Benjamin Villeneuve

Ben Villeneuve is the son of the late Francis Benjamin Villeneuve and his wife the former Fabiola Marion. Christened Benjamin Francis, he has been affectionately known from boy-hood as Benny. Benny Villeneuve was born August 3rd, 1899 when his parents resided in Depot Harbour, Parry Sound District. The Villeneuves returned to the Moose Creek-Maxville area when Benny was four years old. He was educated in Maxville, which Benny would always call his home.

His hockey career was extensive and of high caliber. It spanned the old open-air rinks in Maxville and district to Grimsby with the Peach Kings in the OHA. It also led him to Russell in the glory days of the Central Ottawa Valley League in the 1920s. It then took him back home to Maxville to become one of the leaders in building Glengarry’s first covered rink, Maxville Jubilee Arena, and the founding of the famed Millionaires.

In soccer Benny Villeneuve was a pillar both as a player and a leader, even before the era of organized soccer in Glengarry. In 1927 he played for both Russell and Maxville, the latter winning the west division championship. Benny Villeneuve was one of the outstanding fleet-footed fielders with Alexandria in their championship years of 1925-26-27 as holders of the Laplante Cup.

Benny Villeneuve served seven years in the RCASC cumulating as a member of the Composite Rifle Team, the Ottawa area champions. Following discharge and returning home, Benny Villeneuve has been part and parcel of just about every Maxville project from Village Council, School Board, Chamber of Commerce, Curling Club, Kenyon Agriculture Society, Highland Games and the greatest community achievement of all – the Maxville Manor.

Benny Villeneuve lived in justified retirement with his wife the former Madeline Houlahan in the shadows, figuratively speaking, of the original Villeneuve home, the Old Ottawa House. Benny Villeneuve passed away in 1990.