It was under his presidency that theACFA regionally managed to bring French-language television, Radio-Canada, to Bonnyville in northeastern Alberta, according to a document on the history of theACFA from Bonnyville-Cold Lake. This crucial achievement helped spread the French language in Bonnyville, thereby cementing its presence in Francophone households.

René Dallaire was very involved in the activities of Bonnyville’s Francophone community and collaborated in the purchase of the Francophone Cultural Center. According to Jean-Claude Lajoie, he was always at the forefront of organizing cultural activities such as the Golf Tournament, King’s Day and the Bonnyvillois Festival.

He remembers his friend René Dallaire, whom he had known since childhood. Their respective families left Lac Saint-Jean, Quebec in 1953 to settle there Coreya hamlet north of Bonnyville.

People who came from far away automatically became families, explains Jean-Claude Lajoie. René Dallaire has always been a friend, he says. A very generous person, generous as a friend, generous as a neighbor, always willing to help, borrow things and equipment when I needed it.

According to Jean-Claude Lajoie, René Dallaire’s generosity had a broader impact on Francophonie in Alberta and regional Francophonie inACFA Bonnyville region.

” He was a confident and persuasive man who did his best to keep French – and to make it flourish – not at all embarrassed to speak French and to be a full-fledged Francophone in the community. »

A businessman

René Dallaire owned school buses and luxury coaches. His friend describes him as a good businessman.

” His transport bus business was successful, very successful. He was hardworking and it was natural for him to get into the business. Adventurous and ambitious, he wasn’t afraid to dare. »

René Dallaire was also chairman of the board of directors of the Caisse populaire de Bonnyville, which later became Hello credit union. He was also president of the Club de l’Aurore, intended for seniors.