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On March 1, 1995, Reverend Francis William Pius Bolger was invested as a Member of the Order of Canada by His Excellency the Right Honorable Roméo Leblanc, Governor General of Canada. Father Bolger’s citation stated: An expert on the life and works of favourite Island daughter, Lucy Maud Montgomery, he recent— ly retired as Professor of History at the University of Prince Edward Island. His writ- ings and frequent television and radio pro— grams on Island lore, past and present, have made him equally popular with Islanders and those “from away”.

Father Bolger was born on the North Road on .. July 8, 1925, the youngest son of Thomas and Margaret Bolger. He attended Stanley Bridge School from 1930 to 1940, and Prince of Wales College from 1940 to 1942. He taught school in New London, 1942—1943. He entered St. Dunstan’s University in 1943 and graduated in 1947. He studied Theology at the University of Montreal from 1947 to 1951, and was ordained a Priest in June, 1951. After two years of parish ministry at St. Dunstan’s Basilica, he studied History at the University of Toronto from where he was graduated with a Ph.D in May, 1959. He taught History for the next 35 years, 10 at St. Dunstan’s University and 25 at the University of Prince Edward Island.

Father Bolger has published two books on Prince Edward Island History and has also written a biography of Lucy Maud Montgomery. He has co-authored three other books, one with Dr. Elizabeth Epperly on L.M. Montgomery and two with Wayne Barrett and Anne MacKay, one on L.M. Montgomery and the other on Prince Edward Island. He has also written many articles for academic journals and magazines.

Father Bolger has been the recipient of many prestigious awards 1. Prince Edward Island, “Islander of the Year,” 1974 Annual Award of Excellence in Teaching, U.P.E.I., 1986—1987 Prince Edward Island “Youth Education” Excellence Prize, 1990 Commemorative Medal for the 125 Anniversary of Confederation, 1992 Hillsborough Rotary Club Vocational Service Award, 1993 Member of the Order of Canada, C.M., 1995 U.P.E.I. Distinguished Alumni of the Year, 1995 Distinguished Honorary Member of the U.P.E.I. Student Union, 1995 9. Rotary International, Paul Harris Fellow, 1997

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Father Bolger has retired from teaching, and now pursues his writing, lecturing and clerical career in Stanley Bridge and Charlottetown.

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