Prayers in Belgium led to faith

Order of Canada medal honours Metis Vic Letendre's life of profound integrity

By BILL GLEN
WCR Staff Writer
Edmonton

He was only 19 and on a brief 48-hour furlough from the Canadian Infantry during the Second World War, looking to find not only a warm meal and dry clothes, but a moment alone with God.

During a recent interview, Letendre's eyes filled with tears when he described what he saw as he entered the church.

Wartime prayers

Letendre knelt with them. They were all there for the same reason, he recalled. They were asking for forgiveness for doing things in war they did not want to do, but were required to. They asked that their lives be spared when they returned to action.

"It was a long time ago, but I remember he was there. That is when my belief really started. My belief means something to me. Prayer means something to me," Letendre said.

Letendre, a Metis from Lac Ste. Anne, was raised in a family devoted to the Creator and keenly aware of the injustices aboriginal people experience. He was taught that if he retaliated to bullying, he would likely be the one to land in trouble.

The second of seven children, Letendre carried himself proud because he felt God was always with him. Little did he know that in his wake, doors stayed open for other aboriginals to walk through.

He provided opportunity and justice for native youth because he heeded his parents' teachings to work hard at everything he did.

Entering the workforce at age 11 started him on a lifetime of volunteer service including serving as co-founder of the Edmonton Native Youth Justice Committee.

"I just know he is there and everything will be alright: He has always looked after me, and that's all that matters." - Vic Letendre

Letendre was honoured recently in Ottawa by being made a member of the Order of Canada.

Highly respected for his non-judgmental and supportive approach to problem resolution, Letendre described receiving the award as humbling.

"I don't know why I was chosen," he said. "Someone must have been thinking I did something right. I understand there were 36 people selected from 800 applications.

"I don't know who thought I should be considered for this. It is a great honour."

Born March 4, 1925 at Lac Ste. Anne, Letendre attended a Catholic school. When he was 11, he became the school's janitor, responsible for starting a fire early in the morning to heat the school.

He hauled water during the day, then swept the floor, cleared the blackboards and locked the school after other students had gone home.

All the while he attended classes and gave his family whatever money he was paid.

"When I was a kid, things were tough. I found that if you quit, everything stopped. I've always had faith that I could do anything."

He left Lac Ste. Anne when he was 16, taking a job in a bush camp in Hinton. He later worked in coal mines.

In 1944, he entered the war and was injured by grenade shrapnel. He also contracted pleurisy that still affects his health.

Letendre eventually became a roofing contractor in Grande Prairie. He went on to open his own roofing and sheet metal business in Edmonton. He retired in 1990.

Still sends money home

"You are only the man that you are, and I tried to be honest," he said. "I didn't lie to people or try to cheat them.

"If I made a wrong decision, I tried to fix it. It always paid off."

Letendre is a founding member of the Edmonton Canadian Native Friendship Centre. He has been an active volunteer with the Recovery Acres Society, a halfway house for alcoholics, drug addicts and people coming out of prison.

He is the current president of the Aboriginal Veterans Society of Alberta, helping aboriginal veterans receive the same recognition as non-aboriginals.

He is a trustee of the Lac Ste. Anne Pilgrimage, currently trying to raise funds for a new church.

He also attends Mass regularly at St. Joseph Basilica.

"I do whatever I can to help," Letendre said.

"One thing I have going for me is my faith. It is hard to explain because it is a feeling.

"I just know he is there and everything will be alright: He has always looked after me, and that's all that matters."

Copyright © 1998, 1999, 2000, 2001, 2002, 2003, 2004, 2005, 2006, 2007, 2008, 2009 -- Western Catholic Reporter