Paul-François Sylvestre, L'Ontario français, quatre siècles d'histoire (French Ontario, Four Centuries of History) (Éditions David)
This study paints a picture of the French in Ontario, from 1610 to 2010, from the time of the arrival of Étienne Brûlé and Champlain to present day. There is a particular focus on the politics of Upper Canada, Canada West and Ontario in Confederation.
The author reminds us that there was a French presence in Ontario’s first permanent colony (Assomption Parish at Windsor – 1741), that a French-Canadian Member was elected as early as 1792 (François Baby), that his brother Jack was a member of the influential Family Compact, that the first Franco-Ontarian MPP elected to the Legislative Assembly was Honoré Robillard (1883), that Queen’s Park had a Franco-Ontarian Speaker – the Honourable Alfred Évanturel (1898-1902) and that the first Franco-Ontarian Senator was a Coroner from Windsor (Charles-Eusèbe Casgrain, 1887-1907).
The work largely pays attention to the educational crisis imposed by Regulation 17 gave rise to, and underlines the role played by those involved, including Premiers James Pliny Whitney and Howard Ferguson. Political representation (Franco-Ontario MPPs at Queen’s Park) is the focus of at least two tables.
There are brief portraits of certain Francophone MPPs and Ministers. Such is the case with Aurélien Bélanger, Louis Côté, the Honourable Paul Poisson, the Honourable Paul Leduc and the Honourable Robert Laurier.
Finally, this book demonstrates that the French community in Ontario has always occupied a place of honour and has always actively participated in its province’s political life.