Pascal Breland

Pascal "Paschal" Breland (born June 15, 1811 Saskatchewan Valley, North-West Territories (today in the province of Saskatchewan) - died October 24, 1896) was a famous 19th century Pre confederation Canadian Metis farmer and politician. He was elected to the Manitoba Legislative Assembly serving from 1870 until 1874.

Early life

In 1836 Breland married his wife Marie Grant who was just 15 years old at the time, Breland was 25 years of age.cite web | url =http://www.metisresourcecentre.mb.ca/bios/p_breland.htm | title=Pascal Breland "Le Roi de Traiteurs" - "King of the Traders" | author=Lorraine Freeman | publisher=Metis Culture and Research Heritage Centre Inc. | accessdate=2007-12-04] The pair had a very large family of six boys and nine girls. Tragedy struck his family on June 21, 1863 when his son Napoléon Breland drowned at the age of four.cite web|url=http://www.geocities.com/Heartland/Lane/7634/a-ce.html | title =Abstract of Burrial Records: St. Francis Xavier, Manitoba, 1834-1865 | accessdate = 2007-12-04]

Council of Assiniboia

Breland became a member of the Council of Assiniboia in September 1857.

Manitoba Legislature

Breland ran in the first general election held after Manitoba joined confederation in 1870. He won the electoral district of St. Francis Xavier East. In that election he defeated John Bruce who had served as President of the short lived Metis provisional government in 1869. The total vote was small as Breland won 31 votes to 18 for Bruce. Breland did not stand for re-election after the Assembly dissolved in 1874.cite web|url=http://www.gov.mb.ca/legislature/members/bios_deceased.html | title = Deceased MLA Bios | publisher = Manitoba Legislative Assembly | accessdate = 2007-12-05]

Northwest Territories politician

Breland served two long terms as a politician in the Legislative Assembly of the Northwest Territories. He was first appointed to the Temporary North-West Council on December 28, 1872. He served on the council until it was dissolved in 1876. He was re-appointed two years later on July 10, 1878 to serve on the 1st Council of the Northwest Territories. His re-appointment made him the only member of the original council to be re-appointed. He was re-appointed to the council due to demands of the Metis for government representation. Breland was the only member to reside from outside the territories during that period. In total he served 15 years as an appointed member.

Late life

Breland died on October 24, 1896. His grandson Joseph Hamelin became a famous Member of the Manitoba Legislative Assembly during the early 20th century.

References

External links

* [http://www.biographi.ca/009004-119.01-e.php?&id_nbr=5989 Biography at the "Dictionary of Canadian Biography Online"]

s-ttl|title=MLA St. Francis Xavier East
years=1870–1874