A collection of Napoleon memorabilia, including one of his iconic bicorne hats, sells for $10M
Article content
The vast collection also included Napoleon's first will written while in exile on the Atlantic island of Saint Helena, and the sword and staff used for his coronation at Paris' famed Notre Dame Cathedral in 1804.
Napoleon was exiled to Saint Helena in 1815 after his defeat by the British at the Battle of Waterloo. He died there six years later.
French collector Pierre-Jean Chalencon, a former star of a French antiques television show who dubs himself 'Napoleon's press officer,' assembled the collection over four decades.
Born in a Parisian suburb, Chalencon started his collection at the age of 13 and accumulated more than 1,000 objects, including a coronation ring and a piece of the emperor's coffin.
At a different Parisian auction in late May, one of Napoleon's sabres sold for 4.6 million euros, coming close to a new record price for a Napoleonic artefact.
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Winnipeg Free Press
4 hours ago
- Winnipeg Free Press
Majestic mansion a throwback to Winnipeg's heyday
A group of volunteers has found a home away from home in a historic Winnipeg manor and they're looking for people to join them. The Friends of the Ralph Connor House Inc. owns and stewards 54 West Gate in Armstrong's Point. The riverside mansion, constructed in 1914, belonged to Charles W. Gordon, a Presbyterian church leader who gained international acclaim for the best-selling books he wrote using the pen name Ralph Connor. The charitable organization works with the University Women's Club of Winnipeg to sustain the legacy of the house, which has city, provincial and national historic site designations. Part of that work includes providing interpretive tours to give students an understanding and appreciation of early life in Manitoba's capital. But the Friends need help. They are currently looking for additional board members as they prepare to launch a capital campaign later this year. The goal will be to raise around $300,000 to cover the cost of repairing and replacing the windows, eaves and downspouts. 'I just love the whole house,' says Penni Churko, a longtime board member. 'This house is so welcoming and so friendly.' Churko is sitting in the Wedgwood room with Margaret Jeffries, a fellow board member, when a Free Press reporter visits the house. The Wedgwood room was once the primary bedroom for Gordon and his wife, Helen. As with the rest of the house, it retains many of its original features, including a bevelled-edge door mirror, crystal knobs and leaded-glass French doors. Adjacent to the suite is the sun room that served as a play area for Alison, the youngest of the Gordons' seven children. 'I was overwhelmed by it,' Jeffries says, recalling her first visit to the mansion more than 20 years ago. The 11,000-square-foot house includes beamed ceilings, oak and mahogany panelling, two sun rooms, five bathrooms, a two-storey veranda, unique tiled fireplaces and exterior walls of rich red brick trimmed with Tyndall stone. It is furnished with antiques to look the way it would have when Gordon and his family lived there. The women's club took over the house shortly after Gordon's death in 1937. The following is a list of volunteer opportunities for Winnipeg and surrounding areas. For more information about these listings, contact the organization directly. Volunteer Manitoba does not place volunteers with organizations but can help people find opportunities. To learn more about its programs and services, go to or call 204-477-5180. The following is a list of volunteer opportunities for Winnipeg and surrounding areas. For more information about these listings, contact the organization directly. Volunteer Manitoba does not place volunteers with organizations but can help people find opportunities. To learn more about its programs and services, go to or call 204-477-5180. West Broadway Youth Outreach, which ensures local children have opportunities to learn and grow, needs board members to help with non-profit governance and strategic planning. Members will participate in fundraising, financial oversight and community outreach. The role requires attending monthly meetings and supporting events, with a commitment of six to eight hours per month over two years. The opportunity offers flexible hours, including remote options. Passion for youth development is essential; no board experience is needed. Volunteers must undergo criminal record and child-abuse registry checks, with the cost of the latter reimbursed. Email wbyokidz@ by Tuesday. Siloam Mission needs hairstylists for its community hair salon. The salon promotes kindness and respect, welcoming clients from various backgrounds and helping to boost the self-esteem of people in need. Flexible scheduling is available. Apply at by July 15. A & O: Support Services for Older Adults needs volunteers for This Full House, Canada's first program supporting older adults overwhelmed by possessions. Aimed at those 55 and older with hoarding behaviours, it promotes safer, more comfortable living. Volunteers assist social work staff, helping participants develop skills for lasting home improvements. Duties include understanding hoarding, supporting clients during sorting sessions on Zoom, and reporting to social workers. Volunteers must have effective communication skills and pass a criminal record check (fee reimbursed). The minimum commitment is one year after the completion of the training program because of the sensitivity and preparation involved. Apply at by Aug. 1. The Equal Housing Initiative needs cooks for its nutrition program. This program is designed to benefit the residents of the McLaren Hotel, a 150-room single-occupancy hotel serving some of Winnipeg's most vulnerable people. Volunteers will help with food preparation, meal planning and collaborating with others to ensure smooth operations. Responsibilities include cooking for more than 100 people and ensuring meals are timely. Volunteers need food-handler certification, COVID-19 vaccination, and a strong sense of confidentiality and organization. A driver's licence is an asset but not mandatory. The time commitment is on Thursdays, from 9 a.m. to about 2 p.m. Apply at volunteer@ or 431-800-5996 by Aug. 31. Jewish Child & Family Services needs an administrative support volunteer. Duties include answering calls, greeting guests, directing them to the appropriate area, preparing letters, making coffee and general office tasks. The volunteer must be friendly, communicative, patient, comfortable on the phone, and have basic computer skills. Shifts are Tuesday and Thursday afternoons, noon to 2 p.m. or 1 p.m. to 3 p.m. Apply online at by Dec. 1. The St. Vital Agricultural Fair is seeking volunteers for its 114th annual Fair and Display on Aug. 8 and Aug. 9. Opportunities include serving as greeters, setting up and taking down tables and chairs, and serving meals in a cafeteria style. Volunteers are also needed at the children's craft table and in helping exhibitors place their entries, and to help with cleaning duties such as garbage removal. More information about the event is available at Apply at PjMcFarlane@ or to 204-487-4597, ext. 1, by July 29. Manitoba Underdogs Rescue needs a newsletter co-ordinator for its social-media team. The role involves writing emails to keep supporters in the loop about new dogs, upcoming events and urgent needs. The co-ordinator will work with a graphic designer to enhance messages visually and analyze email performance to boost engagement. Essential skills include a friendly writing style, experience with platforms such as Mailchimp and a passion for storytelling. This remote position requires two to four flexible hours per week. Apply at by Aug. 1. The Leftovers Foundation, a food-rescue charity with a mission of reducing food waste and increasing access to food for people facing barriers, is gearing up for Home Harvest. The program facilitates the rescue of homegrown food. Community members can participate by signing up through the website or mobile app to become a donor (grower) or volunteer to complete routes. Growers with excess produce can submit a request any time, and volunteers can harvest and deliver the produce to local service agencies and keep a portion for themselves. Volunteers can sign up in groups or individually. Email alyssa@ or go to for more information. Apply by Aug. 2. The Manitoba Indigenous Summer Games will host more than 2,000 athletes at Sagkeeng Anicinabe Nation. Volunteers are needed for roles such as registration, food services and cultural services. They will also help with security, medical aid and special events. Skills such as organization, communication and attention to detail are essential. Volunteers must be 13 or older. Flexible shifts are available from Aug. 17 to Aug. 23 at Brokenhead Ojibway Nation. Apply online at by Aug. 10. The Canadian Red Cross needs volunteers. The Red Cross can show you how to help when disaster strikes. Go to email volunteer@ or call 1-844-818-2155. In 2003, the club established the Friends of the Ralph Connor House and sold the building to the organization. The club remains a tenant of the building, paying rent and covering utility costs, while the Friends is responsible for maintaining the building envelope. In addition to serving as a meeting place for the women's club, the house can be rented for events and is open to the public each year for the Doors Open Winnipeg tour. 'It's Winnipeg's best-kept secret,' says Mark Ranson, who joined the Friends last year. A carpenter by trade, Ranson especially appreciates the inlaid wood and Honduras mahogany featured throughout the house. 'All those corners and miters were cut by hand,' he says. 'That always amazes me when I see that kind of stuff — (thinking about) how long it would have taken.' People who would like to join the Friends can email Churko at or call 204-757-2274. Monday Mornings The latest local business news and a lookahead to the coming week. The organization could use help from people with expertise in finance, grant writing and communications, but anyone who is interested in becoming a board member is encouraged to get in touch. With the right people dedicating their effort to the mansion's preservation, Ranson believes it can be a place that Winnipeggers visit for many years. He mentions how his cousins in Cornwall, England, attend a church that was built around 1066. 'That's over 1,000 years old,' he says. 'So there's no reason why our buildings can't be 1,000 years old. You just have to maintain them.' If you know a special volunteer, email Aaron EppReporter Aaron Epp reports on business for the Free Press. After freelancing for the paper for a decade, he joined the staff full-time in 2024. He was previously the associate editor at Canadian Mennonite. Read more about Aaron. Our newsroom depends on a growing audience of readers to power our journalism. If you are not a paid reader, please consider becoming a subscriber. Our newsroom depends on its audience of readers to power our journalism. Thank you for your support.
Winnipeg Free Press
3 days ago
- Winnipeg Free Press
GERMAIN (GERRY) JOSEPH MAGUET
Adjust Text Size: A+ A- GERMAIN (GERRY) JOSEPH MAGUET With heavy but full hearts, we announce the passing of Germain, a true gentleman, beloved husband, father, grandfather, great-grandfather, brother, mechanical engineer, and leaves to mourn his children Elise, grandchildren Lorelle Pegus (Daniel), great-grandchildren Henry and Pascale, and Kurt Weiss; Marc (Lynn), Raymond (Wendy), grandchildren Brett, Josée, Colby; Gérald (Sally), grandchildren Isabelle, Macie; and daughter Diane. Germain is survived by his sister Marie, and sisters-in-law Marguerite and Karen, along with many nieces, nephews, and extended family. He was predeceased by his first wife Denise Dubois (1995), his second wife Eva Debreczeni (2022), his newborn son Joseph (1961), and his brothers Louis (1996), Denis (2024), and Paul (2025). He also leaves to mourn stepdaughter Kim Debreczeni and her son the third child in a family of five, Germain was born in Ste. Rose du Lac, MB on the family farm where he also grew up. His dedication to education showed early; biking ten km to high school each way, later leaving home at the age of 15 to complete Grade 12 at St. Paul's College in Winnipeg. He earned his Bachelor of Science (1955) and Master of Science (1965) degrees in Mechanical Engineering from the University of Manitoba, becoming a life member of the Association of Professional Engineers and Geoscientists of a 39-year engineering career, most of it at W.L. Wardrop & Associates, later Wardrop Engineering Inc., he specialized in water/wastewater treatment and HVAC systems. His work shaped key infrastructure projects in Winnipeg and took him abroad. He took great pride in helping improve drinking water in Ghana and French earlier years, he camped across the country with Denise and their children. In retirement, he became a gifted stained glass artist, creating beautiful pieces that now brighten the homes of loved ones. He and Eva travelled the world together, missing only Australia and Antarctica. His push-pin world map remains a colourful testament to a life left behind a lasting legacy by researching his family's genealogy, tracing 19 generations from Brittany, France, to Kergwenan, MB, from the 1600s to the early 2000s, a journey that even brought him to France to walk in his ancestors' footsteps.A devout Roman Catholic and proud Knight of Columbus, he passed on the importance of faith and French culture to his family. He lived generously, supporting the Canadian Red Cross, Salvation Army, and other meaningful for his sharp mind and discipline, Germain tracked his finances by hand with remarkable precision. He loved learning languages, especially Spanish, with some Russian, German, and Hungarian. He also treasured simple pleasures: the outdoors, homemade cocktails, and family dinners, proudly serving as Eva's loyal legacy as a gentle soul, marked by kindness, generosity, and quiet strength, will live on through the generations he lieu of flowers, donations may be made to the St. Boniface Hospital Foundation, Victoria Hospital Foundation, Cancer Research Society, Heart & Stroke Foundation, or a cause meaningful to family extends heartfelt thanks to the staff at St. Norbert Personal Care Home for their compassionate care during Papa's many years there. A Mass of the Resurrection will be celebrated at 2:00 p.m. on Wednesday, July 2, at Paroisse Saint-Norbert, 70 rue St-Pierre. Private interment will follow at a later date. Tributes: As published in Winnipeg Free Press on Jun 28, 2025
Edmonton Journal
4 days ago
- Edmonton Journal
A collection of Napoleon memorabilia, including one of his iconic bicorne hats, sells for $10M
Article content The vast collection also included Napoleon's first will written while in exile on the Atlantic island of Saint Helena, and the sword and staff used for his coronation at Paris' famed Notre Dame Cathedral in 1804. Napoleon was exiled to Saint Helena in 1815 after his defeat by the British at the Battle of Waterloo. He died there six years later. French collector Pierre-Jean Chalencon, a former star of a French antiques television show who dubs himself 'Napoleon's press officer,' assembled the collection over four decades. Born in a Parisian suburb, Chalencon started his collection at the age of 13 and accumulated more than 1,000 objects, including a coronation ring and a piece of the emperor's coffin. At a different Parisian auction in late May, one of Napoleon's sabres sold for 4.6 million euros, coming close to a new record price for a Napoleonic artefact.
