Our lineage traces back to France with Francois Bourassa (a "coureur-de-bois" with son Rene,), and Marie Leber (descendant of French nobility) who emigrated to Laprairie, Quebec around 1685.
My Mom's Great Grandfather Francois Xavier Alfred moved to Pawtucket, Rhode Island in 1880 then west in 1883 to St. John, North Dakota.    The other Bourassa clans, including my Father's family joined them before settling around 1910 in the Souris Valley and Ste.Collette areas near Radville, in southern Saskatchewan.

The families had to be very self-sufficient and "make do" with what they had nearby.  They invented absolutely ingenious ways to build or repair things, and we learned many of these methods by watching our amazing Father and Mother and Grandparents.

Our Family Tree includes prominent politicians Henri Bourassa (founder of "Le Devoir" newspaper), Francois Bourassa (called the Father of the House Of Commons), and Robert Bourassa, (who became Premier of the Province of Quebec in 1970).

Dad's side

Victor Bourassa & Agnes Ledoux  homestead and Family Pic(1948?)

Mom's side

My Great Great Great Grandpa Francois                                      My Great Great Grandpa Alfred (FXA)
1813-1898                                                                               1836-1918

~~~~~~~~~

The two photographers:
Great Grandpa                                                                                 Grandpa
Lindorf Bourassa & Philomene Martin                                            Charles Bourassa & Marie Fradette
1866-1946   1865-1947                                                               1890-1976    1896-1939
~

Charles Bourassa & Marie Fradette homestead                                                          Family Pic(Jan.1/67)

and they had three children, Jeanne, Simone and Lucien.

Dad wed distant cousin Yvonne Bourassa October 27, 1937.
Because Mom & Dad are a generation apart, the family tree gets very confusing.

Then the family began to grow.

and grow.

Our brother Lucien was killed in August 1958.
Our Dad Horace passed away peacefully March 1984.
Our sister Simone also passed away in 2011.

Our Surviving Family on Aug.27/99

l.to r.  Normand, Fernand, Jeanne, Germain, Yvette, Al, Leonie, Simone, & Laurent,
with Mom, Yvonne, seated in front.

Mom remarried to Lucien Hebert December 1990.


and celebrated her 90th Birthday May 29, 2006

with all her natural family present.


In 2011 we celebrated her 95th birthday with family and friends.

Lucien Hebert passed away April 4, 2012 at the age of 93
after giving Yvonne solid companionship for 20 good years.

Mom passed away February 9, 2016, just shy of her 100th Birthday.

And Now, my TERRIFIC GRANDCHILDREN

and Todd & Janet's youngest, Tyson William Patrick Bourassa

and Jill & Ashley's pair Dawson Ty and Danai Patricia Fennell
-
Dawson and Dad Ashley posing
at West Edmonton Mall with the Stanley Cup

How truly blessed we are that Heather now has a given us a
great-grandchild, Sofie Rose

Picture #1 shows me, a few years ago, enjoying a sleigh, hand-built for me, by my Father.
 Picture #2 shows my Grandson, Dawson, in the SAME sleigh, many years later.
This is genuinely the greatest highlight of my life, being able to pass on this
"priceless" hand-made family heirloom to a new generation.

Luszcz Family Gathering 07/12/76 in Bonnyville, Alberta (Jill's 4th Birthday)

In Memoriam

Dad, Horace                              Brother, Lucien                                      Mom, Yvonne                           Simone
Apr.4/02 - Mar.7/84                     Apr.6/28- Aug.18/58                      May 29, 1916 - Feb. 9, 2016           1926? - 2011
******* **************
 
 

My beloved wife, Patricia
Apr.9/49 - July 5/96

To all the fine folks that have preceded us

We miss you All, very much....