Edmond Thibaudeau (1872-1957), was a businesman and a local politician in Shawinigan, Quebec. He was the fifth Mayor of Shawinigan Falls, from 1915 to 1917.
He was born on 20 March 1872 in Saint-Grégoire, Centre-du-Québec.[1] He was the son of Alcide Thibaudeau[1] and Zénaïs Thibaudeau[2] .
Beginning in 1903, Thibaudeau operated a small private power plant on the Shawinigan River (Petite Rivière Shawinigan) and was therefore competing with the Shawinigan, Water & Power Company (SW&P) for the local distribution of electricity. Thibaudeau's company was bought in 1917 by the SW&P, who operated it until 1932 and then dismantled it.[2] [3] [4]
Thibaudeau is remembered for his flamboyant personality. He earned his nickname, L'Orignal à Thibaudeau (Thibaudeau the Moose), when during two years he regularly rode through the streets of Shawinigan on a moose-drawn carriage.[5] [6] [1]
Thibaudeau was a City Councillor of Shawinigan Falls from 1904 to 1911 and from 1913 to 1915. He successfully ran for Mayor in 1915 against incumbent Joseph-Auguste Frigon.
Under his tenure the first streets (Second, Third, Fourth and Fifth streets) were paved.[1]
Thibaudeau was defeated by Joseph-Auguste Frigon in 1917.
He died in 1957.