Eugene Carlisle LeBel, C.S.B., C.D., LL.D,''University of Windsor: Handbook Regarding Research Associates and Postdoctoral Fellows''. University of Windsor, 1971, iii. (July 27, 1899''The Canadian Who’s Who- A Biographical Dictionary of Notable Living Men and Women'', vol. IX. (Trans Canada Press, Toronto: 1963) s.v. "Lebel, Rev. Eugene Carlisle". - August 11, 1986) was a Canadian academic and Catholic priest, who spent much of his life at Catholic universities, both studying and teaching. He is best known for his efforts to introduce academic changes to Assumption College, leading it to become Assumption University of Windsor and later the non-denominational

University of Windsor The University of Windsor (UWindsor, U of W, or UWin) is a public university, public research university in Windsor, Ontario, Canada. It is Canada's southernmost university. It has approximately 17,500 students. The university was incorporated by ...

Life

LeBel was born in

Sarnia Sarnia is a city in Lambton County, Ontario, Canada. It had a Canada 2021 Census, 2021 population of 72,047, and is the largest city on Lake Huron. Sarnia is located on the eastern bank of the junction between the Upper and Lower Great Lakes, ...

, Ontario in 1899 to Eugene Albert LeBel and Catherine Mahoney.Michael Power. ''A Guide to the Papers of Rev. E. Carlisle Lebel, CSB and Dr. J. Francis Leddy''. University of Windsor, Windsor: 1989, introduction. In 1917 he entered St. Basil's Novitiate in Toronto, Ontario, thus beginning a life of academic involvement. A religious man, LeBel took his first vows on August 10, 1918, and a year later attended the Catholic-run Assumption College (1919–20) in Windsor, Ontario. He then moved back to Toronto where he studied at St. Michael's College for four years (1920–24) and the

University of Toronto The University of Toronto (UToronto or U of T) is a public university, public research university whose main campus is located on the grounds that surround Queen's Park (Toronto), Queen's Park in Toronto, Ontario, Canada. It was founded by ...

(1924) where he received his B.A. While at St. Michael's, LeBel was a skilled athlete, named "Captain and Star" of his championship winning football team. LeBel was Chaplain of the Essex Scottish Regiment in Windsor for fourteen years, including all of

World War II World War II or the Second World War (1 September 1939 – 2 September 1945) was a World war, global conflict between two coalitions: the Allies of World War II, Allies and the Axis powers. World War II by country, Nearly all of the wo ...

. In 1925, LeBel was ordained a priest and in 1931 he received his M.A. from the

University of Chicago The University of Chicago (UChicago, Chicago, or UChi) is a Private university, private research university in Chicago, Illinois, United States. Its main campus is in the Hyde Park, Chicago, Hyde Park neighborhood on Chicago's South Side, Chic ...

. He became a professor of English at the University of Saskatoon (1931–39), and later held the same post at both the

(1939–41) and Assumption College (1941–47). Following six years of teaching at Assumption College, LeBel was appointed dean (1947–52), a title he held until Assumption College became Assumption University. During his tenure as Dean of the College, LeBel and his administration pushed for a more open community school of higher learning. After winning affiliation with Essex College and Canterbury College, the Ontario legislature renamed Assumption College to Assumption University of Windsor, making it an official school of the community, though it was still Catholic-oriented. LeBel was named the first President of Assumption University (1952–63). The new university grew rapidly and became dependent on government funding for its survival, becoming the

in 1963, which marked the switch from a Catholic university to a public university.''The University of Windsor- A Special Study''. LeBel was again named the first President, this time of the

. He held the post for one year before retiring in 1964. He was succeeded as President by John Francis Leddy. LeBel died on August 11, 1986.

References

{{DEFAULTSORT:Lebel, Eugene Carlisle Academic staff of the University of Saskatchewan 1986 deaths 1899 births People from Sarnia Academic staff of the University of Toronto Presidents of the University of Windsor Congregation of St. Basil