Ronald Poirier

Ronald was born in Port Daniel, County Bonaventure, Quebec, in the Gaspe Peninsula on July 13, 1927; son of Wenceslas Poirier & Alice Belanger. He was the last child to be born in Quebec. His father left Port Daniel when Ronald was just a baby, to make a new home for his family in the west, leaving Ronald and his 9 siblings alone with their mother at home. It would be a year before 5 of his sisters would move west and another 6 months before he would take that same trip. In 1930 Ronald finally made the trip with his mother, 1 brother and 3 sisters. The trip was not easy on Ronald. When he first seen and heard the train, Ronald was terrified and started to cry hysterically. Nothing and nobody could console him. After a while he calmed down and the trip continued. He finally got to meet his father which he didn't remember and enjoyed the open space of the homestead in Lac Magloire. When he grew older he enjoyed dogs very much and had 2 favorite dogs which he hitched to a wagon. He would get groceries for his mother at a little store about 3 miles from home bringing his dogs and wagon, or travel to the neighbors for cream.

Ronald on Binder Jean-Cote homestead 1952

When Ronald was 10, the family moved to Falher so the children could go to school. Ronald did not like school and didn't get along very well with many of his teachers so at 17 he decided to go to Quebec and find some work. He went to see his uncle Onezime, his fathers brother, and worked there for a year. When he came back to Falher his father and brother had a blacksmith shop so he went and worked as a welder. He found out he was a very good welder and he enjoyed it. By 1947, his brother Adrien was married and had 2 children. Adrien and his Dad decided to buy homesteads in Jean-Cote but what caught Ronalds eye was the CAT they had also bought for clearing the land.

1956 Ronald on Cat

Ronald decided this was a great idea and he moved to Jean-Cote with his father, sister-in-law Cecile, her two boys, Henri & Richard and one sister, Lucienne. Together they started clearing land with the CAT.

Adrien would stay and work in Falher during the week at the blacksmith shop and come home on weekends. This would provide the money to pay for the fuel and other expenses of the farm while Ronald and his Dad cleared the land.

Ronald & Wenceslas Poirier getting the forge ready to fix the plow
1952 homestead, Jean-Cote

Ronald, 1952 Harvest time. Unknown Helper

As the years went by Adrien & Cecile had 3 more children and it was very normal to see Ronald with at least 1 or more kids tagging along, either on his shoulders, in a truck or in the boat.

Ronald cutting grass in dugout in Jean-Cote.
Gilbert Poirier sleeping, 1956

He loved children and had a nickname for every one of them. Even his own children would get to share in the nicknames. If Ronald had to call one of the kids quickly he would think of the nickname way before their real name.

Ronald & Madeleine Poirier 1960

In 1960 he married Madeleine Girard, daughter of Eliphe & Corine Girard of Jean-Cote. They built a small house in the same yard as Adrien & Cecile. Around 1966 he moved his wife and 3 children 1-1/2 miles east of the farm into a bigger two-story house. After the 2 last children were born he moved the entire family to Fort McMurray and then on to Mackenzie B.C.

In 1974 he separated from his wife.

Revelstoke Dam

Welding Photo

Welding Photo

In 1980 Ronald moved to Revelstoke, B.C. to be part of the building of the Revelstoke Dam, where he worked in a small machine/welding shop

Ron had a love of animals, gardening and carpentry along with his love for welding. In his spare time he worked in his big garden, and looked after the many animals he had. Ron raised horses, chickens, ducks, rabbits, cats and dogs and treated each one as his own child. Throughout these years he never quit welding, gardening or carpentry, even though welding had become his career. He was still welding in the year 2001.

Ronald's Wonderful Garden

Ronald's Animals
One Big Happy Family at Ronald's

Ronald & his horses (Charity and Summer)

Ron had a very strong passion for each one of his hobbies and it showed in his everyday life up to the day he passed away on March 11, 2002. His ashes were spread on July 13, 2002 on his 75th birthday in Revelstoke, B.C. on top of his mountain beside a lake he had made.

Ronald's Lake

Spreading ashes of Ronald Poirier
July 2002

His simple yet love filled life is greatly missed.

Ronald has 5 children.

Michel, Norman, Paul
Gisele, Henriette

Thank you Dad, for showing us how we are to love everything that God places before us.
Love you and miss you. Gisele

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By: Gisele Sharun.