His father, Albert Préfontaine, had previously served in the Assembly for twenty-nine years, and was a cabinet minister in John Bracken's government.
[1] Fluently bilingual, Préfontaine was educated at the University of Manitoba and received a Bachelor of Arts degree in 1918.
Although popular opinion among Canadian francophones was generally against the war, Edmond Préfontaine enlisted for service on May 12, 1918, following his graduation.
Easily returned as a Liberal-Progressive candidate in the 1953 election, Préfontaine was given the additional portfolio of Provincial Secretary on September 4, 1953.
[1] Lloyd Stinson, leader of the Manitoba CCF, once described Préfontaine as an "independent spirit", and claimed he never seemed comfortable in the Campbell administration.
[1] The Liberal-Progressives, who in one form or another had governed Manitoba since 1915, were defeated by Dufferin Roblin's Progressive Conservatives in this election, and Préfontaine moved with his party to the opposition benches.