<br> Chrétien was born in 1934 in [[Shawinigan]], [[Quebec]], to Wellie Chrétien and Marie Boisvert-Chrétien. A birth defect left Chrétien with a misshapen mouth and without hearing in his right ear. He was the 18th of 19 children, although only 8 survive into adulthood. Chrétien had a difficult youth and was kicked out of the Boy Scouts and in his 20's yelled at a parish priest outside a church using a loudspeaker because he was upset about the political leanings of the clergyman. Chretien married Aline Chaîné of Shawinigan in 1957 and together they have three children: France, Hubert and Michel. Chretien was named ''Le petit gars de Shawinigan'' (the little guy from Shawinigan) because of his unassuming and low key manner, and first elected to the [[House of Commons]] in 1963, serving the citizens of Saint-Maurice-Laflèche. The name would stick throughout his career. | <br> Chrétien was born in 1934 in [[Shawinigan]], [[Quebec]], to Wellie Chrétien and Marie Boisvert-Chrétien. A birth defect left Chrétien with a misshapen mouth and without hearing in his right ear. He was the 18th of 19 children, although only 8 survive into adulthood. Chrétien had a difficult youth and was kicked out of the Boy Scouts and in his 20's yelled at a parish priest outside a church using a loudspeaker because he was upset about the political leanings of the clergyman. Chretien married Aline Chaîné of Shawinigan in 1957 and together they have three children: France, Hubert and Michel. Chretien was named ''Le petit gars de Shawinigan'' (the little guy from Shawinigan) because of his unassuming and low key manner, and first elected to the [[House of Commons]] in 1963, serving the citizens of Saint-Maurice-Laflèche. The name would stick throughout his career. |