Call um ▁Gen est ▁( J une ▁ 1 0 , ▁ 1 8 6 5 ▁– ▁June ▁ 2 5 , ▁ 1 9 3 7 ) ▁was ▁a ▁Canadian ▁politician ▁and ▁civil ▁servant . ▁He ▁is ▁known ▁for ▁his ▁defence ▁of ▁franc oph one ▁rights ▁in ▁Ott awa ▁and ▁Ontario . ▁ ▁Born ▁in ▁Tro is - R ivi ères , ▁Canada ▁East , ▁he ▁was ▁the ▁son ▁of ▁Laurent - U b ald ▁Gen est , ▁a ▁lawyer ▁who ▁was ▁for ▁many ▁years ▁C ler k ▁of ▁the ▁Peace ▁to ▁Tro is - R ivi ères , ▁and ▁Marie - Char lot te - Em ma ▁Mc Call um , ▁who ▁was ▁born ▁in ▁Montreal . ▁Samuel ▁Gen est ▁was ▁educated ▁at ▁the ▁S ém inaire ▁des ▁Tro is - R ivi ères . ▁ ▁Court ▁case ▁He ▁played ▁an ▁important ▁role ▁to ▁one ▁of ▁the ▁biggest ▁strugg les ▁that ▁has ▁been ▁conducted ▁in ▁Canada ▁to ▁defend ▁the ▁rights ▁of ▁f athers ▁and ▁the ▁rights ▁of ▁the ▁French ▁language . ▁When ▁he ▁was ▁the ▁Chair man ▁of ▁the ▁Catholic ▁schools ▁of ▁the ▁city ▁of ▁Ott awa ▁Samuel ▁Gen est ▁was ▁thrown ▁into ▁the ▁battle ▁over ▁Reg ulation ▁ 1 7 . ▁ ▁He ▁brought ▁a ▁case ▁before ▁the ▁courts ▁where ▁he ▁supported ▁the ▁right ▁of ▁franc oph one ▁Canad ians ▁to ▁have ▁their ▁children ▁educated ▁in ▁French . ▁This ▁brought ▁him ▁much ▁adm iration ▁from ▁French - Can ad ians . ▁He ▁was ▁even ▁supported ▁by ▁Ang lo - Pro