Laure Rièse
Encyclopedia
Laure Eva Rièse, O.Ont
(1910 – 1996) was an academic at Victoria University, Toronto
, author, poet and later a mature model
.
, the daughter of Frédéric Rièse and Laure Veuilleumier. She had a brother who was an architect. Rièse went to secondary school in Switzerland, and studied arts and literature at the Sorbonne
in Paris before moving to Toronto in 1928 at the age of 18.
’s French house as well as teaching French while studying at the University. Rièse obtained three degrees: a Bachelor of Arts in 1933, an M.A. in 1935 and was the first female faculty member to obtain a Ph.D. from the university in 1946. Rièse was a French professor in Victoria University’s French Faculty, teaching courses about French-Canadian authors and Quebec’s place in la francophonie. Being a female professor at an institution such as the University of Toronto in the 1930’s was exceptional; however she had to do different things because she was a woman and almost the same age as her students, at least at first. It is important to realize that although she wore more masculine clothing, she never thought of herself as masculine; she just found it easier to wear ‘boyish’ clothing than ‘girlish’ clothing.
, posing in advertising
campaigns across Canada. The most noted ones are a campaign that appeared on Toronto Transit Commission
bus stops which had Rièse posing with an elder gentleman, whom she knew nothing about other than his name, an advertisement for the Bank of Montreal
and a makeup advertisement in Quebec. Rièse really enjoyed being a model; she believes the reason for this was that she always wanted to be an actor, as was evident in her great support for drama and the arts in Toronto.
in France (1971), the Officier d'Académie (1946), the Officier d'Instruction Publique, Officer of the Order of Canada
, and Dame of the Order of Saint Lazarus of Jerusalem
.
Rièse also travelled all over Europe as well as to more remote places such as India, Indonesia, Afghanistan, Pakistan, China, and the Himalayas, though she travelled most to France. Rièse had a school named after her, and visited it often. Parents of the children there thought of her as a grandparent
figure to their kids, especially those that had immigrated
and had no other family in Canada. They called her "Tante Laure". Rièse died in Toronto in 1996.
Order of Ontario
The Order of Ontario is the most prestigious official honour in the Canadian province of Ontario. Instituted in 1986 by Lieutenant Governor Lincoln Alexander, on the advice of the Cabinet under Premier David Peterson, the civilian order is administered by the Governor-in-Council and is intended to...
(1910 – 1996) was an academic at Victoria University, Toronto
Victoria University, Toronto
Victoria University is a constituent college of the University of Toronto, founded in 1836 and named for Queen Victoria. It is commonly called Victoria College, informally Vic, after the original academic component that now forms its undergraduate division...
, author, poet and later a mature model
Model (person)
A model , sometimes called a mannequin, is a person who is employed to display, advertise and promote commercial products or to serve as a subject of works of art....
.
Early days
Rièse was born in Neuchâtel, SwitzerlandSwitzerland
Switzerland name of one of the Swiss cantons. ; ; ; or ), in its full name the Swiss Confederation , is a federal republic consisting of 26 cantons, with Bern as the seat of the federal authorities. The country is situated in Western Europe,Or Central Europe depending on the definition....
, the daughter of Frédéric Rièse and Laure Veuilleumier. She had a brother who was an architect. Rièse went to secondary school in Switzerland, and studied arts and literature at the Sorbonne
Sorbonne
The Sorbonne is an edifice of the Latin Quarter, in Paris, France, which has been the historical house of the former University of Paris...
in Paris before moving to Toronto in 1928 at the age of 18.
Academic career
In Toronto, she became the don of Victoria University, TorontoVictoria University, Toronto
Victoria University is a constituent college of the University of Toronto, founded in 1836 and named for Queen Victoria. It is commonly called Victoria College, informally Vic, after the original academic component that now forms its undergraduate division...
’s French house as well as teaching French while studying at the University. Rièse obtained three degrees: a Bachelor of Arts in 1933, an M.A. in 1935 and was the first female faculty member to obtain a Ph.D. from the university in 1946. Rièse was a French professor in Victoria University’s French Faculty, teaching courses about French-Canadian authors and Quebec’s place in la francophonie. Being a female professor at an institution such as the University of Toronto in the 1930’s was exceptional; however she had to do different things because she was a woman and almost the same age as her students, at least at first. It is important to realize that although she wore more masculine clothing, she never thought of herself as masculine; she just found it easier to wear ‘boyish’ clothing than ‘girlish’ clothing.
Students' comments
Former students of hers interviewed in a documentary claimed that she was a very strict teacher. Margaret Bond, who was in Rièse’s French class in 1947, said that because she had a seating plan and knew everyone, students were motivated to keep up in her class. Another student of hers in 1949 by the name of Roy Shatz spoke about how she looked fierce but if you volunteered to answer questions before being prompted she would be less so. Other comments mentioned that if students were late she would glare at them, and they would never be late again. There is also the story of students staying outside of the classroom door to avoid her glare while still being able to hear the lessons. Rièse retired from teaching at University of Toronto in 1976, though she never truly left Victoria, the university granting her an office even after her retirement.Modeling career
After Rièse’s retirement from Victoria, she became a mature modelModel (person)
A model , sometimes called a mannequin, is a person who is employed to display, advertise and promote commercial products or to serve as a subject of works of art....
, posing in advertising
Advertising
Advertising is a form of communication used to persuade an audience to take some action with respect to products, ideas, or services. Most commonly, the desired result is to drive consumer behavior with respect to a commercial offering, although political and ideological advertising is also common...
campaigns across Canada. The most noted ones are a campaign that appeared on Toronto Transit Commission
Toronto Transit Commission
-Island Ferry:The ferry service to the Toronto Islands was operated by the TTC from 1927 until 1962, when it was transferred to the Metro Parks and Culture department. Since 1998, the ferry service is run by Toronto Parks and Recreation.-Gray Coach:...
bus stops which had Rièse posing with an elder gentleman, whom she knew nothing about other than his name, an advertisement for the Bank of Montreal
Bank of Montreal
The Bank of Montreal , , or BMO Financial Group, is the fourth largest bank in Canada by deposits. The Bank of Montreal was founded on June 23, 1817 by John Richardson and eight merchants in a rented house in Montreal, Quebec. On May 19, 1817 the Articles of Association were adopted, making it...
and a makeup advertisement in Quebec. Rièse really enjoyed being a model; she believes the reason for this was that she always wanted to be an actor, as was evident in her great support for drama and the arts in Toronto.
Honours
She was an active member of the community, participating in numerous organizations such as the “Alliance Française de Toronto”, where she was honorary president, and the “Canadian Suisse Cultural Association”, where she was chairman. She published many articles and poetry anthologies and received many awards from various countries, including the Chevalier de la Légion d'HonneurLégion d'honneur
The Legion of Honour, or in full the National Order of the Legion of Honour is a French order established by Napoleon Bonaparte, First Consul of the Consulat which succeeded to the First Republic, on 19 May 1802...
in France (1971), the Officier d'Académie (1946), the Officier d'Instruction Publique, Officer of the Order of Canada
Order of Canada
The Order of Canada is a Canadian national order, admission into which is, within the system of orders, decorations, and medals of Canada, the second highest honour for merit...
, and Dame of the Order of Saint Lazarus of Jerusalem
Order of Saint Lazarus
This article concerns the order of knighthood named after Saint Lazarus. For other uses of the name Lazarus, see Lazarus .The Military and Hospitaller Order of Saint Lazarus of Jerusalem is an order of chivalry which originated in a leper hospital founded by the Knights Hospitaller in 1098 by the...
.
Rièse also travelled all over Europe as well as to more remote places such as India, Indonesia, Afghanistan, Pakistan, China, and the Himalayas, though she travelled most to France. Rièse had a school named after her, and visited it often. Parents of the children there thought of her as a grandparent
Grandparent
Grandparents are the parents of a person's own parent, whether that be a father or a mother. Every sexually-reproducing creature who is not a genetic chimera has a maximum of four genetic grandparents, eight genetic great-grandparents, sixteen genetic great-great-grandparents, etc...
figure to their kids, especially those that had immigrated
Immigration
Immigration is the act of foreigners passing or coming into a country for the purpose of permanent residence...
and had no other family in Canada. They called her "Tante Laure". Rièse died in Toronto in 1996.