Saint-Anicet

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2,732 residents. This municipality is located in the Province of Quebec, North of Godmanchester and Southwest of Salaberry-de-Valleyfield,on the South shore of Lake St Francis, about 100 km from Montreal. Little is known of the life of Saint Anicet, pope from 155 to 166, probably of Syrian origin, who died a martyr and whose saints day is celebrated on April 1. Two other Anicets were martyred by the Roman regime in the 4th Century. What is known with certainty is that this name was retained to identify the mission, founded in 1810, and later the parish, designated Saint-Anicet-of-Godmanchester in 1827 after the county in which it was located. Thereafter, the shorter name Saint-Anicet would identify the post office built in 1851, as well as the municipality proper in 1845, abolished in 1847, and reestablished in 1855. The history of the locality starts in 1788 with the allotment of the land of Godmanchester County. Irish and French Canadians settled the district around 1820, and two settlements formed, Cazaville and La Guerre. The quality and size of the surrounding woods allowed the development of the forestry economy; this was eclipsed by agriculture around 1850. In modern times, agriculture and tourism form the two pillars of the St. Anicet economy. The two most celebrated personalities linked to St. Anicet are Paul-Émile Cardinal Léger, born in 1904 in Salaberry-de-Valleyfield et died in Montréal in 1991, and his brother, Jules (1913-1980), born in St, Anicet. The latter held the position of Governer General of Canada from 1974 to 1979. Birthplace of these illustrious citizens, magnificent corner of the Monteregion area, found its beginnings thanks to the courage and determination of a group of Acadians who settled there before 1795.