St Pierre veteran honoured at home for first time

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This article was published 05/01/2025 (445 days ago), so information in it may no longer be current.

Christiane Carrier Kennedy will always look back on 2024 as a special time, as many hours of research culminated in honouring her grandfather in St Pierre.

Telesphore Carriere, a Metis of La Rochelle was born in 1903 and fought in the Second World War. He was highly decorated receiving the Italy Star, the France and Germany Star, the 1939-1945 Star, the Defence Medal, the Canadian Volunteer Service Medal and the War Medal 1939-1945. For five years he served his country while his wife raised their seven children, ranging from one to 11 years old.

He had deep connections to the St Pierre area and was the son of Albert Carriere and Mari Elisabeth Sauve.

Yet he was not included in local lore about those who fought in the Second World War.

Christiane, who lives in Nova Scotia, said it was through her connections to the community that this idea to honour her grandfather even came about.

A Facebook group called “Bibliotheque Regionale Jolys” sparked her mission.

“Several years ago, they shared the special dedicated plaques about the local veterans as seen on Nov. 11 at the community hall,” she wrote in an email to The Carillon. “I inquired how to go about to have my grandfather’s service recognized.”

The head librarian connected her to village staff and the process began.

Christiane said she had plenty of help along the journey, including from Jim Busby, an amateur military historian and researcher from Winnipeg.

“He graciously offered his time to read my grandfather’s file which I obtained from Library and Archives Canada and to write up the shared summary,” she said.

That’s when she learned he served first with the Queen’s Own Cameron Highlanders of Canada and then the Royal Canadian Army Medical Corps in France, Germany and Italy as Private.

While he was living in the St Pierre area in 1921, proven by a Canadian census that stated he was living with his parents and siblings, when he married Agnes Leclerc of Thibeauville, Manitoba it was in Saint-Boniface in 1929.

His roots however go deep. His grandparents, Andre Carriere and Marie Gladu and Charles Sauve and Julie Lariviere were amongst the first settlers in St Pierre in the 1870s.

Telesphore was 37 years old when he enlisted and 42 when he was discharged.

The 2024 ceremony was the first in which he was acknowledged in St Pierre and Christiane said it was “momentous and heartwarming for our family”.

Christiane added that many members of the family are still rooted in the area or have come back from other locations.

“Eventually many come back to their roots which is why having Telesphore Carriere’s (Second World War) service and sacrifice here, in this village, has been very meaningful and we are truly grateful,” she said.

Telesphore died at the age of 62 on Canada Day in 1965 and is buried at Green Acres Memorial Gardens in Winnipeg.

Christiane said he would be pleased to know his name was announced with other veterans of the Second World War in his home town.

“My grandfather would be very proud and humbled to have been recognized, along with all those who have served,” she said.