George R. D. Goulet

George Richard Donald Goulet is a Canadian Métis role model,[1] author,[2] historian,[3] Métis Scholar, [4] public speaker,[5] retired lawyer,[6] prostate cancer survivor[7] and recipient of the Queen Elizabeth II Diamond Jubilee Medal.[8][9]

George R. D. Goulet, 2007 (shown carrying the Métis Flag) and leading the Grand Entry at the Red River West celebration.

Life

Born September 27, 1933 in Saint Boniface, Manitoba to George Wilfrid Goulet and Marie Alexina Laura McDougall, a granddaughter of Pierre Delorme,[10] George was the fifth of eight children. He counts amongst his ancestors early French Canadian settlers Louis Hébert, Jean Guyon du Buisson and Zacharie Cloutier in addition to political figure Alexander MacDonell of Greenefield and John Siveright, Chief Factor of the Hudson's Bay Company.[11] He is the father of five children including Tag Goulet, Laura de Jonge and Catherine Goulet.

George attended St. Paul's High School in Winnipeg.[12] He holds a Bachelor of Arts degree from the University of Manitoba, a Bachelor of Laws degree from the University of Manitoba Law School, and a Master of Laws degree from the University of Toronto. The admissions guide for the University of Toronto lists George as one of four distinguished alumni along with Astronaut Roberta Bondar, Sociologist Daniel G Hill and Simon Cooper, former President and COO of the Ritz-Carlton Hotel Company.[13]

George is the author of several historical books including The Trial of Louis Riel: Justice and Mercy Denied; The Metis: Memorable Events and Memorable Personalities; and Louis Hebert and Marie Rollet: Canada's Premier Pioneers (the last two with his wife Terry Goulet as co-author). Together they have spoken at numerous schools, universities, libraries, and public events [14] including at the Manitoba Pavilion during the 2010 Winter Olympics in Vancouver.[15] In the spring of 2012 they spoke at the Centre of Canadian Studies at the University of Edinburgh [16] and at the British Association of Canadian Studies conference on Sustaining Canada at Murray Edwards College at the University of Cambridge where they gave a talk on the Aboriginal rights of the Métis in relation to the Enbridge Northern Gateway Pipelines.[17]

In 2007 George and his wife Terry were commissioned by the Metis Nation of British Columbia to write a book about the history of the Métis people within British Columbia in honour of the BC 150 celebration. The book, The Metis in British Columbia: From Fur Trade Outposts to Colony, was officially released at the Annual General Meeting of the Métis Nation of British Columbia in September 2008.[18] Together they were the Historical Consultants to the BC Metis Federation.[19]

Also in September 2008 George was one of the featured speakers at the commemoration of the Elzéar Goulet Memorial Park in Saint Boniface. George is a great-grand-nephew of the Métis martyr for whom the park was named.[20]

An annual scholarship, the George and Terry Goulet Bursary in Canadian History, was established at the University of Calgary in their honor.[21][22]

George, along with his wife Terry, is a strong supporter of the exoneration of Louis Riel and has been quoted on his support of the Private member's bill introduced by Pat Martin in the House of Commons.[23] In May 2011 in an article appearing in the National Post, in which Martin argues that Riel was a hero and not a traitor, Martin refers to Goulet's book title in that Riel's execution was "a case of both justice and mercy denied."[24] The Okotoks Western Wheel newspaper has referred to George and Terry Goulet as "Experts on Louis Riel".[25]

In October, 2012 George and his wife Terry spoke before a Standing Committee of the Senate of Canada to examine and report on the legal and political recognition of Métis identity in Canada.[26] [27]

Selected bibliography
  • Louis Hebert and Marie Rollet: Canada's Premier Pioneers. Calgary: FabJob, 2007.
  • The Metis: Memorable Events and Memorable Personalities. Calgary: FabJob, 2006.
  • The Metis in British Columbia: From Fur Trade Outposts to Colony. Calgary: FabJob, 2008.
  • Prostate Cancer Treatment and Healing. Calgary: FabJob, 2005.
  • Public share offerings and stock exchange listings in Canada: going public, staying public, getting listed, staying listed. North York: CCH, 1994.
  • The Trial of Louis Riel: Justice and Mercy Denied. Calgary: Tellwell, 1999.

See also

References
  1. "Métis Commission for Children and Families of BC newsletter" (PDF). Retrieved 2015-08-31.
  2. "BC Metis Nation Press Release". Retrieved 2010-04-04.
  3. "Metis Voyageur: The Sioux Metis Wars" (PDF). Retrieved 2010-11-19.
  4. "Character of historical Metis leader Louis Riel disputed in MP's brochure". Retrieved 2010-04-04.
  5. "About the Author, biography on Publisher's website". Archived from the original on 2011-07-10. Retrieved 2011-02-09.
  6. "Overview of Canadian Securities Law article". Retrieved 2011-02-09.
  7. "Prostate Cancer Treatment and Healing book publication information - Meet the Authors". Archived from the original on 2011-07-10. Retrieved 2011-02-15.
  8. Alberta Public Affairs Bureau Press Release. "Diverse contributions of Alberta leaders celebrated with Diamond Jubilee honours". Retrieved 2012-12-04.
  9. Gateway Gazette. "Longview Rancher and Singer Receives Diamond Jubilee Medal". Archived from the original on 2013-01-15. Retrieved 2012-12-04.
  10. "Mount Allison University Press Release". Archived from the original on 2012-03-18. Retrieved 2011-08-31.
  11. The Saint Boniface Historical Society, Ancestors of George R. D. Goulet, 1999.
  12. "Alumni Class List - Class of '51" (PDF). Retrieved 2011-02-09.
  13. "University of Toronto School of Graduate Studies Admission Guide" (PDF). Retrieved 2015-08-31.
  14. "CCMC Metis Summit April 16, 2011". Retrieved 2011-08-31.
  15. "On Manitoba magazine, August 2011 p. Sec2:35" (PDF). Archived from the original (PDF) on 2011-09-22. Retrieved 2011-08-31.
  16. "The Historic Metis People of Canada, including their Scottish Ancestry". Retrieved 2019-12-30.
  17. "BACS conference program". Retrieved 2012-02-23.
  18. "BC Metis Nation Press Release" (PDF). Archived from the original (PDF) on 2011-07-06. Retrieved 2008-11-04.
  19. "Senate of Canada Committee Report on Métis Identify" (PDF). Retrieved 2014-10-29.
  20. "The Story of Elzear Goulet". Retrieved 2011-08-31.
  21. "University of Calgary Undergraduate Awards Detail". Retrieved 2010-11-17.
  22. "Canada's Higher Education and Career Guide". Retrieved 2010-11-17.
  23. Eagle Feather News. "Justice for Louis Riel requires exoneration" (PDF). Archived from the original (PDF) on 2011-01-25. Retrieved 2011-02-06.
  24. National Post Newspaper. "A hero, not a traitor". Retrieved 2011-05-08.
  25. The Okotoks Western Wheel newspaper article, January 2007, p. 19.
  26. Parliament of Canada website. "Senate Committees Notice of Meeting". Archived from the original on 2013-05-15. Retrieved 2012-09-30.
  27. Parliament of Canada website. "The Standing Senate Committee on Aboroginal Peoples Evidence". Retrieved 2012-10-24.
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