Collection search - Marie-Louise Aurélie Girard portrait collection [graphic material, object]

The LaMothe family's presence in Québec dates to the late 17th century. Marie-Louise Aurélie was a widow of Alfred Versailles when she married Marc-Amable Girard (1822-1892) in 1878. Her second husband represented St. Boniface in the Legislative Assembly of the province from 1870 to 1878, and from 1879 to 1883. From 1872 he was provincial treasurer of Manitoba and it's Premier in 1878. These were turbulent times for Manitoba and Mme Girard would have heard discussions about Louis Riel and the development of the Manitoba School question. Girard was sympathetic to Louis Riel's claims and invited him to be a candidate in the 1873 by-election in Provencher. He was, however, not in support of maintaining the French language in Manitoba.