Louis Bourassa Sr. and Odile Duprés

In 1916, Father Normandeau, a western missionary, visited the east in search of families for his western colonization.

Noé, son of Louis Bourassa Sr. had reports from his brothers Louis Jr. and Alexandre, who were in the west, as well as Fr. Normandeau’s description let him decide to move west. Therefore, in the fall of 1916, Noé, his wife Verdiana (neé Potvin), five children, and his Father, Louis Bourassa Sr, mother Odile (neé Duprés), four sisters Aurea, Georgina, Marie Odina and Aurore,  two brothers Edéas and Arthur all came by train to Lac La Biche.  From Lac La Biche they travelled by scow to Bay View on the shores of Lac La Biche Lake.  Louis and Odile’s children that are buried in Quebec before the move are:  Marie Vicotoria died shortly after birth in 1883, Louis Ulric was born in April and died at 3 months old in 1884, Charles was born Feb. 10,1887, survived a few months and died in April 29, 1887.  Marie Laura was born in April 1891 and died Nov . 25, 1891.

Another reason for this decision is that two of Louis Bourassa Sr.’s daughters had T.B. and it was believed that the dryer and better climate would be better for their health. They arrived on Oct. 6, 1916, where they were met by Alexandre with a horse and buggy.  Louis and Odile rode in the buggy with Aurore who was ill. The rest walk 1 ½ miles through a bush trail to Louis Jr.’s homestead.  For six weeks they lived together at Louis’ house.

Aurea passed away on Oct. 8, 1916,she was 22 years old and Georgina on Aug. 29, 1918, at the age of 21.  Louis and Odile were very disappointed with this pioneer land but for the death of their daughters would have returned to Québec.  However, they decided to give it a try.  After 6 weeks of living with Louis and Rose, they received their furniture and decided to move into the town of Plamondon.  In the spring they moved to their homestead two miles east and one mile south of Plamondon. A bit later they moved to another farm a mile from their former homestead. In 1928, they moved into town and bought a home right across from the church.  Louis died here in 1939 at the age of 80 years and Odile died in Breynat at her daughter Aurore’s home in 1952 at 93 years.

Louis Jr, his wife Rose (neé Ledoux), lived in Plamondon and his occupation was a blacksmith.  He later moved to Colinton and managed the hotel there and Rose was the cook.  Later they moved to Lamoureux where he was a blacksmith. Then they moved to Fort Saskatchewan where he was a bartender and a security guard at the jail for the prisoners on death row.  Later moved to Edmonton and was a blacksmith for Beverly Mine and Black Diamond Mine.  After Rose died, he moved to Calgary as tool maker during the war. He came back to Edmonton, married widow Mathlida Cheveny and continued to work as a tool maker.  After the war he moved back to Plamondon where he spent the rest of his years. Louis Jr. and Rose had 9 children.

Noé and his wife Marie Verdiana (nee Potvin) came to Plamondon Oct. 6, 1916, with five of their children. They moved to the town of Plamondon and lived in a home next to the hotel.  In 1918, Noé bought a farm 3 ½ mile east of the town on the Lac La Biche Mission Road.  They lived there until 1926; from there they lived in several places in the town of Plamondon.  In 1929, they moved 1/2 miles east of the town, then back to town again for a year or so.  In 1930, they moved one mile east and one mile south of Plamondon.  One of main reasons they moved so often was because Noé walked to work.  He never drove a car in his life. He took contracts for clearing land, cutting wood and ice blocks from the lake for ice houses.  He passed away at 95 years old.  Verdiana passed away at 61 years old.    Noé and Verdiana had 13 children.

Alexandre and his wife Alida (nee Desrosier) came to Plamondon in 1916 and bought a homestead for $10.00.  She passed away in 1918 and two years later he married Rosalie Dragon.  His daughter Cecile died in 1921 at the age of 3. They lived in Plamondon for 20 years. In June of 1943 with a two-month-old baby, Denise, he purchased 160 acres of land in Egg Lake, Alberta. (Now known as Missawaii).  He wanted to be closer to Lac la Biche where he could sell his firewood year-round.  Alex with 10-year-old son Lucien, cleared by hand ten acres of land where the barn still sits today.  They also raised pigs to sell and sheep for the wool. Rose, with the help of her son Wilfrid, would card and spin wool that she would later knit into mittens and socks to the local fishermen.  Rose and her younger sons that still lived at home, tended a huge potato garden that supplied the local restaurants all year round with 100-pound bags that they sold for $3.00.  Their boys build a house in town for them in 1962, and they moved in the first week of January 1963.  Alexandre passed away at 91 years old and Rosalie passed away in 1973. They had 7 children and one baby boy that survived only 12 days in 1929 and is buried in Plamondon, Alberta.

Arthur and his wife Josephine (nee Perreault) were married in 1922.  They had 12 children.  From the stories and writings Arthur and Josephine lived in many places.  Arthur tried farming, work for Meda Plamondon, to Legal in a store, Bon Accord, Fort McMurray and finally on a farm in Wandering River.  Eventually they moved to Lac La Biche for work and for schooling for their children. Arthur passed away in 1974. Josephine died March 5, 2002. They had 12 children.

Edéas and his wife Victorine (nee Harpe) met and married in Plamondon.  They homesteaded 1 1/2 mile east of Plamondon on the Old Mission Trail, from 1919 to 1937 until they moved to Charron.  When they retired in 1953, they moved to Atmore and lived there for 18 years.  Due to failing health, they moved to the Senior Citizen Home in Lac La Biche and lived there for 10 years until Edéas passed away Feb. 7, 1981, at the age of 82.  Victorine passed away March 11, 1994. Edéas and Victorine had 12 children.

 Marie Odina and Frederick Plamondon started life as genuine homesteaders, cutting the first tree so they could build their shack.  Frederick had filed on a quarter section 2 ½ miles north of Plamondon, bordering Lac des Chevaux. Frederick cleared and farmed all his own land by the sweat of his brow and with his horses.  In winter, for extra earnings he worked out with his team making railroad ties.  Odina assumed the responsibilities of the chores and the family in his absence.  She was self- sufficient as a homemaker and as of the times had a large garden, canned and preserved as well as picking wild fruit. She made bread, churned butter and made cottage cheese, sewed, knitted all their woollen socks, mitts, scarfs and toques from the wool of their sheep. Frederick passed away at the age of 67.  Odina passed away at the age of 89. Frederick and Odina had 7 children.

Aurore and Benoit Plamondon, after they were married, they rented their brother-in-law’s farm for three years.  They finally took two homesteads in Breynat.  They build a log house with the help of neighbors.  In winter, Benoit worked in logging camps and always brought back a load of lumber. Aurore stayed home with the children did the chores.  She thanked God many times that she had the strength and health needed to cope with everyday living. In 1948, Benoit owned and operated a store in Breynat where he also built a home.  Eventually, they sold the store and bought a home in Lac La Biche, where Benoit passed away at the age of 68.  Aurore passed away Jan. 25, 1989.  They had 7 children.