He was also active in his local Catholic church. He became a school trustee when his two sons, Philippe and Richard, were in school.
Later Life and Family
Roger Teillet was always interested in politics. He was involved with Métis organizations and was a party organizer. He was also one of the first members of the St. Vital Young Liberals. After the war, he became very active in the Manitoba Liberal Association.
Roger Teillet was married to Jeanne Boux. They had two sons, Philippe and Richard. They also had two grandchildren. Philippe Teillet became a professor at the University of Lethbridge.
Roger Teillet passed away in Ottawa in 2002. His wife, Jeanne, died two years before him. Their younger son, Richard, died in 2003. They are all buried in St. Boniface.
Roger Teillet's Political Career
Manitoba Politics
Roger Teillet was first elected to the Manitoba Legislature in 1953. He represented the area of St. Boniface. At that time, St. Boniface elected two members. For the next five years, Roger was a regular member of the government led by Premier Douglas Lloyd Campbell.
In 1956, Manitoba changed its election system. St. Boniface became a single-member area. Roger was re-elected in 1958. However, his party, the Liberal-Progressives, lost the election. Roger did not run for re-election in 1959.
Federal Politics and Cabinet Role
In 1962, Roger Teillet ran for a seat in the House of Commons of Canada. He won the election in the federal area of St. Boniface. He defeated the current Progressive Conservative member. He won again in the 1963 election. In this election, the Liberals formed a minority government under Lester B. Pearson.
On April 22, 1963, Prime Minister Pearson appointed Teillet as the Minister of Veterans Affairs. This was a very important moment. Roger Teillet became the first person to openly identify as Métis while serving in the Canadian Cabinet.
As Minister of Veterans Affairs, Teillet worked on important projects. He helped with the discussion about a new flag for Canada. He also worked to improve Canada's veterans' hospitals. He represented Canada at ceremonies in Europe to remember war heroes. He visited Canada's war graves and was concerned about the monument at Vimy Ridge. He pushed for its restoration, and work began in 1984.
Roger Teillet also made sure Vimy Ridge was honored in Winnipeg. He created a memorial in Halifax for members of the Royal Canadian Naval Volunteer Reserve who died in World War II. As a Métis person, Teillet spoke up in parliament for Métis concerns. He especially focused on the issues that Louis Riel had fought for.
Teillet was re-elected in 1965. However, in 1968, he lost the Liberal nomination for St. Boniface. He decided not to run in another area. He officially left the Cabinet on July 5, 1968.
After leaving Cabinet, Prime Minister Pierre Trudeau appointed Teillet to lead the Canada Pension Commission. He had already been working with this group to improve veterans' pensions. He served on this Commission until he retired in 1980.
