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Vital-Justin Grandin, Roman Catholic bishop of St Albert, (b at St Pierre-la-Cour, France 8 Feb 1829; d at St Albert, Alta 3 June 1902).
Vital-Justin Grandin, Roman Catholic bishop of St Albert, (b at St Pierre-la-Cour, France 8 Feb 1829; d at St Albert, Alta 3 June 1902). As a pioneering Oblate missionary of the Canadian West, he became the first bishop of the then vast and newly created diocese of St Albert in 1871. Wholly dedicated to bringing Roman Catholicism to the Indigenous peoples and the Métis, he worked despite great hardships to develop the missions. In 1875 he lobbied the Canadian government for funding to aid agriculture, education and health care. During the 1885 North-West Resistance he advocated moderation and "obedience" to the Canadian authorities. His cause for sainthood was introduced at Rome in 1937.
