October 30, 2019, Saskatoon and Duck Lake, SK – MNC President Chartier and Minister of Veterans Affairs David Chartrand visited two Métis Nation veterans of the Second World War on October 30, 2019, joining with the veterans, their families and communities in ceremonies honouring the contributions of these Métis Nation heroes. Each was awarded a cheque for $20,000, making them among the Métis Nation Veterans receive these benefits under the recently concluded $30 million Canada-Métis Nation Métis Veterans Recognition Payment Agreement.
In the morning, Minister Chartrand presented a $20,000 cheque to veteran Lucien (Jim) Boucher at the Central Haven Special Care Home in Saskatoon, Saskatchewan.
Born just west of St. Louis, Saskatchewan on November 24, 1922, Jim Boucher joined the Canadian Army in Regina on January 5, 1943. He received training at Regina, Otter Point on Vancouver Island, Victoria and Nanaimo, followed by further training at the Aleutian Island of Alaska until December 1943. Following this, he received a 30-day disembarkation leave, returning home on January 9, 1944. When reporting back, he signed up to volunteer for active duty overseas. He joined the Seaforth Islanders, based out of Vancouver, BC. He fought in the northern part of Italy, on the front line at the Lamone river, as a Bren-gunner. After staying in Italy for 6 months (being 3 months on the front line) he went to Holland for one more month at which time the war ended.
His children Anita Grenier and Jesse Boucher participated in this ceremony. MNS leadership has also attended this Métis National event, including MNS President Glen McCallum, Minister of Veterans Affairs Ryan Carriere, Secretary Lisa McCallum and Regional Director Sherry McLennan.
In the afternoon, Minister Chartrand presented a $20,000 cheque to Métis veteran “Alice” Marie Victoria Samuel (nee Petit) at Goodwill Manor in Duck Lake, Saskatchewan.
Born in Duck Lake, SK on October 19, 1925, Samuel served in the Canadian Army from November 4, 1943 to November 7, 1945, as an Orderly Room Clerk. According to the family, her father served in both the First World War and the Second World War. Her brothers also served in the Second World War. She is the first female WWII Veteran to receive the $20,000 compensation payment from the Métis Nation Veteran Legacy Fund.
l-r: Debbie Nicolas, Kevin Samuel, Sharon Wells, Linda Broome, Walter Samuel, Keith Samuel
