SENATOR GILDAS L. MOLGAT

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SENATOR GILDAS L. MOLGAT On Wednesday, February 28, 2001, Senator Gildas (Gil) Molgat, husband of Allison (nee Malcom) and father of Anne and Mathurin. Born in Ste-Rose du Lac to Adele Abraham and Louis Molgat. He served his community and his province as MLA for Ste-Rose from 1953 to 1969 and Leader of the Liberal Party in Manitoba from 1961 to 1969; member of the Senate since 1970 and speaker of the Senate from 1994 to 2001. He was proud of his regimen, the Royal Winnipeg Rifles. He was Honorary Lt. Colonel from 1965 to 1985 and has been Honorary Colonel since 1985. He was a man of great warmth and good humour, an eternal optimist with twinkling eyes. A man of simple pleasures, he loved smelly cheese, a good debate, exploring country roads (the rougher the better), planing trees and outsmarting the beavers who dined on them. He loved people, and in particular the young, many of whose futures he helped shape. He was respected by his peers, and had friends of all ages, in all political parties and all over the world. He was proud to be a Franco-Manitoban and a Westerner, and will be remembered as a true Canadian. He is survived by his brothers Andre (Luce) and Daniel (the late Jacqueline) his sisters-in-law Berta, Jean (the late Jim), Joan (the late Bud) and Dorothea, and his nieces and nephews. Predeceased by his parents, his brothers Jean (the late Germaine) and Denis. A celebration of his life will be held at Saint-Boniface Cathedra on Monday, March 5 at 2:00 p.m. Honorary pallbearers: Norm Donogh, Jack Halhead, the McLaughlin family, Ginette and Roland Lafreniere, Paul Belisle, Albert Vielfaure, Peter Liba, Izzy Asper, Drew Mitchell, Leonie Hopfner, Ernie Shewchuk, Danny Coote. Interment Ste-Rose du Lac. In lieu of flowers, donations to the Army Cadet League of Canada (Manitoba) Inc., 969 St. Matthews Avenue, Winnipeg, MB R3G 0J7, the Alzheimer Society or a charity of your choice would be appreciated by the family. The Desjardins Funeral Chapel in care of arrangements, 233-4949; toll free 1-888-233-4949. SENATEUR GILDAS L. MOLGAT Le mercredi 28 fevrier 2001, est decede le Senateur Gildas (Gil) Molgat, epoux dAllison (nee Malcom) et pere dAnne et de Mathurin. Ne a Ste-Rose du Lac, il etait le fils dAdele Abraham et de Louis Molgat. Il a servi sa communaute et sa province a titre de depute de Ste-Rose de 1953 a 1969, Chef du Parti liberal du Manitoba de 1961 a 1969, membre du Senat depuis 1970 et President du Senat de 1994 a 2001. Il etait fier de son regiment, le Royal Winnipeg Rifles dont il etait Lieutenant Colonel honoraire de 1965 a 1985 et Colonel honoraire depuis 1985. Cetait un homme tres chaleureux, un eternel optimiste aux yeux toujours brillants et qui avait un bon sens de lhumour. Il appreciait les plaisirs simples, aimait les fromages forts, une bonne discussion, explorer les routes de campagne (surtout les plus cahoteuses), planter des arbres et defier les castors qui les rongeaient aussitot. Il aimait beaucoup les gens, particulierement les jeunes. Il a aide a faconner lavenir de plusieurs dentre eux. Il etait respecte de ses pairs, avait des amis de tous ages, de tous les partis politiques et partout dans le monde. Fier de ses origines franco-manitobaines et de son appartenance a lOuest du pays, on se souviendra de lui comme dun vrai Canadien. Lui survivent ses freres Andre (Luce) et Daniel (feu Jacqueline), ses belle-soeurs Berta, Jean (feu Jim), Joan (feu Bud) et Dorothea, et ses nieces et neveux. Ses parents, ses freres Jean (feu Germaine) et Denis lont predede dans la mort. Un hommage a sa vie aura lieu a la Cathedrale St-Boniface le lundi 5 mars a 14 h. Les porteurs honoraires sont: Norm Donogh, Jack Halhead, la famille McLaughlin, Ginette et Roland Lafreniere, Paul Belisle, Albert Vielfaure, Peter Liba, Izzy Asper, Drew Mitchell, Leonie Hopfner, Ernie Shewchuk, Danny Coote. Lenterrement aura lieu a Ste-Rose du Lac. Au lieu de fleurs, la famille apprecierait un don au Army Cadet League of Canada (Manitoba) Inc. (969, avenue St. Matthews, Winnipeg R3G 0J7), a la Societe Alzheimer ou a une oeuvre de charite de votre choix. La direction des funerailles a ete confiee au Salon mortuaire Desjardins, 233-4949 ou sans frais 1-888-233-4949.

As published in Winnipeg Free Press on Mar 03, 2001