Orel Leboeuf

Leboeuf can be described as a tragic folk artist. Born in St Anicet on the shore of Lake St Francis, a widening in the St Lawrence River southwest of Montreal, he was an outgoing, friendly young man who married at an early age. He and his young wife quickly had a son and two daughters while Orel worked seasonally in the construction trades in St Anicet and nearby Valleyfield (see note 1). Sadly, his wife died prematurely, and this had a profound effect on Leboeuf. His daughters moved in with their brother and Orel began his life of seclusion.

In the 1930's his friend Anatole Leblanc convinced him to move to his farm on the outskirts of town. He resided in a 4' x 6' ice fishing shack on the property the first year ...