TACHÉ, ALEXANDRE-ANTONIN. - Archbishop of St. Boniface, b. 23 July 1823 at Fraserville (Canada), d. at St-Boniface 22 June 1894. In 1845 he entered the Oblates of Mary Immaculate and that same year left for the Red River mission, working with success among the Indians and Métis.
In 1851 he became coadjutor to Bishop Joseph Norbert Provencher, and in 1853 assumed the governance of the diocese of St-Boniface, which at that time embraced all the Canadian Northwest. He promoted and directed the Indian mission, which the Oblates had extended to the far north. The northern portion was later detached in 1862 to establish the Apostolic Vicariate of Athabasca-Mackenzie. With intrepid spirit and far-sighted wisdom he averted the dangers arising from the incorporation of the region into the Canadian Confederation in 1870 and from the numerous immigrations. In the Métis rebellion of 1871 he succeeded in avoiding bloodshed. In 1871 the diocese of St-Albert was detached, and St-Boniface was raised to an archdiocese. With great zeal he promoted the development of the archdiocese, erecting parishes, churches, chapels, and schools. In 1889 he held the first provincial council. His prudent efforts in favor of Catholic schools were suddenly cut short by the law of 19 March 1890, enacted by the Liberal government of Manitoba. His protest secured only the right to establish Catholic schools, on condition of paying taxes also for public schools. He is recognized as the organizer of the Catholic Church in the Canadian Northwest.