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Thérien Council Bonnyville
Thérien
Council Bonnyville, 1942
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Thérien Council #2908
gained its charter on May 11, 1947 but the history of the
Knights of Columbus dates back to those solemn days when
Hitler's troops were ravaging Europe and the Allies were
beginning the long road back to victory. It was February
8, 1942, that the delegation from Council Grandin in St.
Paul held a meeting with Knights residing in Bonnyville.
Present were Brothers Walter Lambert, Lucien Pronovost,
Pierre Benoit, Amable Lapierre, Officers of Grandin Council
and Brothers, Alain, Julien, Tremblay, A. Pitre, S. Pitre
and Racette who accompanied them from St. Paul. From Bonnyville
were Brothers Jacques Demers, Charles Moreau, Adélard
Roberge, Willie Paquette, Lionel Landreville, Gus Binette,
Irvin Baril, Philias Durocher, Louis Belland, Conrad Lapierre,
Dr. Sabourin, André Déchêne, Rev. J.E.
Lapointe, Frank Lambert, Oscar Audette and Armand Beauchêsne.
Ten brothers from Bonnyville unanimously expressed their
desire to form a sub council of Conseil Grandin. An executive
was chosen consisting of Father J.E. Lapointe as chaplain,
Jacques Demers as president, Adélard Roberge as vice-president,
Charles Moreau as chancellor, Philias Durocher as recording
secretary, Irvin Baril as warden, and Gus Binette and Willie
Paquette as guards. This executive unanimously endorsed
André Déchêne as lawyer and Lionel "Lindy"
Landreville as financial secretary.
Two of the first motions put forth by the new sub council
were: that a fee of 25¢ per month per member be assessed
to help defray expenses of the sub council and that the
members attend a communion mass together on Palm Sunday
to be followed by a breakfast. The various committees were
appointed and the Knights in Bonnyville were on their way.
Twenty five proud members sat in the front pews of the Church,
March 29, 1942 to perform their Easter duties.
Brothers Déchêne and Landreville had to be
replaced on the executive, as both left for officer training
in the Canadian Army where distinguished service careers
ensued.
An initiation soon followed in St. Paul and Brothers Ted
Lambert, Armand Landry, Donat Dumont, Roland Limoges, Tom
Gringras, Adolphe Couture and Rev. Thibault were welcomed
into the organization.
The sub council pursued its many activities for five years
when it was decided to form its own council and Thérien
Council #2908 came into being May 11, 1947
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