April 10

Born in Ouanne, France, René Lepage de Sainte-Claire emigrated to New France in the late 17th century and acquired the seigneurie of Rimouski in 1694. He led the first permanent European settlement along the lower St. Lawrence River, overseeing land management and agricultural development. His leadership laid the foundation for the town's growth and the economic prosperity of the region. Lepage's descendants continued his work, shaping Rimouski into an important cultural and commercial center. He is remembered as a key figure in the colonization and early history of Quebec.