[2] He began seminary training at Le Mans, before emigrating in 1860 to Canada, where he completed his theological studies at the Séminaire de Québec.

He described his experience in his book "Souvenirs de mes soixante ans d'apostolat dans l'Athabaska-Mackenzie" (Memories of my sixty years of ministry in the Athabaska-Mackenzie) "Monsignor Taché had made arrangements for our passage, Father Petitot and I, with the Hudson's Bay Company on the boats leaving that afternoon of Pentecost for Portage La Loche.

On the morning of this great feast day, we received our religious habit from the Monsignor and I began my novitiate that I would spend at Lake Athabasca under the direction of Father Clut.

We each had our travel case, and Monsignor Taché had supplied for our voyage: thick wool blankets wrapped in oilskin, a tent, a stove, a tea kettle, plates and iron pans, knives and forks, a bag of dried meat, a large sack of pemmican, a barrel of biscuits, some ham, tea, sugar.

(translation)[3]Grouard began his novitiate with the Missionary Oblates of Mary Immaculate at Saint Boniface, and made his final profession the following year.

Upon his return, he decorated a side chapel in the church at St. Albert, and an altarpiece for Notre Dame des Victoires at Lac Ia Biche.

[4] He published several books in the Cree, Chipewyan and Beaver languages with a Stanhope printing press he acquired on a trip to France in 1874.

[1] In order to improve the supply of provisions, he had steamboats built to travel on the Peace, Mackenzie, Slave and Athabasca Rivers.