Bellemare

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Bellemare (pronounced /ˈbɛlmɑr/ in English or pronounced /bɛlmɑʁ/ in French) is a common French language surname, and one of the most common family names in Mauricie, Quebec.

Contents 1 History 2 Traditions 3 People 3.1 Politics 3.1.1 Members of the Federal Parliament 3.1.2 Members of provincial legislatures 3.1.3 Mayors and council members 3.2 Sports 3.3 Others 4 Fictional character 5 Businesses 6 Places and landmarks 7 Footnotes

[edit] History

The Bellemares share a common ancestor with the Gélinas: Étienne Gélineau, a carpenter of Jewish descent, from Saintes in France's Saintonge area (now know as Charente Maritime). Gélineau married France Huguette Robert in Saint-Eutrope's Catholic Church around 1645. He settled the Mauricie area in 1658 and worked for three years as an indentured servant for Pierre Boucher, Governor of Trois-Rivières. Gélineau had three sons: Étienne, Jean-Baptiste et Pierre. Jean-Baptiste eventually took the name Bellemare. ^{[1] [2]}

[edit] Traditions

Rituals preserved by the Bellemares include the paternal blessing (French: la benédiction paternelle). Until the mid-1980's and in some cases even to this day, it has been customary for the children and grandchildren of a Bellemare family unit to ask their patriarch to bless them on New Year’s Day. The practice is not exclusive to the Bellemare Family.

[edit] People

Well-known Bellemares include:

[edit] Politics

[edit] Members of the Federal Parliament

• Adélard Bellemare (1871-1933), Independent Conservative Member of Parliament for the district of Maskinongé from 1911 to 1917
• Eugène Bellemare, Liberal Member of Parliament for the district of Ottawa—Orléans from 1988 to 2004

[edit] Members of provincial legislatures

• Dionel Bellemare (1880-1950), Union Nationale Member of the Legislative Assembly in Quebec from 1936 to 1939
• Gilles Bellemare (1932-1980), Liberal Member of the National Assembly in Quebec from 1973 to 1976
• Marc Bellemare, Liberal Cabinet Member in Quebec
• Maurice Bellemare (1912-1989), Union Nationale Cabinet Member in Quebec

[edit] Mayors and council members

• Alain Bellemare, City Councillor from 1999 to 2005 and Mayor since 2005 in Saint-Paul, near Joliette, Lanaudière
• Gilles Bellemare, Mayor of Saint-Boniface, Mauricie since 1996
• Ginette Bellemare, City Councillor for the District of Rigaud in Trois-Rivières
• Jules Bellemare, Mayor of Saint-Étienne-des-Grès, Mauricie from 1977 to 1985
• Louise A. Bellemare, Mayor of Yamachiche, Mauricie from 1991 to 1999
• Michel Bellemare, City Councillor for the District of Beacon Hill-Cyrville in Ottawa

[edit] Sports

• Annie Bellemare, figure skater
• Thomas Bellemare, defense hockey player

[edit] Others

• Diane Bellemare, Senior Vice-President and Chief Economist of the Conseil du patronat du Québec
• Edward Ritchie Bellemare, Canadian diplomat
• Gilles Bellemare, Director of the Trois-Rivières Symphony Orchestra from 1978 to 2005
• Pierre Bellemare, French writer and radio host
• Serge Bellemare, environmental activist and supporter of the Green Party

[edit] Fictional character

Comedian Jean-Louis Millette performed the role of Oscar Bellemare, a funeral director, in TV sitcom Symphorien from 1970 to 1977.

[edit] Businesses

A number of family enterprises are owned by Bellemare in the Mauricie area, the most important of whom is transportation and construction business Groupe Thomas Bellemare Ltée in Yamachiche.

[edit] Places and landmarks

Bellemare is the name of many streets in the Mauricie area in Quebec, including:

• Rue Bellemare, Cap-de-la-Madeleine
• Rue Bellemare, Charette
• Rue Bellemare, Louiseville
• Rue Bellemare, Saint-Étienne-des-Grès
• Rue Bellemare, Trois-Rivières-Ouest
• Rue Bellemare, Yamachiche

Maison Bellemare is a concert hall located at 2760, rue Principale, Saint-Jean-des-Piles.

[edit] Footnotes