Dandurand, Damase

Born in Laprairie, Lower Canada, on 23 March 1819, Damase Dandurand was the son of Roger Dandurand and Jovite Descombes-Percheron. He was ordained priest in Montreal on 12 September 1841 by Bishop Rémi Gaulin of Kingston. On 25 December 1842, he became the first Oblate of Mary Immaculate born in Canada. He spoke English and French. He was sent to Bytown in 1844-46, and returned to Bytown as curate in 1847-48. He served as parish priest of Lower Town’s Notre Dame cathedral from 1848 to 1875. He died in Saint-Boniface, Manitoba, on 13 April 1921, and was buried there in the Oblate cemetery [Carrière 1957, Carrière 1976].