Dave Lalonde

In his youth, born in 1891, Dave Lalonde indicated that he would follow his father’s exemplary career. Graduating from Alexandria Separate School his business aptitude and congenial personality soon made young Dave Lalonde a reputable mercantile salesman and a budding athlete.

His next graduation was from pond (now Alexandria Lake) hockey to Alexandria’s Heather Hockey Club intermediate champions. That was just before World War I when Alexandria won both junior and senior Ottawa Valley hockey and lacrosse championships.

Having served in summer training with the Militia’s 59th Regiment, Dave Lalonde was among the first to enlist in 1915 with the 59th that became the 154th Battalion under command of Col. A. G. F. Macdonald. In due course Dave Lalonde was promoted through the ranks to Sgt. Major.

Dave Lalonde returned home in 1919 for a few months. In 1920 he was back in Surrey, England, where he married Amelia Elizabeth Hazell. A typical Glengarry reception was accorded Dave and Milly when they arrived in Alexandria.

Dave Lalonde’s lacrosse and hockey playing in the 1920’s were his top contributions to Alexandria’s sport history. In that post war era Alexandria, Williamstown, and Lancaster were the senior hockey league in Glengarry. Dave was a rugged winger and with his brothers Eddie, Ovila and ‘Ti-Joe’ formed the nucleus of the Alexandria team. In lacrosse Dave was an outstanding goalie and played a major role the year Alexandria won the LaPlante trophy emblematic of Eastern Ontario Lacrosse championship. Dave’s play was further enhanced in a game that summer at the old fairgrounds when he held the visiting Cambridge University (England) scoreless. A unique lacrosse record.

In retirement Dave filled the role of referee at times notably a couple of boxing bouts at the Chisholm Park box lacrosse grounds now Alexandria town office.