Léo Richer Laflèche

Léo Richer Laflèche, born on April 16, 1888, in Concordia, Kansas, was a distinguished Canadian general, diplomat, and politician. His family relocated to Sorel, Quebec, shortly after his birth due to his father's civil service career in Ottawa. Before the First World War, Léo managed the Molson Bank in Ville St-Pierre, but his life took a dramatic turn when he enlisted in the Royal 22nd Battalion, CEF, where he served as an infantry officer.

During World War I, Léo displayed remarkable bravery, sustaining severe wounds in battle. On June 17, 1916, he was left for dead on the battlefield, but fellow soldiers rescued him, an act that earned them all the Military Medal. His valor did not go unnoticed; in 1917, he received the Distinguished Service Order and the Légion d'honneur from France. Rising through the ranks, he eventually became a major general and co-founded the Canadian Legion in 1925, serving as its dominion president by 1929.

From 1932 to 1939, Léo held significant positions, including Deputy Minister of National Defence and Vice-Chairman of the Defence Council. He briefly served as military attaché in Paris before the German invasion. His contributions continued during World War II, where he was the associate deputy minister of War Services and chaired the National Film Board from 1941 to 1943. In recognition of his achievements, he received an honorary LL.D. from the University of Ottawa in 1941.

In the political arena, Léo was elected as the Liberal candidate for the House of Commons in a by-election on November 30, 1942, defeating future Montreal mayor Jean Drapeau. He was appointed Minister of National War Services later that year and became the first Canadian ambassador to Greece on April 17, 1945. His diplomatic career continued as he presented his credentials as high commissioner to Australia in October 1949 and later served in Buenos Aires, Argentina, as ambassador extraordinary and plenipotentiary.

Léo Richer Laflèche returned to Canada in 1955 and passed away in 1956 at the age of sixty-seven. He is interred at the Notre Dame des Neiges Cemetery in Montreal, leaving behind a legacy of service and dedication to his country.