Name Joseph-Henri Tabaret | ||
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Born 12 April 1828 ( 1828-04-12 ) Saint-Marcellin, France Died February 8, 1886, Ottawa, Canada | ||
Joseph-Henri Tabaret (12 April 1828 – 8 February 1886) was a Canadian Roman Catholic Priest and academic, best known because of his long and important association with the University of Ottawa. He was a member of the Oblate Fathers of Mary Immaculate. The Oblates founded the College of Bytown in 1848. Under Tabaret's leadership from 1853-1861, Bytown College became an official university.
He was rector (president) of Collège d'Ottawa / College of Ottawa from 1861-1864, 1867-1874 and 1877-1886. Rev. Joseph-Henri Tabaret, OMI, served the College for a total of 30 years during the 19th century, and is generally regarded as the builder of the University. Father Tabaret was an ardent defender of bilingualism, often heard to say: "...in this part of Canada, the use of both languages is not a matter of discussion; it is a matter of necessity."