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Obituary: Alex Carrier, 1939-2011
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Rev. Alexandre Carrier, better known as Father Alex Carrier, passed away Oct. 1, 2011 at the age of 72 years.
Alexandre was the third son of Gerard Carrier of Joussard, and Celina (nee Collins) of St. Albert, AB. He was born in January of 1939 and was a fine example of the expression “it takes a whole community to raise a child”.
The war years left many marriages in disarray and Alex was a product of those years. His grandparents, Mr. and Mrs. Pierre Carrier, for a short time took him in when his father was overwhelmed with the challenge of raising three boys as a single parent after returning from the war in 1945.
His third home with Julian and Emma Carrier left Alex unhappy and so he was permanently taken in by his other uncle, Herve and Gisele Carrier. Here he would spend time working and visiting various mink farms of the Carriers and Tony Charrios, where there were children his own age.
His primary education to Grade 6 was achieved in Joussard. He then attended the Falher Oblate College (residential school) from Grade 7-12 graduating in 1959. He spent the next seven years, until 1967, studying for the priesthood with the Oblate Missionaries of Mary. Not convinced of his vocation as a priest, he chose to wait on a specific call from God.
For the next 25 years he would work in Calgary as a dance instructor - one of his great loves - and sang in choirs at his favourite churches around Calgary. His passion for tennis kept him in good shape. He also drove truck for one of the local commercial store outlets, learning and teaching computer skills along the way.
In 1988, that call from God manifested itself and he made application to go back to the seminary for a degree in theology, He was ordained to the Royal Priesthood in July 1992 and entered the community of Oblate Missionaries of Mary.
Alex taught and preached retreats in various communities and was part of the St. Bernard Parish in Grouard for a few years. He eventually was assigned to the Enoch Band located between Edmonton and Spruce Grove, AB and four surrounding missions on reservations. Here he spent nine years dedicated in service to our Lord Jesus Christ in Lac St. Ann communities.
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