Théogéne FAFARD (1855-1890)
Théogene was born 27 March 1855 in Pierrefonds, Quebec. He was the son of Norbert Fafard (1820-1902) and Hippolite “Apoline” Claude (1826-1905).
On 28 November 1882 in St. Boniface, Manitoba, he married Anna Sephora Germain, (1863-1946) and they had three children: Anna Sephora (1883-1883), Marie Berthe (1884-1936, wife of Joseph Adelard Omer Paquin), and Joseph Theogene (1885-1885).
Théogène studied at the Collège de Montréal and then, in 1872, he began to study at the Montreal School of Medicine and Surgery. He graduated in 1876 and practiced medicine in Montreal until 1878 when he moved to Manitoba in November and settled in St. Boniface. He practiced at the Hôpital de Saint-Boniface from the time of his arrival until his death. He was a resident doctor during his 11 years there caring for hundreds of patients. An 1887 report noted, “he visited the sick every day and gives his services at no charge”.
Physician, Pharmacist, Professor
During the 1880s, Théogène was recognized as the foremost French-Canadian doctor in the province. In 1880, he was appointed a coroner for the province of Manitoba, a position he held until his death. In 1882, he opened a pharmacy with his brother, Abel, which he sold in 1889. In 1883, Théogène was chosen as the first medical officer of the newly incorporated town of St. Boniface. He was one of the founders and incorporators of the privately-operated Manitoba Medical College which opened in 1883 and was the first medical school of the Prairies. He joined the faculty as a professor of botany from 01 October 1884 until his death.
In 1878-1879 he became interested in community affairs and became a director of the Société de Colonisation de Manitoba, a member of the Roman Catholic section of the Board of Education of Manitoba, and the official physician for the Société Saint-Jean-Baptiste. In 1880, he was nominated for the position of Councillor for Ward 1 of St. Boniface Municipal Council, but was not elected. In 1881, he took charge of the enumeration of the St. Boniface provincial constituency.
He died at his St. Boniface home on 03 January 1890 of La Grippe and was buried in the St. Boniface Cathedral Cemetery 08 January 1890.
Sources:
- Birth, Marriage, and Death Registrations, Manitoba Vital Statistics.
- Quebec Vital and Church Records
- Canada Census: 1861, 1871, 1881, 1891.
- “A Prominent Medical Man Passes Away aFter a Brief Illness”, The Manitoba Free Press, 06 January 1890, page 4.
- “A Double Funeral”, The Manitoba Free Press, 09 January 1890, page 2.
- “Lake Dauphin News”, The Manitoba Free Press, 20 January 1890, page 6.
- Robert Painchaud, “FAFARD, Théogène,” in Dictionary of Canadian Biography, vol. 11, University of Toronto/Université Laval, 2003-, accessed 20 September 2023, http://www.biographi.ca/en/bio/fafard_theogene_11E.html.
- Obituary [Bertha Paquin], Winnipeg Free Press, 20 January 1936, page 2.
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