Ephrem Boudreau was born in River Bourgeois in 1905.
After his classical studies from 1922 to 1928 at the seminary at Trois Riviere, he spent three years at agricultural school at Sainte-Anne-de-la-Pocatiere. Here he earned bachelors’ degrees in arts and one in agricultural science. In addition, he acquired a diploma in Social Sciences from l’Universite de Laval in 1935.
Ephrem practiced his profession in agriculture in Quebec for two years before accepting a position with Agriculture Canada specializing in animal science. He remained in this position for seven years.
Ranking first in translation exams, he went on to translating debates in the House of Commons, as well as the Senate. At that time, the Office of Translations, newly assimilated into the Secretary of State’s department, had as its first superintendent, M. Domitien-T. Robichaud, originally from Pokemouche, N.B.
Taking advantage of the leisure time his new job afforded, Boudreau studied Canadian history and French literature for four years from 1940 to 1944 at the University of Ottawa under the guidance of MM. Lucien Brault and Seraphin Marion.
In 1947 Ephrem was appointed head of translations at the Ministry of Agriculture, a position he held until his retirement in 1970. He collaborated with Cahiers of the Acadian Historical Society of Moncton for some 12 years.
His wife, Julie, daughter of Captain Anselme Samson of River Bourgeois, died in 1982. They had two sons, Paul and Maurice and a daughter, Cecile.
In 1980, he published in Editions d’Acadie Moncton, the history of the trappists in Nova Scotia (1823-1919) entitled Le Petit Clairvaux. He also authored Rivière- Bourgeois from which the following history is taken and translated.
Where does the name Rivière-Bourgeois come from? Be reminded that that which we call a river is, in fact, an inlet that forms a bay some three miles long and a few hundred yards wide. This bay meets the ocean by means of a narrow passage perhaps a half-mile in length and subject to tidal ebb and flow thus giving the appearance of a river.
The early colonists knew that it was necessary to expand their newly-founded territory, and they realized that the bay, sheltered and deep, was ideal to moor their small schooners. Little by little, the newcomers settled the shoreline.
Other settlers who were involved in neither fishing nor agriculture saw commercial opportunities in supplying necessary goods and services. Stores and other places of business sprang up at the harbour and along its northern shore. Given the presence of these merchants sometimes known as bourgeois, the village assumed the name of “Rivière des Bourgeois” or “Rivière aux Bourgeois,” and eventually Rivière-Bourgeois.
Most communities have smaller enclaves or communities within their boundaries. This can be attributed, for example, to unique features or groups of people. Rivière-Bourgeois was no exception to this phenomenon. The following are some of these localities beginning in the east:
• Rivière-Tillard: On the road to St. Peter’s near River Tillard
• La Briquerie (brickyard): To the east of Grand Gully
• La Pointe: Where the church is located on the church hill or cemetery hill and dominates the passage
• La pointe a Patoune (Pacien Landry): Near the entrance to Grand Gully, east of the church
• Le-Fond-du-Bras: The furthest east at the end of the rivière
• La Bord-du-Nord: The north shore
• Le Haut-de-Bras (Cannes): To the western extremity
• La Bord-du-Su: The southern shore
• Les Etangs (ponds): To the south on Le Petit Passage
• Thibeauville: Little town, a mile north of Haut-du-Bras and inhabited by the Thibeau’s
• La Fausse-Baie: Immediately to the west of Haut-du-Bras