Joseph-Octave Arsenault (August 5, 1828 – December 14, 1897) was a
Canadian
Canadians (french: Canadiens) are people identified with the country of Canada. This connection may be residential, legal, historical or cultural. For most Canadians, many (or all) of these connections exist and are collectively the source of ...
politician who was the first
Acadian
The Acadians (french: Acadiens , ) are an ethnic group descended from the French who settled in the New France colony of Acadia during the 17th and 18th centuries. Most Acadians live in the region of Acadia, as it is the region where the ...
from
Prince Edward Island
Prince Edward Island (PEI; ) is one of the thirteen provinces and territories of Canada. It is the smallest province in terms of land area and population, but the most densely populated. The island has several nicknames: "Garden of the Gulf", ...
to be named to the
Senate of Canada
The Senate of Canada (french: region=CA, Sénat du Canada) is the upper house of the Parliament of Canada. Together with the Crown and the House of Commons, they comprise the bicameral legislature of Canada.
The Senate is modelled after the ...
.
Born in
, the son of Mélème Arsenault and Bibienne Poirier, he was a teacher, and later the owner of several businesses, including two general stores and a
fish company
A fish company is a company which specializes in the processing of fish products. Fish that are processed by a fish company include cod, hake, haddock, tuna, herring, mackerel, salmon and pollock.
The United States, China, Peru and Chile have t ...
. In 1867, he was elected to the
Legislative Assembly of Prince Edward Island
The Legislative Assembly of Prince Edward Island (french: Assemblée législative de l'Île-du-Prince-Édouard) is the sole chamber of the General Assembly of Prince Edward Island. The Legislative Assembly meets at Province House, which is locat ...
for the riding of
3rd Prince
3rd Prince was an electoral district in the Canadian province of Prince Edward Island, which elected two members to the Legislative Assembly of Prince Edward Island
The Legislative Assembly of Prince Edward Island (french: Assemblée législativ ...
and served for 28 years. In 1895, he was appointed to the Senate representing the
senatorial division
Canadian Senate divisions refers to two aspects of the Senate of Canada. First, it refers to the division of Canada into four regional Senate divisions of 24 senators each, as set out in section 22 of the Constitution Act, 1867.The Constitution Act ...
of Prince Edward Island. He served until his death in Abram-Village in 1897.
In 1861, he married Gertrude Gaudet. They had nine children. His son
Aubin-Edmond Arsenault
Aubin-Edmond Arsenault (28 July 1870 – 29 April 1968) was a Prince Edward Island politician. He was the 13th premier of Prince Edward Island from 1917 to 1919.
Born in Egmont Bay, Prince County, Prince Edward Island, Arsenault's famil ...
was Premier of Prince Edward Island and his son
Joseph-Félix Arsenault served in the provincial assembly.
Arsenault played an important role in organizing the first two Acadian national conventions which were held in
Memramcook, New Brunswick
Memramcook, sometimes also spelled Memramcouke or Memramkouke, is a village in Westmorland County, New Brunswick, Canada. Located in south-eastern New Brunswick, the community is predominantly people of Acadian descent who speak the Chiac der ...
in 1881 and
Miscouche, Prince Edward Island
Miscouche (2021 population: 992) is a municipality that holds community status in Prince Edward Island, Canada. It is located in Prince County.
Incorporated in 1957, Miscouche is located 10 kilometres west of the City of Summerside. Its name is ...
in 1884.
External links
Biography at the ''Dictionary of Canadian Biography Online''*
{{DEFAULTSORT:Arsenault, Joseph-Octave
1828 births
1897 deaths
People from Prince County, Prince Edward Island
Acadian people
Canadian senators from Prince Edward Island
Conservative Party of Canada (1867–1942) senators
Progressive Conservative Party of Prince Edward Island MLAs