Farm activist Paul Brassard died April 27 in Regina of cancer. He was 59.
Brassard, of the St. Brieux, Sask., region, served as manager at several credit unions. In 1989 he made a career switch and joined the Catholic organization called Rural Life Ministry, which makes connections between the church and rural issues.
Ed Bespelko, chair of the ministry, said Brassard had “a faith call.” During his eight years at the ministry the group expanded to include other main line churches such as Anglican, United, Lutheran and Mennonite.
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It dealt with land stewardship, the farm financial crisis, gospel values and farming and the latest concept of community land trusts.
Brassard left the group in June 1997 when his bone cancer was diagnosed.
Bespelko said Brassard was “a very dedicated person. When lobbying the government he gave his fullest” and he was always “aware of injustices going on.”
Brassard also served as vice-chair of the Saskatchewan Farm Stress line advisory group. The head of the line, Ken Imhoff, said he “could be counted on to remind farm policy architects that the test of effective farm programs and policies was their positive impact on farm people and rural people generally.”
