History of Lafleche

 

Dan Archer

Jul 31, 2020

Before the homesteading era that started in 1906, the community of Buffalo Head was situated near the cemetery on the south side of Highway 13. The town’s name was changed to Lafleche after Louis-François Laflèche, who’d been a Catholic bishop in Trois-Settlers from France, Belgium, Quebec, England, Romania and Scandinavia settled in the village, later to become a town in 1953. The future town shifted to its present location across the road in 1913, when the Canadian Pacific Railway rumbled through Lafleche, Expanse and Assiniboia.

Following the railway, grain elevators and agricultural businesses were constructed in Lafleche.

The first grain elevator in the community was built in 1912 by M.B. Lyttle. In the same year, numerous enterprises were launched in Lafleche, including Beaver Lumber, the Lafleche Cafe, Murphy’s Pool Hall and the Metropole Hotel. A telegraph service was founded in Lafleche on December 1, 1913.

Lafleche’s background is multi-ethnic, yet there’s a distinct French Catholic air about the town, with treed boulevards and a Gothic brick-faced church built in 1922.Rivières and an Oblate missionary throughout Western Canada.

Settlers from France, Belgium, Quebec, England, Romania and Scandinavia settled in the village, later to become a town in 1953. The future town shifted to its present location across the road in 1913, when the Canadian Pacific Railway rumbled through Lafleche, Expanse and Assiniboia.

Following the railway, grain elevators and agricultural businesses were constructed in Lafleche.

The first grain elevator in the community was built in 1912 by M.B. Lyttle. In the same year, numerous enterprises were launched in Lafleche, including Beaver Lumber, the Lafleche Cafe, Murphy’s Pool Hall and the Metropole Hotel.

A telegraph service was founded in Lafleche on December 1, 1913.

Lafleche’s background is multi-ethnic, yet there’s a distinct French Catholic air about the town, with treed boulevards and a Gothic brick-faced church built in 1922.

St. Radegonde Roman Catholic Church is a listed heritage building. The community’s older church was recycled into the Legion Hall.

The first Catholic church was built in Lafleche in 1913, a year before Father Emile Dubois appeared in the community in 1914.

Dubois is said to have actively helped pioneers establish themselves in the vicinity of Lafleche.

The Sisters of the Holy Cross arrived from 1915-1917. Soon, a convent school for the boys and girls in the community and boarder students was completed.

In modern times, Lafleche Central School operates as a K-12 facility on 324 Second Street West.