Piberville, Pierre le Moyne, Sieur d’ (1661-1706)

(left) Pierre Le Moyne, a soldier, sailor and explorer, was born in Ville- Marie (Montréal). After fighting against the English in Acadia, he led brilliant campaigns in the Hudson Bay and the Caribbean, captured New- foundland, discovered the mouth of the Mississippi, sailing up the river from the Gulf of Mexico, and then founded Louisiana in 1699 and became its first Governor. Sculptor: Elzéar Soucy

La Vérendrye, Pierre Gaultier de Varennes, de (1685-1749)

(Right) Pierre Gaultier de La Vérendrye was born in Trois-Rivières. A fur trader, he is best known for his exploration of western Canada. With his sons, he undertook four trips in search of the western sea and a passage to Asia, travelling as far as present-day Manitoba, North Dakota and Wyoming. As he pushed the frontier of New France westwards, he took possession, on behalf of the King of France, of the immense tracts of land that are today Manitoba, Saskatchewan, Alberta and the western United States. Sculptor: Jean Bailleul

June 2014 Photo 090d