G. A. Monette acquired his early education in the Christian Brothers school and began the study of architecture in the office of A. F. Dunlop, a well known architect, with whom he remained for five years. He received a diploma from the Associate Architects of the Province of Quebec in 1892 and soon afterward went to Boston, Massachusetts, where he studied in the offices of a number of the leading architects of that city. He then returned to Montreal and entered the office of Perrault & Mesnard, architects, subsequently engaging in business for himself about a score of years ago. While he has a large general practice, he specializes in public buildings work and substantial evidence of his ability may be seen in the La Patrie building, the large block of H. P. Labelle & Company, Ltd., the dental department building of Laval University, the St. Leo Catholic church of Westmount and a number of school and convent buildings. That he ranks notably high in his profession is indicated by the fact that he has been admitted to membership in various important organizations, including the Province of Quebec Association of Architects and the Royal Architectural Institute of Canada, while of the Architectural League of New York he is an associate member.
Mr. Monette was married in Montreal to Maria Versailles, a daughter of Nazaire Versailles of Montreal, and they have the following children: Antonio, Cecile, Gertrude, Marcal, Adrienne, Eugene and Hector. Mr. Monette is a member of the Club St. Denis and has attractive social qualities, which have won him popularity and prominence in a friendship circle that is extensive. His interests, however, have been concentrated upon his profession with the result that his position is now one of recognized leadership.
MAXIME DAOUST.
There is probably no other line of business that is a factor in a city’s growth and development equal to the real-estate business, when conducted by men who are reliable and who aim to develop only properties of merit and value. Included among such men is Maxime Daoust, president and founder of the Daoust Realty, Limited.
Mr. Daoust was born in St. Clet, P. Q., November 10, 1873, son of Leon and Olive Daoust. When he was six years of age his parents removed to Labelle county and there Mr. Daoust received his education. In 1893 he went to the United States and was employed in various places in New England until February, 1898, when he enlisted as a volunteer in the United States marines for service in the Spanish-American war, which then seemed imminent.
He was among the first troops landed on Cuban soil at Guantanamo, June 10, 1898, participating in the fight at that place. He remained in Cuba until August, when he was detailed as one of the guard to accompany the Spanish prisoners, survivors of Cervera’s fleet, to Portsmouth, New Hampshire.
Mr. Daoust remained in the United States service until the expiration of his enlistment, after which he returned to Canada in 1900 and for some time was employed at the trade of brass molder in Montreal. He then entered the fire and life insurance field as an agent, at which he achieved success so that in 1904 he had accumulated capital sufficient to engage in the real-estate business in a small way. He formed a partnership with the late Joseph Charrau under firm name of Charrau & Daoust, and the first subdivision handled by them was Frontenac Park, owned by the estate of Henry Hogan, the land being then an open field. This tract comprised twenty-five hundred lots, and today this property is populated by over five hundred families and its location is now the geographical center of Montreal. The firm quickly won a reputation for straight and honorable dealings so that when their subsequent subdivisions, Estate Viau and Christian Brothers, were placed on the market, it was not the merits of the properties alone that made them in demand.
Mr. Daoust later purchased the interest of Mr. Charrau and in 1908 the Daoust Realty, Limited, was formed with a capital of one hundred thousand dollars, Mr. Daoust becoming president and manager. Up to that time he had financed his own properties, but he realized that to carry out his huge land schemes he would require more capital, hence his company. Since then the Daoust Realty, Limited, has done some of the largest real-estate business in the city. In June, 1913, the capital of the company was increased to two hundred and fifty thousand dollars.