Category: L

Lefebvre, Constable Fred #1923

Fred Lefebvre

North Bay Police Service Constable Fred Lefebvre made the ultimate sacrifice, giving his life in the line of duty on May 18th, 1923. He was trying to apprehend one of Northern Ontario’s most dangerous criminals ever, Leo Rogers, who shot him dead. The fugitive went on to kill another officer, Sgt. John URQUHART of the Cobalt OPP, during a two-week reign of terror like nothing else North Bay has ever seen. At the time, Lefebvre, was never suitably recognized. Today, we are righting that by holding this memorial service in his honour.

Fred Lefebvre was one of a family of 12 children born in 1877 in the little village of Alice near Pembroke. He grew up in that area and started his work career in the lumber business. At age 19, he moved to North Bay and took on his first policing duties. The following year, he married Matilda St. Michael, his teenage sweetheart from Pembroke. They lived in several different locations over the years, including Sault Ste. Marie, Cache Bay, Haileybury and Sturgeon Falls, before he returned to North Bay to become a Provincial Police Officer and then later joining the North Bay Police Service, living here with his wife and four children. At the time of his slaying, he headed the small force’s Criminal Investigations Unit.

Just prior to his 15th birthday, Leo Rogers was found guilty of a series of break and enters. The Judge sentenced him to seven years at one of the most feared facilities in the country, Kingston Penitentiary. There, he attacked guards on several occasions.

“I believe you are dealing with a criminal too dangerous to be at large,” one time Police Chief William Raynor, wrote in a letter to the Parole Board. Even as a teenager, “He was the worst man I ever had to deal with.” He returned to North Bay after seven years and was soon in custody for robbery. Rogers escaped from the North Bay Courthouse May 17th, 1923. Police suggested a loaded gun had somehow been slipped to him amid the lax security of a crowded 1920’s courtroom. That night, the fugitive himself phoned police and invited them down into an ambush near the waterfront in West Ferris. In the ensuing gun battle, one officer was shot in the thigh. By midnight, a posse of 20 men was formed to spend the night guarding the area and looking out for the fugitive.

Surprisingly, Rogers stood his ground, remaining motionless throughout the bug-infested night. As the next day dawned, he began firing again from his position behind a clump of trees. The posse rushed him, but he was able to run to the safety of a nearby barn. Within minutes, it was riddled with bullets, but Rogers escaped. Then he ran another 500 yards to the point where Mosquito Creek (now Parks Creek) meets Lake Nipissing. Members of the posse let him have it with all the firepower they had – 200 rounds of ammunition. Still, he managed to zigzag through the hail of bullets and was not hit.

As the morning sun began to rise in the east at 5:30 a.m., Rogers cut down to the lakefront where he faced a standoff with Lefebvre – the 45 year old plainclothes detective who had arrested him during a fierce struggle years before.

The two men were roughly 100 metres apart. Rogers, brandishing a Winchester Savage rifle, had the cover of a tree, while the officer, with just his revolver, was out in the open. Lefebvre was felled by a bullet in his abdomen as they fired simultaneously. Rogers ran off into the bush and police lost his trail. “I’m done for. Rogers got me at last,” Lefebvre said as he lay dying. “My poor children; kiss my children for me.” Fred Lefebvre had made the ultimate sacrifice.

Rogers remained at large. At midnight May 30th, Sgt. John URQUHART, of the Ontario Provincial Police, saw an unknown figure enter Rogers’ parents’ home on Worthington Street. With the home surrounded, he knocked at the door. Rogers fired at the door, hitting the officer square in the chest, killing him instantly. Though the house was surrounded, somehow Rogers escaped again.

After being on the loose for two weeks after Lefebvre’s shooting, Rogers made his last stand at what is now the site of the Waltonian Inn on the south side of Lake Nipissing. A posse surrounded him. When he noticed them and got up to reach for his weapon, he was shot down in a volley of bullets.

Today we honour Fred Lefebvre and remember all our brothers and sisters who have given their life in the protection of our communities and their citizens.

LeClair, Randy #18 *

Honoured by Gerry and Carole LeClair

Randy LeClair, (1955-2008) beloved son of Carole and Gerry; brother to Debbie, Terry and Susan; and father to Darren, Krista and Lindsay; was a dedicated son, brother, father and friend.

Randy’s wonderful sense of humour, his great smile and good nature made him a joy to be around. He was devoted to his children and loved spending time with them. Camping, swimming and hiking were favorite activities they shared, allowing for so many special moments together. In the winter months, Randy would make a back-yard skating rink, often getting up at 4 in the morning to flood it so it would be ready for the kids to play on during the day. Time spent with his kids on the rink was a tremendous joy for him.

An outdoor enthusiast, Randy took great pleasure in fishing and hunting with his family and many friends. Memories of fishing trips with Randy are cherished by his family, as is the laughter they shared.

Randy was known for his work ethic and character. He was always ready to offer a hand to a person in need. As a teammate and coach, he touched many lives. He is missed by his former teammates from the Scollard Hall and Western University hockey teams, and by the many boys and girls he coached in the North Bay Minor Hockey league.

Randy, you are dearly loved. The LeClair family: Dad, Mom, Debbie, Terry and Susan.

Lefebvre, Clarence & Geraldine #325 *

Clarence Lefebvre, our Dad, was born in North Bay in 1925, the first year that North Bay was deemed a city.  Geraldine McParland, our Mom, was born in the small town of Mattawa, 40 miles east of North Bay also in 1925.  Clarence, known as Spike early on in his life, was raised in North Bay while Geraldine, known as Geri, moved to North Bay as a young girl.  Dad joined the army at the age of 17 and was shipped overseas in 1945, arriving in Europe just as the European phase of the war was ending.  While Dad spent time in the army Mom contributed to the war effort in her own way as a “Farmerette” and worked in Ottawa for the government.

When Dad returned from the war he was introduced to Mom by his sister Yvonne.  After an intense courtship, the two were married on August 1, 1949.  The marriage was blessed with five children, three girls and two boys and ultimately produced ten grandchildren.

After a number of jobs Dad joined the North Bay Police department in 1956 and a 30 year law enforcement career culminated in his retirement from the force with the rank of Inspector.  Mom worked at M&M Tobacco, ran a boarding house out of her home and ended her working life by spending 17 years at Shoppers Drug Mart.

Mom and Dad were very devoted to their church, the Pro Cathedral of the Assumption, and believed in hard work while embracing life with a great sense of humour.  Both were well known for their love of entertaining family and friends and Dad is famous for dancing while wearing any manner of outrageous hats.  Above all else they cherished family time and regularly coordinated activities that brought together their children and grandchildren.  Neither was ever able to resist a loud and boisterous game of “pass the ace” and both loved the company of their close friends and acquaintances.

In their later years Mom and Dad enjoyed going to the waterfront to sit in the car or on a bench to enjoy an ice cream cone, meet with friends and enjoy the view, particularly the spectacular sunsets.

In honour of Dad’s 85th birthday on December 29, 2010 we are happy to present him with this metal leaf, number 325, engraved with his and Mom’s names.  The number 325 is the address number of the first home that they purchased together and was the first and foremost home to our family.