Early life, family, and education Chrétien was born on January 11, 1934, in Shawinigan Falls, Quebec, as the 18th of 19 children (10 of whom did not survive infancy), of Marie (née Boisvert, 1892–1954) and Wellie Chrétien (1887–1980). His younger brother is the neuroendocrinology researcher Michel Chrétien. The working-class Chrétien family was poor, and Chrétien had to wear hand-me-down clothes.Martin, Lawrence Chrétien: The Will To Win, Toronto: Lester Publishing, 1995 p. 27. Chrétien's parents wanted their children to escape a working-class life in Shawinigan by attending a classical college, which was the only way one could attend university in Quebec at the time. Chrétien's father made him read the dictionary as a young boy. Chrétien's older brother Maurice won a scholarship at the insurance company he was working for, which allowed him to attend medical school, and with the profits from his medical practice, was able to assist his younger siblings to attend the classical colleges.Martin, Lawrence Chrétien: The Will To Win, Toronto: Lester Publishing, 1995 pp. 28–29. Wellie Chrétien was a staunch Liberal who once got to shake hands as a young man with his hero, Sir Wilfrid Laurier.Martin, Lawrence Chrétien: The Will To Win, Toronto: Lester Publishing, 1995 p. 44. The local parish priest, Father Auger, a supporter of the Union Nationale who hated all Liberals as "ungodly", spread malicious rumours about the Liberal Chrétien family, saying he would never let a teenage girl go on a date unchaperoned with any of the Chrétien boys, which caused the young Jean Chrétien to have troubled relations with the Catholic church.Martin, Lawrence Chrétien: The Will To Win, Toronto: Lester Publishing, 1995 p. 89.
early life family and education chrétien was born on january 11 1934 in shawinigan falls quebec as the 18th of 19 children (10 of whom did not survive infancy) of marie (née boisvert 1892–1954) and wellie chrétien (1887–1980) his younger brother is the neuroendocrinology researcher michel chrétien the working-class chrétien family was poor and chrétien had to wear hand-me-down clothesmartin lawrence chrétien the will to win toronto lester publishing 1995 p 27 chrétien's parents wanted their children to escape a working-class life in shawinigan by attending a classical college which was the only way one could attend university in quebec at the time chrétien's father made him read the dictionary as a young boy chrétien's older brother maurice won a scholarship at the insurance company he was working for which allowed him to attend medical school and with the profits from his medical practice was able to assist his younger siblings to attend the classical collegesmartin lawrence chrétien the will to win toronto lester publishing 1995 pp 28–29 wellie chrétien was a staunch liberal who once got to shake hands as a young man with his hero sir wilfrid lauriermartin lawrence chrétien the will to win toronto lester publishing 1995 p 44 the local parish priest father auger a supporter of the union nationale who hated all liberals as "ungodly" spread malicious rumours about the liberal chrétien family saying he would never let a teenage girl go on a date unchaperoned with any of the chrétien boys which caused the young jean chrétien to have troubled relations with the catholic churchmartin lawrence chrétien the will to win toronto lester publishing 1995 p 89