Gaston Chagnon

Chagnon, Gaston (1930-2012) a business man and philanthropist. Born in Drummondville, Quebec, he was a son of the late Oscar and Antoinette Chagnon. He passed away on February 13, 2012 in Halifax. He is survived by his wife of 53 years, Pauline Gervais-Chagnon; daughter, Patricia (Marc Biotteau), St. Lambert, Quebec; son, Vincent (Marie-France Ulrich), Estrie, Quebec, and Nicolas, Halifax. He will be missed by his grandchildren, Caroline, Etienne, Pierre, Olivier, Heloise, Philippe, Magalie, Francois and also by Cathy and Tommy. He is also survived by his three sisters in Quebec and his brother Edgar (Joan), Nova Scotia and his niece Louise, Nova Scotia.

In 1961 Gaston moved to Halifax, Nova Scotia with his wife and three children. He worked for many years in the construction business and also managed and owned numerous properties. He made many personal and financial contributions towards the development of the Acadian and Francophone communities. Discreet, active and efficient he was involved in a multitude of projects. Gaston was one of the founding members of the “Club Francais” with Father Leger Comeau. In 1974 he was made a member of the committee established to obtain a French school and community centre in the Halifax/Dartmouth area. After many years, the “Carrefour du Grand Havre” became a reality. He was an active member and the treasurer of the “Societe de Promotion de Grand Pre” he supported both morally and financially the Acadian newspaper, Le Courrier, the Universite Sainte-Anne, the cultural centre in Petit- de- Grat, the community centre in Tusket, the Halifax/Dartmouth Acadian Festival, the Societe Historique of Pomquet, the French choir “Les Voix d’Acadie” and many more. Gaston received from the Federation Acadienne de la Nouvelle-Ecosse the “Leger Comeau Prize” and a honorary doctorate in Administration from the Universite Sainte-Anne.

He is a chevalier of “La Pleiade”, a francophone order, from the International Assembly of the French Language Parlementarians. He is a member of “ l’Ordre du Chevalier” from the Universite de Moncton. He was one of the two contributors for the large mural entitled “ Le Reveil” and also contributed a bronze sculpture entitled “Deportation” at Lieu historique national du Canada de Grand-Pre. He is a member of the “La Compagnie des Cent-Associes” and a faithful member of the French Catholic mission of Sainte-Famille.

Arrangements have been entrusted to Cruikshank’s Halifax Funeral Home, 2666 Windsor Street, Halifax, NS, B3K 5C9, where the family will receive visitors from 2-4 and 7-9pm on Friday February 17, 2012. Funeral mass will be held at 1pm on Saturday February 18, 2012 at St. Thomas More Church, 1 Kuhn Drive, Dartmouth, NS B2X 1R1. In lieu of flowers memorial donations may be made to the Schizophrenia Society of Nova Scotia (www.ssns.ca) to view or place an online message of condolence please visit www.cruikshankhalifaxfuneralhome.com

For the French version of this obituary please refer to the Nova Scotia Acadian newspaper Le Courrier.

“On peut allumer des dizaines de bougies á partir d’une seule sans abréger la vie. On ne diminue pas le Bonheur en le partageant”

Gaston Chagnon( 1930-2012) Homme d'affaires et philantrope, ne a Drummondville, Que. Fils de feu Oscar et Antoinette Chagnon. Il est mort le 3 fevrier a Halifax. Sa femme, Pauline, sa fille Patricia (Marc Biotteau) St-Lambert,Que. son fils Vincent (Marie-France Ulrich) Estrie,Que. et son fils Nicolas, Halifax lui survivent. Il avait 10 petits-enfants, Caroline, Etienne, Pierre, Olivier, Heloise, Philippe, Magalie, Francois, et aussi Cathy et Tommy. Il laisse dans le deuil, trois soeurs (Que) et un frere Edgar (Joan)et une niece Louise , N.E. . Installe en N.E en 1961, avec sa femme et ses 3 enfants,il oeuvrait dans l'habitation ' ,la construction et la gerance de ses proprietes. Il a contribue au developpement de la communaute francophone et acadienne par sa personne et son aide financiere. Discret, mais actif et efficace, il etait implique dans une multitudes de projets acadiens et francophones. Il a ete un des membres fondateurs du'' Club Francais'', avec le Pere Leger Comeau. En 1974 il a oeuvre, au sein d'un comite, pour l'obtention d'un centre scolaire et communautaire, dans la region d'Halifax-Darmouth. Apres plusieurs annees, le'' Carrefour de Grand Havre'' etait une realite. Il a ete un membre actif et le tresorier de'' La Societe de promotion de Grand Pre''. Il a encourage, moralement et financierement le journal '' Le Courrier,'' l'Universite Ste-Anne, le centre culturel de Petit-de-Grat, le conseil scolaire acadien provincial, le centre communautaire de Tusket, le Festival Acadien d'Halifax-Dartmouth, la Societe Historique de Pomquet, la chorale Les'' Voix d'Acadie''' et tant d'autres... Il a recu le prix ''Leger Comeau'' 'de la Federation Acadienne de la N.E. , un doctorat honorifique, en administration , de l'Universite Ste-Anne. Il est chevalier de 'La Pleiade', l'ordre de la francophonie de l'assemblee internationale des parlementaires de langue francaise. Il est membre de 'l'Ordre du Chancelier' de l'Universite de Moncton. Il a ete un des deux contributeurs , pour la grande murale intitulee 'Reveil'

et aussi il a contribue a la sculpture de bronze'Deportation' au Site National Historique de Grand Pre. Il est membre de 'La Compagnie des Cents-Associes' et un membre fidele de la communaute catholique francophone de la mission Ste-Famille. Les visites se feront a Cruikshank's Funeral Home, 2666 Windsor St. Halifax, vendredi le 17 fevrier de 2-4 p.m et de 7-9 p.m. Les funerailles auront lieu samedi le 18 fevrier a 1 p.m. en l'eglise St-Thomas More, au 1 Kuhn Drive, Dartmouth.( en face de l'ecole NSCC) Au lieu de fleurs, un don peut etre fait a 'Schizophrenia Society of N.S.' (www.ssns.ca)