Editing A.J. Paul LaPrairie
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{{Infobox User | {{Infobox User | ||
|discipline = Mining Engineering | |discipline = Mining Engineering | ||
|year = 5T0 | |year = 5T0 | ||
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|position3 = [[Brute Force Committee|Mario Baker]] | |position3 = [[Brute Force Committee|Mario Baker]] | ||
}} | }} | ||
A.J. Paul La Prairie, Mineral Engineering 5T0, is a historically important alumnus of Skule™. He is most famous for being the founder of the [[Lady Godiva Memorial Bnad]] as well as the infamous University College Gargoyle swap. As the ''Direktor of Kultural Aktivities'' - a modern day combination of [[VP Student Life]] and [[Blue & Gold Committee]] Chair - he was also responsible as the protector of the Skule Cannon and as head of the Brute Force Committee. | |||
==Life before Skule™== | ==Life before Skule™== | ||
A.J. Paul | A.J. Paul LaPrairie served six years overseas with the Irish Regiment of Canada (part of the Fifth Canadian Armoured Division) during the Second World War. LaPrairie reached the rank of Major during his tour of duty. | ||
LaPrairie served six years overseas with the Irish Regiment of Canada (part of the Fifth Canadian Armoured Division) during the Second World War. LaPrairie reached the rank of Major during his tour of duty. | |||
Notably, he was the Battle Second in Command with his Regiment, and was chiefly responsible for working out all details of attacks. He participated in several battles in Holland near the end of WWII, and personally negotiated the surrender of a German unit stationed near Weiward, taking 38 German Officers and 1386 others as prisoners. | Notably, he was the Battle Second in Command with his Regiment, and was chiefly responsible for working out all details of attacks. He participated in several battles in Holland near the end of WWII, and personally negotiated the surrender of a German unit stationed near Weiward, taking 38 German Officers and 1386 others as prisoners. | ||
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LaPrairie recounted his war experiences in a letter to his brother, George, in 2001: | LaPrairie recounted his war experiences in a letter to his brother, George, in 2001: | ||
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<blockquote> | <blockquote> | ||
"Dear George... | |||
Dear George... | |||
:You asked me for information on my visits to Holland. I was there, first, during the War. Then, Jean and I made two trips on our own. Later I led about six group trips to Holland, and as many to Italy. | :You asked me for information on my visits to Holland. I was there, first, during the War. Then, Jean and I made two trips on our own. Later I led about six group trips to Holland, and as many to Italy. | ||
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:As a matter of interest, I took the Korvet Kapitan back to Brigade Headquarters. Our Brigade Intelligence Officer spoke german and questioned him. Then, the Korvet Kapitan pointed at me and asked the I.O. what my rank was. I was still in my camouflage coverall. I thought that he was being a bit uppity, wanting to make sure that he, of senior rank, had been captured by a senior Officer. I told the I.O. to tell him that I was a Boy Scout, and left. I was awarded my Distinguished Service Order for this adventure. | :As a matter of interest, I took the Korvet Kapitan back to Brigade Headquarters. Our Brigade Intelligence Officer spoke german and questioned him. Then, the Korvet Kapitan pointed at me and asked the I.O. what my rank was. I was still in my camouflage coverall. I thought that he was being a bit uppity, wanting to make sure that he, of senior rank, had been captured by a senior Officer. I told the I.O. to tell him that I was a Boy Scout, and left. I was awarded my Distinguished Service Order for this adventure. | ||
:That was the end of the war for us. On the 5th of May, all of the Germans in Holland surrendered. | :That was the end of the war for us. On the 5th of May, all of the Germans in Holland surrendered." | ||
</blockquote> | </blockquote> | ||
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==Return to Skule™== | ==Return to Skule™== | ||
Like many war veterans, LaPrairie returned home to Canada to attend university. He entered the Faculty of Applied Science and Engineering at the University of Toronto in 1946, and attended school at the [[Ajax Campus]] with the class of returning veterans. He spent two years at Ajax with his fellow students, and returned to the St. George Campus in the fall of 1948. | Like many war veterans, LaPrairie returned home to Canada to attend university. He entered the Faculty of Applied Science and Engineering at the University of Toronto in 1946, and attended school at the [[Ajax Campus]] with the class of returning veterans. He spent two years at Ajax with his fellow students, and returned to the St. George Campus in the fall of 1948. | ||
LaPrairie was widely involved in student life at Skule™. He appointed | LaPrairie was widely involved in student life at Skule™. He was appointed the "Direktor of Kultural Aktivities", an executive position in the Engineering Society. This position would be a present day equivalent (in terms of function) of the [[Blue & Gold Committee]] Chair, the Chief of the [[Brute Force Committee]], and the [[Chief Attiliator]] all rolled into one. | ||
==Lady Godiva Memorial Bnad== | ==Lady Godiva Memorial Bnad== | ||
During LaPrairie's time at Ajax, he came to the conclusion that a 'regimental' band was in order. He decided to personally undertake the task as the Direktor of Kultural Aktivities. At the time, he was still active in the Militia, and through his contacts in the Irish Regiment, he acquired the necessary equipment for what would become a world-famous band. | |||
During LaPrairie's time at Ajax, he came to the conclusion that a 'regimental' band was in order. He decided to personally undertake the task as the Direktor of Kultural Aktivities. At the time, he was still active in the Militia, and through his contacts in the Irish Regiment, he acquired the necessary equipment for what would become a world-famous band. | |||
Scrounging through Fort York, the University Avenue and Fleet Street Armouries and the Sally Ann at Church and King Streets, he turned up a collection of Irish regiments' red tunics, some pith helmets, six Dragoon's brass helmets, a set of cymbals, a drummer's leopard skin, two tenor snare drums, a drum major's baton, and most importantly, a bass drum with one head (the open side was used to stockpile beer while "on parade" - a tradition that occasionally re-appears in the present day). | Scrounging through Fort York, the University Avenue and Fleet Street Armouries and the Sally Ann at Church and King Streets, he turned up a collection of Irish regiments' red tunics, some pith helmets, six Dragoon's brass helmets, a set of cymbals, a drummer's leopard skin, two tenor snare drums, a drum major's baton, and most importantly, a bass drum with one head (the open side was used to stockpile beer while "on parade" - a tradition that occasionally re-appears in the present day). | ||
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A.J. Paul LaPrairie recounted a particularly humorous episode of the LGMB in 1950. During a big football game at Varsity Stadium, the LGMB marched through the gates and onto the field. All the while, they were wearing great big moustaches. When they approached the fifty yard line, he noticed Sidney Smith, President of the University of Toronto, sitting in the front row. LaPrairie offered him a moustache, which he promptly put on. Thus, the LGMB made President Smith an Honorary Member of the LGMB. | A.J. Paul LaPrairie recounted a particularly humorous episode of the LGMB in 1950. During a big football game at Varsity Stadium, the LGMB marched through the gates and onto the field. All the while, they were wearing great big moustaches. When they approached the fifty yard line, he noticed Sidney Smith, President of the University of Toronto, sitting in the front row. LaPrairie offered him a moustache, which he promptly put on. Thus, the LGMB made President Smith an Honorary Member of the LGMB. | ||
==Skule Cannon== | |||
==Skule | |||
==UC Gargoyle Swap== | |||
==References== | ==References== | ||
*La Prairie, Michael. [ | *La Prairie, Michael. [hhttp://www.century21.ca/michael.laprairie/michael.laprairie/Blog/Rememberance_Day_Letter_From_Major_A_J_Paul_La_Prairie_Irish_Regiment_of_Canada "Rememberance Day Letter; From Major A. J. Paul La Prairie Irish Regiment of Canada"]. | ||
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