Seraphin Ouimet

Seraphin Ouimet, member of the civil engineering firm of Ouimet & Lesage, connected with important municipal and railroad work in Montreal and in various other sections of the province and Dominion, was born October 8, 1879, in Ste. Rose, in the county of Laval, P. Q. The earliest record of the Ouimet family in this province is of Jean Ouimet, who was born in 1634 and died on the 19th of November, 1687, at Ste. Famille. He married Renee Gagnon about 1660 and their son, Louis Ouimet, who was one of nine children, was married February 3, 1693, at Ste. Famille to Marie Anne Genest, by whom he had thirteen children. Anselme Ouimet, father of Seraphin Ouimet, was born at St. François de Sales, about 1840 and married Emelie Gauthier, who was born in Montreal about 1850. Their son, Seraphin Ouimet, attended school in his native town of Ste. Rose and afterward pursued a classical course at Ste. Thérèse in the county of Terrebonne, where he remained for seven years and was leader of his class, and where he gained his B. C. es Lettres. Later he became a student in the Polytechnic school at Laval. He passed his examination with distinction, graduating June 10, 1904, with the degree of B. C. es Sciences. He next engaged with the dominion government as superintendent of Marconi stations on the Gulf, having charge of five stations. He continued in that position for one season and was appointed assistant engineer of the Georgian Bay Ship Canal survey. After four months in that position he was promoted to first assistant and two months later to chief. He continued for eighteen months in that capacity, rendering efficient, capable and acceptable service until, desiring to engage in the private practice of his profession, he opened an office in Montreal. He passed his examination as Quebec land surveyor on June 17, 1908, before the board of the Quebec Land Surveyors Association. For a year he was associated with James H. Parent, at the close of which time he entered into partnership with Royal Lesage and has since continued under the firm name of Ouimet & Lesage. Their clientage has steadily increased in the interim and their work today extends largely over the province, including many contracts for municipal engineering and railroad work. They have been connected with the building of a branch of the Transcontinental, extending from Montreal and have acted as experts for municipal civil engineering projects in connection with important work for electric and other companies. They employ over twenty men, and the business is one of growing importance. Mr. Ouimet is recognized as a clever, energetic and successful representative of his profession, widely known and highly respected. His ability, close study and developing powers have gained him wider and wider recognition until he stands today as one of the able representatives of the profession in Montreal.