Vincent-Joseph Pottier (11 April 1897 – 4 February 1980) was a Liberal party member of the House of Commons of Canada. He was the first Acadian from Nova Scotia elected to the House of Commons and the first Acadian to serve on the Nova Scotia Supreme Court.

Vincent Pottier
Member of Parliament
for Shelburne—Yarmouth—Clare
In office
14 October 1935 – 11 June 1945
Personal details
Born
Vincent-Joseph Pottier

(1897-04-11)11 April 1897
Belleville, Nova Scotia, Canada
Died4 February 1980(1980-02-04) (aged 82)
Political partyLiberal
Spouse(s)1. Kathryn LeBlanc (died)
2. Helena McKinlay
m. 10 August 1928[1]
Professionbarrister, judge

Early life and education

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He was born in Belleville, Nova Scotia to Augustin and Rose Emma Pothier. He graduated from Dalhousie Law School in 1920 and was a barrister by trade.[2]

Political career

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Pottier served as a school commissioner and town councillor.[1]

He was first elected to Parliament at the Shelburne—Yarmouth—Clare riding in the 1935 general election, the first Acadian from Nova Scotia to join the House of Commons. He was re-elected in 1940. After completing his second term, the 19th Canadian Parliament, Pottier did not seek further re-election in 1945.

Judicial career

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In 1947, Pottier was appointed a judge at County Court number 1 in Halifax. On 4 January 1965, he became the first Acadian appointed to the Nova Scotia Supreme Court, serving in that role until his retirement after five years.[3][4] In his final years, he donated his time supporting the Dalhousie Legal Aid Service.[5]

References

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  1. ^ a b Normandin, A. L. (1941). The Canadian Parliamentary Guide.
  2. ^ Genealogy Saint Michael's Parish, 1767-1925 (Wedgeport) = Généalogie Paroisse Saint-Michel, 1767-1925 (Wedgeport)
  3. ^ "Events of the year 1965". Petit Courrier. 6 January 1966.
  4. ^ "A History of the Supreme Court". Nova Scotia Supreme Court. 2004. Retrieved 13 August 2009.
  5. ^ Philip Girard; Jim Phillips; Barry Cahill, eds. (2004). The Supreme Court of Nova Scotia, 1754-2004: from imperial bastion to provincial oracle. University of Toronto Press for The Osgoode Society for Canadian Legal History. p. 177. ISBN 978-0-8020-8021-9.
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