Although the family of Gagnier is not among the very earliest Canadian settlers, it is an old one. There were variations in the name of Gagnier and extensive records show the name as Gagné and Gagnesse in Abbé Tanguay’s Dictionnaire Généalogique.
Légléus Antoine Gagnier was born at Ste. Martine, in the county of Chateauguay, on October 4, 1871, a son of François and Sophie (Perras) Gagnier, both deceased. The doctor received his classical education at Ste. Thérèse and St. Hyacinthe Seminaries and graduated in medicine from Laval University in 1895. He pursued special studies in Paris and has ever since continued to attend clinics in that and other European cities. Capable, earnest and conscientious, he has not only a reputation for ability but enjoys the utmost confidence of his patients, to whom he is more than a doctor, as they see in him their best and truest friend. He is physician for a number of French and English mutual associations and president of the Medical Board of Union St. Pierre of Montreal.
DR. LEGLEUS A. GAGNIER
On September 28, 1897, Dr. Gagnier was united in marriage to Miss Delia Collerette, a daughter of O. Collerette, and they have the following children, Yvonne, Légléus Adolphe, Gaston, Gabrielle, Marie Régine, Germaine and Paul Emile.
The religious faith of Dr. Gagnier is that of the Roman Catholic church. For many years he was a conservative in politics but of late has allied himself with the nationalist movement, a party which in scope of progressiveness stands foremost of the three political organizations of the Dominion and has for its intention the improvement of general conditions not only political and governmental but also sociological. In the material growth of Montreal Dr. Gagnier is interested as a director of the Greater Montreal Land Investment Company, Limited. He has an interesting military record to his credit and has been in command of the Sixty-fourth Regiment of Chateauguay and Beauharnois for three or four years and since January 23, 1901, he has been on the officers reserve as lieutenant colonel. His deep love for mankind finds expression in his public-spirited actions, and he is never called upon in vain to give his support to any enterprise which will benefit the people of his city or country. Careful of his own interests, he is more minutely careful of those of others and influenced at all times by the thought of the broader effect which his work has upon his community, exemplifying in his conduct the lofty ideals of his nation and of a noble calling. He honors his profession by paying it honor and by his adherence to the solid virtues and enlightened principles underlying it.
GEORGE STEPHEN CANTLIE.
A native of Montreal, George Stephen Cantlie was born May 2, 1867, a son of James Alexander and Eleanor Simpson (Stephen) Cantlie. The father is a prominent merchant of Montreal and a son of the late Francis Cantlie, a native of Mortlach, Banffshire, Scotland, who married Mary Stuart. James Alexander Cantlie was born June 5, 1836, and married in May, 1866, the second daughter of the late William Stephen, of Montreal. J. A. Cantlie came to Canada in 1863. He was for years head of the well known wholesale dry-goods house of J. A. Cantlie & Company, which was founded in 1868. He is connected with a number of important commercial enterprises and is one of the foremost men in business circles in Montreal.
George S. Cantlie received private tuition and attended the Montreal high school and McGill University in the acquirement of an education. In 1885 he entered the service of the Canadian Pacific Railway as clerk in the audit department. He became consecutively clerk in the comptroller’s office, chief clerk to the assistant general manager, to the assistant president and to the vice president. He was then made general baggage agent, general stationary agent and superintendent of car service. Since November, 1908, Mr. Cantlie has been at the head of the car service as general superintendent.