Rudolph LeMaitre
We are pleased to announce Reverend Mr. Rudolph (Rudy) LeMaître as the 2024 Magis Award Recipient for Service to Others. Throughout his life, LeMaître's experiences have shaped his worldview. His early exposure to religious and academic institutions gave him a strong foundation in intellectual and moral disciplines. He has navigated various roles and professions, always seeking to understand and contribute to the betterment of society. LeMaître's life is a testament to his dedication to hard work, intellectual curiosity, and commitment to understanding and improving the world around him.
LeMaître has had a diverse and exciting journey in his life and career. His strong work ethic began at an early age with him working with his grandmother in her business. He would wake up at five in the morning, help her at the market, serve at the morning mass at school, and then, in the evening, help her to prep for the next day. His act of gratitude was done so for her paying his private school fees. When he was six or seven years old, a nun asked him what he would like to be, and he replied, "A priest." This nun would always make the sign of the cross on his forehead and remind him that she was praying for him. At 16, he felt a strong call to religious life and applied to a seminary in the United States. He decided to stay in Trinidad and was considering Mount St. Benedict's Monastery, where he spent a short time as a guest monk. He came to Canada in the spring of 1955 to study agriculture at the U of S, hoping to return to Trinidad and possibly the monastery for good. From April to September 1955, he had the experience of working on a farm in Saskatchewan.
LeMaître's summer job in 1956 led him to Weyburn, Saskatchewan where he met his future wife, Margaret, who was also working there for the summer as a psychiatric aide. Their connection developed over the summer, and they decided to continue their relationship despite the challenges of distance. They were married in Montreal 65 years ago and immediately returned to Saskatoon, where they would start their family.
While a student, LeMaître did a variety of jobs including that of a psychiatric nurse, a factory worker in Montreal, a labourer constructing the St. Lawrence Seaway, a worker on the Forestry Farm outside of Saskatoon, and a gold miner. His educational journey was equally unconventional. He pursued a two-year diploma in Agriculture. After a year, he switched to a B.A. with a double major in Sociology and Psychology and a minor in History. Following that degree, he studied Law for one year. He and his young family then moved to Goodsoil in Northern Saskatchewan where he taught Grades 9 – 12 for three years. They then moved to Winnipeg where he would do his Master's in Social Work (M.S.W.) at the University of Manitoba. At the end of his first year in the M.S.W. program, he worked for the summer in the homecare program at the U of S hospital. Upon completing his M.S.W., he was hired as a social worker by the Jewish Child and Family Service in Winnipeg and became the Senior Supervisor. He contributed to the agency's excellence and touched many lives for 12 years.
In 1976, LeMaître was ordained as a permanent deacon at St. Mary's Cathedral. He was part of the first group of permanent deacons to be ordained in Western Canada. He is now the oldest and longest-serving deacon in the country. Five years after his ordination, he became a prison chaplain. He worked at Headingley Jail for 12 years and the Remand Centre for six years, offering prisoners moral and spiritual guidance and helping them turn their lives around.
LeMaître describes his path as a service to others through a variety of experiences and careers. LeMaître's advice to younger generations emphasizes the importance of both spiritual and physical care. He advocates for a life of active and meaningful service, reflecting oan his experiences as a guide for those pursuing similar paths. He states: "Our lives are a journey to God, and God is all from the beginning of our lives to the end of our lives." His life's work stands as an example of dedication and adaptability in the pursuit of a purposeful life.
