Four Guichon brothers came to Canada from Savoie, France in the mid 19th Century. They came by sea to British Columbia. Pierre died unexpectedly, and Charles returned to France leaving Laurent and Joseph to build their futures in Canada.
Laurent Guichon and Joseph Guichon married two sisters, Pèronne and Josephine Rey, making double first cousins of their many children. Laurent and Pèrrone’s family settled on the coast and Joseph and Josephine’s in the interior of British Columbia. They remained dependent on each other for advice and support, bound to each other by business interests and family ties.
Legacies are usually built around land and this story is no different in that regard. The first generations of Guichons in Canada owned great amounts of land that they worked as farms and ranches. Some descendants are more connected to the wealth of the land than others. What makes this story unique however is that the true legacy of the Guichon family is not the land but rather the bonds that have kept cousins connected throughout the generations.
The family stories have long been told in versions that differ, depending on who does the telling. But, in every version the common themes are present-a pioneering spirit of resourcefulness and determination in the face of adversity; an optimistic but stoic perspective on life and an enduring goal to ensure a better future for the children.
This website and corresponding publication show some of the family history, told by those who came before us, in their own words. Where sources are known they are indicated. Please note that the content of the book and the website has not been rigorously researched for accuracy and sometimes writers contradict each other. Our purpose is simply to share the information we have in the format that we have it.
Carolyn Guichon
Calgary, Alberta 2023
Joseph and Josephine Rey>Lawrence and Gertrude>Urban and Mary McCormick>Carolyn
For a password protected copy of The Lives and Legacies of Our Guichon Family please click here COMING SOON
Password can be obtained by emailing carolyn@guichonfamilyhistory.ca