Maurice Blondeau



MAURICE JOSEPH (MOE) BLONDEAU
SEPTEMBER 27, 1932 – JANUARY 22, 2008

Maurice was married to Leona (Bird) for 47 years.  Together they raised 6 children – Valerie, Edward, Pierre, Brenda, Lori and Curtis.  Maurice was a cherished Grandfather and loved spending time with his numerous grandchildren, great grandchildren and great, great grandchildren.  He was a devoted family man and loving son who was predeceased by his parents Maurice Blondeau Sr. and Mary (Pelletier).

In January 1951, after leaving his hometown of Lebret, Saskatchewan, Maurice joined the army.  He took his basic training on the west coast of Victoria and by March of 1952, he was stationed in Korea.

Approximately, 10 months later he was transferred to Japan and from there he returned to Canada where he was stationed in Victoria and then served his last two years in Rivers, Manitoba. Together, he spent 6 and a half years in the Armed Services.  Once discharged from the Army, he became an Ironworker and travelled all across Canada.  In 1967, he starting working for his people – first as an Alcohol Counsellor at the Métis Society of Saskatchewan and then as a Child Care Counsellor at the Indian Residential School in Lebret.  It was about this time that he became involved in the Friendship Centre Movement and the rest is history.

Maurice served as the Provincial Coordinator for the Saskatchewan Association of Friendship Centres (SAFC), on the Executive and Board of the National Association of Friendship Centres (NAFC), as Executive Director of the Saskatoon Indian & Métis Friendship Centre and then as a Senator for the NAFC.

Maurice was very involved in sports and recreation.  He participated in ball, curling, billiards, cards, hockey and golf.  The “Ole Tiger” liked his golf, making a double eagle on a Par 5, hitting the ball straight down the middle and then would look at you and say “I hate when that happens”.

His sobriety was very important to him and he always made the time to listen and encourage people who needed support.  He was a great listener but would also have a wonderful story to tell you at the same time.

Senator Maurice Blondeau was respected and honoured by many and all that knew and loved him.

He was always a proud Métis man and honoured Veteran who was deeply committed to his loving family and involvement with the Friendship Centre Movement.

If you know someone who has made a contribution to the national Friendship Centre Movement, and should be honoured on this page, please review this link for eligibility and/or contact us at nafcgen@nafc.ca.