Pioneer Roman Catholic Missionary. Born in Quebec, Canada, after his ordination as a Roman Catholic priest in 1836, he was a missionary to Oregon in 1838. He devoted much of his time to evangelizing Native Americans throughout the territory states of Washington, Oregon, Idaho, Montana, Wyoming and parts of British Columbia. He also traveled as far north as Alaska and was the first Catholic priest known to many Pacific Northwest Native tribes. Appointed as vicar general by General François Norbert Blanchet, Demer over saw nine missions, eleven churches, chapels and two schools, in the new northern U.S. territory boundary and Canada, (1844-47). In 1847, Demer became the first Bishop of Vancouver Island and spent his remaining years traveling to Canada, Europe, South American and the United States to raise funds for his cash-poor diocese. He died at age 61 in Victoria, Canada. (bio by: John “J-Cat” Griffith)