Paul Durieu
Oblate Paul Durieu is the namesake for a farming community north of the Fraser River. He came to the Fraser Valley in 1867 as director of St. Mary's Mission. There he translated the Bible into Chinook and rose to become bishop of New Westminster in 1890. Born in Saint-Pal-de-Mons, France on December 4, 1830, Durieu was ordained in the order of the Oblates of Mary Immaculate in 1854. From 1854 to 1859 he served the order in Washington state, then came north to Esquimalt, Sechelt and Kamloops where he was a founder of the Wawa Press. He was known for his severe methods of Christianizing Indigenous people, but supported their land claims and dedicated himself to their education. He died in New Westminster on June 1, 1899.