Pascal Breland

Background

Breland was born on June 15, 1811 in the Saskatchewan Valley in the Northwest Territories (today in the province of Saskatchewan). In 1836 at the age of 25, Breland married 15-year-old Maria Grant, daughter of Cuthbert Grant.

Career

He was elected to the Manitoba Legislative Assembly serving from 1870 until 1874. The pair had a very large family of six boys and nine girls. Breland died at Saint François Xavier, Manitoba on October 24, 1896.

Breland ran in the first general election held after Manitoba joined confederation in 1870.

In that election he defeated John Bruce who had served as President of the short lived Métis provisional government in 1869. Breland did not stand for re-election after the Assembly dissolved in 1874.

Breland served two long terms as a politician in the Legislative Assembly of the Northwest Territories. He was first appointed to the Temporary North-West Council on December 28, 1872.

He served on the council until it was dissolved in 1876.

He was re-appointed two years later on July 10, 1878 to serve on the 1st Council of the Northwest Territories. He was re-appointed to the council due to demands of the Métis for government representation. Breland was the only member to reside from outside the territories during that period.

In total he served 15 years as an appointed member.

Breland died on October 24, 1896.

Achievements

• He won the electoral district of Saint Francis Xavier E. The total vote was small as Breland won 31 votes to 18 for Bruce.

Membership

Breland became a member of the in September 1857. His re-appointment made him the only member of the original council to be re-appointed.