J. Dominique Gauthier
Categories: Male Authors - Francophone Authors - Authors of Non-Fiction - Acadian Coast
Source: CMA Journal
Biography
Dr. Joseph Dominique Gauthier, son of Victor Gauthier and Odile Picard, was born 25 February 1910 at Saint-Théodore d’Acton, QC, and died 20 March 2006.
Gauthier attended the Université Saint-Joseph in Memramcook, where he earned his Bachelor of Arts in 1933, Masters in 1941, and Ph.D. in philosophy in 1948. He married Anne-Lorette LeBlanc on 29 August 1938. Settled in the heart of Shippagan, Dr. Gauthier practiced medicine as a traditional country doctor. A former member of the Ordre de Jacques-Cartier, he became known as “Le docteur Gauthier de Shippagan” and attended more than 4500 births. He was recognized by the Association of French-Speaking Physicians of Canada in 1971, a founding member of the College of General Practice in Canada, and vice-president of the Canadian Association for Leisure Studies. He was awarded honorary Doctor of Science degrees from Université de Moncton and Université de Bathurst in 1974, and his reputation nationally was confirmed when he became a Member of the Order of Canada the same year.
Long interested in folklore and folk literature, Gauthier was known for his collection of books, said to rival any library. Uniquely positioned to pursue research by his ability to enter homes, win the trust of people, and collect their traditions, folk tales, and songs, Gauthier accumulated a valuable collection of interview tapes. He contributed to folk knowledge and Acadian culture with the publication of Chansons de Shippagan in 1975.
The main street in Shippagan was renamed J.-D.-Gauthier Boulevard in his honour.
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Literary Prizes |
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| Member of the Order of Canada - 1974 | |
| Honorary Doctorate of Science, Université de Bathurst - 1974 | |
| Honorary Doctorate of Science, Université de Moncton - 1974 | |
| Member of the Ordre de Jacques Cartier - 1971 |
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Featured Publication |
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Chansons de Shippagan (1975) |
Excerpt: La maison familiale était le théâtre naturel où se jouait chaque soir, le drame ou la comédie de l’existence. On faisait passer ses joies, ses peines, ses regrets, ses désirs dans le conte, la chanson ou la simple anecdote. Et, parfois, une complainte composée par quelque poète de l’entourage rappelait les malheurs anciens ou récents. Et sur les visages recueillis passaient alors les grands sentiments de la compassion humaine… Chères et bonnes gens de « en-premier », vous étiez heureux, j’estime, dans la simplicité de vos mœurs, dans votre sagesse, votre soumission à Dieu et aux lois de la nature; et même au milieu des épreuves, vous trouviez le moyen de chanter, de vous transmettre, l’un à l’autre, les récits merveilleux qui ont charmé, pendant des siècles, les rêves de l’humanité. |
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