DR. VALADE

Quick facts

Story kiosk location

  • Corner of Bank and Holmwood at Lansdowne Park

Important dates

  • (1885) – Found guilty of leading the North-West Resistance, Louis Riel was assessed by three doctors for insanity. Dr. Valade was the only one who determined that Riel was insane.

Audiofile

  • No

Who lived here?

  • Dr. Valade lived and practiced at 142-144 St. Patrick for many years. The two-story stone house with its gabled roof, and its distinctive second floor stone balcony, was built for him in 1866.

Just a few steps away is the heritage home of Dr. François-Xavier Valade, a medical doctor involved in Louis Riel's trial for the Red River Resistance...


              Trial of Louis Riel, O.B. Buell, Library and Archives Canada. No. 3192595.

Métis leader Louis Riel was placed on trial for high treason in July 1885 for his leadership of the North-West Resistance. Held in Regina rather than his home province of Manitoba to avoid a sympathetic jury, Riel was found guilty and sentenced to death.

 


Portrait Card of Louis Riel, Notman Studio. Library and Archives Canada. No. 3192038

Against Riel’s wishes, his lawyers pleaded insanity on his behalf in order to reduce the sentence to a lifetime in an asylum. Riel told the court: “I have a mission. I cannot fulfil my mission as long as I am looked upon as an insane being.”

 


Dr Valade’s House, photograph, ©NCC

One of the doctors assigned to evaluate Riel was Dr François-Xavier Valade of 142-144 St. Patrick Street. His home survives under the custodianship of the NCC. Riel was executed on November 16, 1885.