Alexandre-Antonin Taché

Taché, Alexandre-Antonin

Alexandre-Antonin Taché, missionary, Roman Catholic priest, archbishop (b at Rivière-du-Loup, Qué 23 July 1823; d at St-Boniface, Man 22 June 1894). He entered the Oblates of Mary Immaculate in 1844, went to the Red River Colony in 1845 and was ordained priest on 12 Oct 1845 by Bishop Norbert Provencher. After studying the Saulteaux language in St-Boniface, he left for the immense territory of the Île-à-la-Crosse [Sask] mission in 1846. He was named coadjutor to Provencher in 1850. He founded many new missions and helped the large number of settlers who flooded into the region. The bishop was at a Vatican Council when the Red River Rebellion began, and he was called back to Canada by government authorities and helped restore order. His promises to the Métis in so doing, however, were controversial. He fought just as vigorously for French and Catholic schools (see Manitoba Schools Question). The bishop left behind him important accomplishments in the country. A devoted missionary and enlightened patriot, he was one of the great Catholic bishops of Canada.