Perhaps no one in the Francophone history of Georgetown has made a name for themselves quite like Therese St. Jean. Born in 1903, in St. Hyacinthe, Quebec, she was the niece of Father Clovis Beauregard. Although he was the founder of the farm and the one to bring St. Jean to Georgetown, she is the figure most people are familiar with.

However, Therese St. Jean’s character has been well-debated.

On the one hand, she was known to be a very prominent and well-respected leader of the local Francophones. She was also known to have a continued existence in her orphans’ lives, even after they graduated from the farm. Charles Migue, for instance, married her niece and remained on the farm for many years. She also attended the weddings of others, such as Jacques Levasseur.

She was involved in countless Francophone events and associations, and the recipient of many awards. Several times, banquets were held in her honour. She made a name for herself by pursuing better lives and institutions for her fellow Francophones.

She truly was a matriarch to the local Francophone community.

On the other hand, there were also many times she came under the scrutiny of the public.

The farm kept her and the orphans busy. Oftentimes, during the harvest season, the boys’ work would interfere with their schooling. Some locals worried that they were not receiving a proper education, though Therese St. Jean reassured worriers that they made up their schooling when the harvest was done.

Then, in 1963, four of the orphan boys went to the Toronto Telegram with claims of abuse. Although no legal action was ever taken, and St. Jean continued to operate the farm, the boys’ stories remained in many peoples’ memories. Part of their claims included a very strict work schedule that St. Jean did not allow any breaks from. She also expected money to be made and did not accept the boys to fall short on any of their sales. One of the boys, Jean Paul Roby, said that one time he had not been able to sell all of their apples in Toronto, and when he returned to the farm with leftovers, she sent him back out at night to sell them around Georgetown until they were all gone.

Many referred to her as a wealthy woman, which some found questionable, considering the poverty many of the French lived in. Some suspect she made money off of them by offering loans.

Although St. Jean’s character has been contested, one thing remains clear: she was extremely important to the Francophone community and was a crucial leader in getting it to where it stands today.