Olivar Asselin
Olivar Asselin (1874-1937) was a Canadian journalist, activist, and soldier who played a significant role in advocating for French-Canadian nationalism. Born in Canada in the mid-1800s and educated at a seminary, he immigrated to the United States where he began his writing career for various publications. In the late 1890s, Asselin joined the U.S. Army and became a naturalized citizen. After returning to Canada in 1900, he actively promoted French-Canadian separatism through his work as a journalist and as editor of the literary journal *Les Debats*. Asselin founded the Ligue Nationaliste in 1903 to unite supporters of his cause and launched the periodical *Le Nationaliste* to advocate for significant reforms.
His political ambitions included two unsuccessful runs for public office, and he contributed to discussions on immigration with a government report published in 1913. Initially critical of French-Canadian support for the Allies in World War I, Asselin eventually enlisted, justifying his service as a fight for France. His contributions during the war earned him the French Legion of Honor. After the war, he returned to journalism, though his later publications were short-lived. In his later years, Asselin dedicated himself to charitable work with the Brothers Hospitaliers of Saint-Jean-de-Dieu. His life reflects the complexities of identity, nationalism, and the interplay between personal belief and public duty in early 20th-century Canada.
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Subject Terms
Olivar Asselin
Nonfiction Writer
- Born: November 8, 1874
- Birthplace: Saint-Hilarion, Quebec, Canada
- Died: April 18, 1937
- Place of death: Montreal, Quebec, Canada
Biography
Olivar Asselin was born in Canada in the mid-1800’s. He studied at a seminary for six years before immigrating to the United States. Asselin began writing for various New England publications after his move to America. In the late 1890’s, he joined the United States Army and became a naturalized U.S. citizen. Asselin returned to Canada in 1900, working as a journalist for a number of newspapers and serving as editor for the literary journal Les Debats, which championed French- Canadian separatism.
Asselin himself was an ardent supporter of French-Canadian separatism, and in 1903 he founded an organization called the Ligue Nationaliste to bring together like-minded individuals. He also created a periodical called Le Nationaliste to publish articles advocating significant Canadian reforms. After four years Asselin left Le Nationaliste. The following year, he published A Quebec View of Canadian Nationalism: An Essay by a Dyed-in-the-Wool French-Canadian on the Best Means of Ensuring the Greatness of the Canadian Fatherland, an argument for an independent French Canada.
In 1905, Asselin ran for a public office, but lost the election. He ran again in 1911, and lost that election as well. Asselin began working on a government study on immigration in 1911, and in 1913 he published Emigration from Belgium and France to Canada: Report on an Enquiry Made during the Winter 1911-12 by Mr. Olivar Asselin, at the Request of the Department of the Interior. After the publication of this report, Asselin was nominated president of the Société Saint-Jean-Baptiste.
Asselin voiced an unpopular opinion at the start of World War I, criticizing the French-Canadian support of the Allies, further asserting his opinion in the books “L’Action catholique,” les évêques et la guerre: Petit plaidoyer pour la liberté de pensée du bas clerge et des laieques and Les Évêques et la propagande de “L’Action catholique.” However, in 1915 Asselin enlisted in the military, organizing a battalion of French-Canadian soldiers. Asselin justified his actions by stating that he was fighting for France, not for Canada or Great Britian, which he explained in Pourquoi je m’enrole: Discours prononcé au Monument National, a Montréal le 21 janvier 1916. Asselin received the French Legion of Honor for his service in the war.
After fighting in World War I, Asselin returned to journalism, working for Le Canada as a writer and editor. In 1934, Asselin left Le Canada to start the short-lived publication L’Ordre. L’Ordre lasted a little over a year, and Asselin’s last attempt at a periodical, La Renaissance, ended after just six months. Asselin devoted the rest of his life to his favorite charity, the Brothers Hospitaliers of Saint-Jean-de-Dieu.