The Right Honourable Roméo LeBlanc, former Governor General of Canada, died peacefully at home in Grande Digue, New Brunswick, on Wednesday June 24, 2009. A State Funeral, open to the public, will take place on Friday July 3, 2009, at 11am at St. Thomas Church, Memramcook, N.B.



Born in 1927 at Cormier’s Cove in the Memramcook Valley, Roméo was the youngest of seven children. He earned his Bachelor of Arts in 1948 and Bachelor of Education in 1951 from College St. Joseph. He later (1953-55) studied French civilization at l’Université de Paris (Sorbonne) on a scholarship. From 1951 to 1953, Roméo taught high school in Drummond, New Brunswick, and from 1955 to 1959 taught education at the Normal School in Fredericton



After earlier freelance work, in 1959, he became a full-time journalist for Radio-Canada in Ottawa. His skills in reporting and understanding events led to frequent foreign assignments. In 1965, he became the network’s Washington correspondent.





He was persuaded to serve, from 1967 to 1971, as Press Secretary to Prime Ministers Lester B. Pearson and Pierre Elliott Trudeau. Then, after a year as Director of Public Relations at l’Université de Moncton, he won election, in 1972, as Member of Parliament for Westmorland-Kent, N.B.



In 1974, he entered the federal Cabinet, serving first as Minister of State for Fisheries, Minister of Fisheries and the Environment, and later becoming the founding Minister of Fisheries and Oceans. He led the way to Canada’s 1977 Declaration of a 200-mile fisheries zone. Roméo LeBlanc encouraged fishermen to organize, raised their status through licensing and other policies and gave them a new voice in government decisions. He became Canada’s longest-serving Fisheries Minister, gaining a lasting reputation as ‘‘the fisherman’s friend.’’



In 1982, he became Minister of Public Works and Housing. In 1984, he was elevated to the Senate, where he became Speaker in 1993. In 1995, he was appointed Canada’s 25th Governor General and Commander-in-Chief of Canada.



In the highest position in the land, Roméo LeBlanc demonstrated his great respect for the talents, generosity, and compassion of Canadians, in part by creating the Caring Canadian Award for the “unsung heroes” who volunteer their time and effort to help others. He was proud to launch National Aboriginal Day, and frequently honoured the First Peoples of Canada. Forever the teacher, he established the Governor General’s Awards for Excellence in Teaching Canadian History, as well as awards for the visual and media arts. He welcomed the public to Rideau Hall, where visits tripled during his time. His combination of graciousness, dignity, and down-to-earth wisdom won the respect and often the affection of those with whom he worked, from gardeners on the grounds of Rideau Hall to Heads of State around the world.



He is survived by his wife Diana Fowler LeBlanc, son Dominic (Judge Jolène Richard), daughter Geneviève, sister Emilie, and many nieces and nephews. He was predeceased by sisters Alice, Valéda and Irène and brothers Léonard and Antoine. The Lying-in-State, open to public visit, will take place at the Memramcook Institute, Village of Memramcook, on Thursday July 2 from 10am until 9pm. The State Funeral, also open to the public, will be at the neighbouring St-Thomas Church on Friday July 3 at 11am. Interment will follow in a private ceremony at the graveyard behind the Church, in the Memramcook Valley, in the province, and the country that he loved so much. In lieu of flowers, donations would be appreciated to the Roméo LeBlanc Scholarship fund at l’Université de Moncton.

Arrangements is in care of Dupuis Funeral Home, Memramcook. www.dupuisfuneralhome.ca