True and Fascinating Canadian History
Vet of the Month: June, 2011
Lieutenant Colonel René de la Bruere Girouard
RCMP Vets. Ottawa, ON
According to his obituary which was printed in the January 1941 Quarterly, René de la Bruere Girouard was a direct descendent of Pierre Boucher, first Governor of Trois Rivieres, QC. In addition, he could trace his ancestry back to Acadia in 1645.
As a child, he moved with his parents to St. Catharines, ON., where he received his early education at Bishop Ridley's College. At the age of 18 years he received his Commission in the Royal Leicester Regiment Imperial Forces while stationed in Halifax, NS. Over subsequent years, he would go on to distinguish himself with many other appointments related to honourable civic and military affairs.
After leaving Halifax, Mr. Girouard transferred to the Royal Canadian Regiment but in 1905, he left military life entirely with the rank of Captain and he entered the profession of civil engineering.
In 1914, he saw action briefly in France, then he returned to Canada and he organized the 178th French Canadian Battalion in the Eastern Townships of Québec before taking them overseas in 1917. En route, he was appointed Officer Commanding aboard the Leviathan. Returning to Canada again, he was placed in Command of the Depot Branch in Québec and in 1918 he took that Unit overseas together with the Laval University Unit.
Back in Canada the following year, Mr. Girouard was appointed Warden of St. Vincent de Paul Penitentiary in Montreal and Deputy Judge Advocate General of the Military District # 5 in Québec.
After moving to Ottawa, Mr. Girouard was appointed RCMP Supervisor of the Ticket of Leave Branch (prisoners and their parole stipulations) on February 10th, 1926. As well, his years in Ottawa outside the RCMP were marked by championing a host of very worthy charitable contributions; he established a Canadian Legion shelter for returning soldiers, he was nominated Secretary of the Federal District Council St. John Ambulance Association, and he taught First Aid and Home Nursing. On the whole, Mr. Girouard's social life was filled with dedication, charity work and self giving.
As a special representative of the Canadian Legion, Mr. Girouard attended the Vimy Pilgrimage in 1936as well as various other state functions. While abroad, he took advantage of the opportunity to study Ticket of Leave methods in various cities including Brussels, London and Paris.
Lieutenant Colonel Girouard was a recipient of a Bronze Medal and Certificate from the Royal Humane Society for attempting to save the life of a drowning person at Dow's Lake in Ottawa, and he was highly praised for his fine work in suppressing a riot in Nelson, BC.
He was widely admired by hundreds of friends for his excellent reputation and for putting other people first. His death came suddenly and as a surprise to everyone who knew him. It was said that he was highly regarded by everyone whom he touched throughout his life.
Lieutenant Colonel René de la Bruere Girouard died in the Ottawa Civic Hospital on January 10th, 1941 wherehe had been confined for about two weeks with an internal ailment.
Royal Canadian Mounted Police. Quarterly. Obituaries. V8(3). January. 1941. pp.361-362
Reporting from Fort Healy,
J. J. Healy
June 23, 2011
was buried in the Elmwood Cemetery, Perth, ON.
His grave was found by Merle Armstrong. RCMP Vets London, ON.
