Mr. Speaker, today I would like to pay tribute to a veteran of the first world war, Mr. Lazare Gionet of Bas-Caraquet, New Brunswick, who died on Friday, April 1, 2005, at the age of 108 years and 8 months. Mr. Gionet was the oldest surviving Canadian veteran of that war.
In 1916, at the age of 20, he enlisted in the army. Mr. Gionet did not like talking about his war experiences. Moreover, he lost a 20-year-old son in the second world war.
A kind man with a twinkle in his eye, he loved to laugh and make others laugh. After his years serving our country, he married and started his fine family. Mr. Gionet was a hard-working Acadian, a fisher, a farmer, a barber, a cook and a construction worker. He leaves behind his children, 31 grandchildren, 46 great-grandchildren and 10 great-great-grandchildren.
With the loss of Lazare Gionet, Canada and Acadia have lost a man of great courage and a distinguished record. To his entire family—