St. Leon is located south-west of Winnipeg Saint Boniface, in the region known as "La Montagne Pembina" (Pembina Mountains). The LafreniÅre family, repatriated from the United States, headed West from Emerson unlike the majority of the repatriates who settled along the banks of the Red River close to the city. The Rev. Bitsche arrived there in 1879, with 100 francs in his pocket. Over the years St. Leon served as a departure point for the French foundations at Notre-Dame-de-Lourdes and St. Claude. This 1888 photograph, taken in bright daylight - note the children wincing -, shows Mrs. Chaput (nÄe Josephine LadÄroute) and her charges. Among them are some LafreniÅre, Rondeau, and Grenier children, all from families still residing in the area. Since those in the front row appear much too young, one wonders if all these children were attending school.
Courtesy: Gift of Marie A. Royal (Mme David Girouard, Somerset, Manitoba) ê La SociÄtÄ historique de Saint-Boniface
