Lecturer in Law of Contracts (1928-1934); B.A., St. Joseph’s 1906; LL.B., Dalhousie, 1910; M.A., St Joseph’s, 1930; Chairman of New Brunswick Commissioners on the uniformity of Legislation in Canada, and member of Executive Council of Canadian Bar Association; Commissioner on the Revision of the New Brunswick Statutes, 1926-1927.
Prior to 1945, there had only been one Acadian instructor at Mount Allison University: Ernest Renée Richard, a native of Dorchester. He taught Law at the university between 1928 and 1934 and went on to become Mayor of Sackville in the 1950s.
Ernest René Richard was born on 25th September 1887 in Dorchester, Westmorland County, New Brunswick. He wa the son of the honorable Ambroise David Richard (1849-1917) and Elizabeth V. Holt (1860-1941). He received his early education from St. Anne de la Pocatière in Québec. He earned a B.A. from St Joseph’s University in 1906, an LL. B. from Dalhousie University in 1910, and a M.A. from St. Joseph’s in 1930. He started practicing law in Dalhousie, New Brunswick in 1911 and came to Sackville in 1919. He taught at Mount Allison University as a lecturer in Law of Contracts from 1928 to 1934. Between 1934 and 1940 he served as a member of the Pension Appeal Court in Ottawa. He was Chairman of the New Brunswick Commissioners of the Uniformity of Legislation in Canada from 1933 to 1934, Commissioner on the Revision of the New Brunswick Statutes from 1926 to 1927 and served as a member of the Executive Council of Canadian Bar Association.
Ernest René Richard served nearly four terms as mayor of the town of Sackville from 1954 to 1957. He died while in office on November 5th, 1957. In an article honoring the late mayor, a write for the Sackville Tribune-Post wrote that “His talents could have been welcomed anywhere in Canada, but he preferred to live here in this little town of Sackville… The call of the Maritimes, where he first formed his roots, where his Acadian ancestors lived, was very strong with him.”
He married Grace Mildred Murry (1894 – 1973) in Montréal, Québec in 1925, and the couple ad three children: Julie (Class of 52), René (Class of 57) and Marie. During their time in Sackville, Grace was a Councilwoman and Regent of Lord Sackville Chapter of I.O.D.E. He is buried in the Sackville Rural Cemetery in Sackville, New Brunswick.
Sources: Mount Allison University / Research P. Richard