Marie J. R. (LeBlanc) St. Laurent

 Although Marie Jeanne Robertine St. Laurent will say that she is a relatively minor figure in the fly tying history of New Brunswick, she deserves recognition because of her connection with  four other lady fly tyers who were taught the art of fly tying by David Arthur LaPointe.

 Robertine St. Laurent was born on April 27, 1926 in Atholville, New Brunswick, and is the daughter of the late Eugenie (nee LaPointe) and Joseph Edward LeBlanc.

         Marie J. R. (LeBlanc) St. Laurent (circa 1944)

 Robertine started tying salmon flies in 1944.  She was 18 years old at the time and a regular visitor to the fly tying shop of her uncle, David Arthur (D.A.) LaPointe, professional fly tier from Atholville.  Robertine liked to visit her sister, Carmelle (LeBlanc) Bigaouette and her friends, Corrine (Legace) Gallant and Hélène (Jean) LeFebvre who were already employed as fly tiers by Mr. LaPointe.  It was during one of Robertine's visits that D.A. LaPointe asked her if she would like to learn the art of fly tying. Robertine who was eager to give it a try did so and for the next two years worked as a fly tyer with her sister and friends at D.A. LaPointe's Fly Dressing Shop.

L/R Carmelle Bigaouette and Marie Robertine J. LeBlanc-St. Laurent (circa Early 1980’s)

 During the two years Robertine tied flies for her uncle she was only permitted to tie the bodies of the trout and salmon flies. Her uncle assembled and mounted the wings, and finished the heads.  It wasn't because Robertine lacked the ability to totally construct the entire trout or salmon fly, that Mr. LaPointe did not allow her to do so.  His method for teaching the art of fly tying was designed in such a way that the student had to graduate from stage to stage in order to earn the honour of constructing the complete salmon fly, of which some patterns are extremely difficult to duplicate.