VIAU, Joseph Dalbe (1881-1938) was a prolific architect and a successful local politician in Montreal and in Lachine, Quebec. Born at Ste. Anne de Bellevue on 29 September 1881 he was educated at the Acadamie Piche in Lachine, at the St. Henri Commercial School, and at the Christian Brothers School in Montreal. After enrolling at the McGill University School of Architecture in 1898 he became the first French Canadian student to graduate from architectural courses at that institution in 1904. Viau joined the Province of Quebec Association of Architects on 5 July 1905 and during the next seven years maintained his own busy practise specializing in the design of small commercial and residential tenement buildings. Dozens of these vernacular structures were designed by Viau and financed by local speculators in the Montreal area, and although considered minor works too numerous to include in this entry, it is possible to gather a more complete list by examining the weekly issues of the local Montreal construction periodical Le Prix Courant from 1905 to 1911 (copies at the Ecole de l'Etude Commerciale, University of Montreal).
Viau's reputation as a competent institutional designer emerged from a number of commissions offered to him by the Roman Catholic School Board in Montreal after 1905. These works, usually based upon a formal Beaux-Arts theme and embellished with rusticated brick coursing, patterned stone trim and arched entrances, were to become more highly elaborated in the designs executed after April 1912 by a newly formed partnership which Viau established with Louis A. Venne. Together they became a formidable team and must be regarded as one of the pre-eminent forces in ecclesiastical design in Quebec during the early twentieth century. The landmark work which secured their place in Canadian architectural history is St. Joseph's Roman Catholic Oratory, Queen Mary Road, Montreal, a monumental complex of buildings begun in 1912 but not completed until after his death.
Like his business partner, Viau was also active in local Montreal politics, serving as an alderman in Lachine from 1923 to 1925, and as Mayor of Lachine for four successive terms from 1925 until 1933. He attempted to run for the provincial seat in the Jacques Cartier riding in 1931, but was defeated by Hon. Victor Marchand. Viau died in Quebec City on 24 August 1938 while on a visit there (obituary in the Gazette [Montreal], 25 Aug. 1938, 4; Montreal Star, 25 Aug. 1938, 18; La Presse [Montreal], 25 Aug. 1938, 13 & 17; biography and portrait in Biographies Canadiennes Francaises, vi, 1926, 237; National Reference Book, iii, 1929-30, 442; W. Wood, The Storied Province of Quebec, iii, 42-3; biog. and list of works Dizionario dell'Architettura del XX Secolo, 2000, vi, 434-5). An extensive list of works by the firm of Viau & Venne was published as a self-advertisement in the Catholic church directory entitled Le Canada Ecclesiastique, 1921, 28. A detailed biography of Joseph Dalbe Viau has recently been published in The Dictionary of Canadian Biography, Vol. 16, 1931-40 (available online).
J. D. VIAU (works in Montreal)
WESTMOUNT, residence for Nelson Deslauriers, Wood Avenue, 1906 (Le Prix Courant, Week No. 39., 1906, 46)
ACADEMIE DU BOULEVARD, St. Joseph Boulevard at de Bullion Street, 1906-07; burned 1911 and rebuilt by Viau in 1912 (La Presse [Montreal], 30 March 1912, 6, illus. & descrip.; Montreal, Les Edifices Scolaires, 1980, 18-19, illus.)
THE AUDITORIUM, Berthelet Street, a concert hall, 1908 (Montreal Daily Star, 1 Aug. 1908, 10, illus. & descrip.; La Presse [Montreal], 1 Aug. 1908, 28, illus.)
LACHINE, Public Market, 1909 (Le Prix Courant, Week No. 3, 1909, 42)
LACHINE, Academie Piche, 15th Avenue, 1909 (Le Prix Courant, Week No. 18, 1909, 40)
ST. ANSELME ROMAN CATHOLIC CHURCH, Bercy Street at Forsyth Street, new Presbytery and Chapel, 1909 (Le Prix Courant, Week No. 34, 1909, 42; Week No. 43, 1909, 44)
ECOLE FRONTENAC, Forsyth Street at Hogan Street, 1909-10; additions 1912-13 (C.R., xxiii, 18 Aug. 1909, 21; Montreal, Les Edifices Scolaires, 1980, 40-43, illus.)
ECOLE BARIL, Adam Street, 1910; with residence by Viau & Venne, 1914 (C.R., xxiv, 16 March 1910, 24; Montreal, Les Edifices Scolaires, 1980, 10-13, illus.)
ESPLANADE AVENUE, ST. URBAIN STREET, & CADIEUX STREET, row housing for Dobrofsky & Rosenberg, 1910 (C.R., xxiv, 23 March 1910, 25)
LACHINE, QUE., residence for J. Robert Bournet, St. Joseph Street, 1910 (C.R., xxiv, 25 May 1910, 28)
(with Louis A. Venne) SOCIETE DES ARTISANS CANADIENS FRANCAIS, St. Denis Street at Vitre Street, 1910-11 (La Presse [Montreal], 22 Nov. 1910, 16, illus. & descrip.; Montreal Daily Star, 30 Dec. 1910, 14, t.c.)
VILLE ST. LAURENT, Ecole St. Alfred, St. Croix Boulevard, 1912 (La Presse [Montreal] 21 March 1912, 16, illus. & descrip.; Montreal, Les Couvents, 1984, 304-11, illus.)
ECOLE DE L'ENFANT JESUS, St. Joseph Boulevard East at Colonial Avenue, 1911-12 (La Presse [Montreal], 23 March 1912, 9 & 10, illus. & descrip.; Montreal, Les Edifices Scolaires, 1980, 36-39, illus.)
(with E.A. Doucet and Raoul LaCroix) CANADA CUSTOMS BUILDING, for the Dept. of Public Works, McGill Street at Youville Square, an 8 storey warehouse block, 1935-36 (C.R., xlviii, 12 Dec. 1934, 31; Gazette [Montreal], 8 Aug. 1935, 8, illus. & descrip.; inf. Scott Edwards)
OUTREMONT, new west wing for the Pensionnat du Saint-Nom-de-Marie, Cote Ste. Catherine Road, 1938-39 (Montreal, Les Couvents, 1984, 316-21, illus.)
VERDUN, Municipal Auditorium in Riverfront Park, La Salle Boulevard, 1938 (C.R., li, 17 Aug. 1938, 33)
J.D. VIAU (works outside Montreal)
CAP-A-L'AIGLE, QUE., summer residence for Dr. E. Peltier, 1906 (Le Prix Courant, Week No. 34, 1906, 44)
STE. ANNE-DE-BELLEVUE, QUE., row of shops for Guisolphe D'Aoust, Ste. Anne Street, 1907 (Montreal, Les Magasins Les Cinemas, 1985, 336-37, illus.)
LA TUQUE, QUE., stores and dwellings for George Boussly, 1910 (C.R., xxiv, 23 March 1910, 24)
ST.-PIERRE-AUX-LIENS, QUE., Academie Desrosiers, 1911-12 (C.R., xxv, 25 Oct. 1911, 60; La Presse [Montreal], 13 March 1912, 13, illus. & descrip.)
GRANBY, QUE., Roman Catholic college for the Freres du Sacre Coeur, 1912 (C.R., xxvi, 24 Jan. 1912, 63; La Presse [Montreal], 13 March 1912, 5, illus.)
STE. GENEVIEVE, QUE., Roman Catholic school for the Pères St. Croix, 1912 (C.R., xxvi, 7 Feb. 1912, 63)
VIAU & VENNE (works in Montreal)
ST. JOSEPH'S ROMAN CATHOLIC ORATORY, Queen Mary Road, 1913-37 (C.R., xxviii, 15 April 1914, 78; and lii, 21 June 1939, 43-45, illus. & descrip.; R.A.I.C. Journal, ii, May/June 1925, Montreal Daily Star, 26 Oct. 1940, 3, descrip.; Montreal, Les Eglises, 1981, 286-95, illus.; H. Kalman, History of Canadian Architecture, 1994, 730, 732, illus. & descrip.)
OUTREMONT, Ecole Ste. Madeleine, Lajoie Avenue, 1913 (La Presse [Montreal], 13 Feb. 1913, 9, illus.; C.R., xxvii, 9 July 1913, 68-9; Montreal, Les Edifices Scolaires, 1980, 72-5, illus.)
STE. THERESE DE BLAINVILLE, QUE., outdoor altar for the Eucharistic Congress, 1913 (La Presse [Montreal], 23 Aug. 1913, 21, illus.)
ST. ANSELME ROMAN CATHOLIC CHURCH, Forsythe Street at Hogan Street, 1913 (La Presse [Montreal], 5 Nov. 1913, 1, illus. & descrip.; C.R., xxvii, 16 July 1913, 65)
NOTRE-DAME-DES-VICTOIRES ROMAN CATHOLIC CHURCH, Lacordaire Street, new presbytery 1913 (Montreal, Les Eglises, 1981, 126-29, illus.)
ST. LAMBERT, QUE., Academie St. Michel, Lorne Avenue near Riverside Street, a three storey school building, 1913-14; converted to residential use in 2013, with new 4th floor added; still standing in 2023 (inf. Repertoire du Patrimoine Culturel du Quebec; inf. Yves Guillet, St. Lambert)
ST. LAMBERT, QUE., Dion Hardware & Furniture Co., Victoria Avenue near Green Street, 1913-14; restored 2011; still standing in 2023 (ANQM, Edmond Desaulniers, Notaire, Contract dated 23 January 1914 between Joseph-Remi Dion and Alphonse Gravel; inf. Yves Guillet, St. Lambert)
ACADEMIE LAURIER, Nicolet Avenue, 1914 (Montreal, Les Edifices Scolaires, 1980, 76-7, illus.)
LACHINE, Town Hall, St. Joseph Boulevard, 1914 (C.R., xxviii, 26 Aug. 1914, 62, t.c.; Montreal, Les Edifices Publics, 1981, 106-7, illus.)
PALESTRE NATIONALE, Cherrier Street at St. Andre Street, 1917, revision and completion of work begun in 1914 by J.O. Turgeon (Montreal, Les Edifices Publics, 1981, 184-7, illus.)
ST. STANISLAS DE KOSTKA ROMAN CATHOLIC CHURCH & PRESBYTERY, St. Joseph Boulevard East at Garnier Street, begun in 1911 by L.A. Venne; completed in 1918 by Viau & Venne (La Presse [Montreal], 4 March 1911, 30, illus.; Building News [London], cxv, 3 July 1918, 14, descrip.; Montreal, Les Eglises, 1981, 378-83, illus.)
LACHINE, St. Anges Gardiens Roman Catholic Church, St. Joseph Boulevard, 1918-19, reconstruction after the fire of 1915 (C.R., xxxiii, 5 Nov. 1919, 1020-21, illus. & descrip.; Montreal, Les Eglises, 1981, 438-41, illus.)
LAVAL-DES-RAPIDES, QUE., Noviciat des Freres des Ecoles Chretiennes, c. 1919 (Ontario Association of Architects 1919 Exhibition, #208)
LONGUEUIL, Registry Office Building, for the County of Chambly, 1920-21 (Montreal Daily Star, 11 Sept. 1920, 21, t.c.)
ST. PETER'S BOY'S SCHOOL, Magazine Street, 1921 (inf. Saint John Board of Education)
LORNE PUBLIC SCHOOL, Newman Street, 1921-22; burned 1982 (inf. Saint John Board of Education)
SAINT JOHN WEST, Albert School, Duke Street, 1922 (C.R., xxxvi, 21 June 1922, 60, t.c.)
HOLY TRINITY ROMAN CATHOLIC SCHOOL, Burpee Avenue, 1922 (C.R., xxxvi, 12 April 1922, 52, t.c.; dwgs. Saint John Board of Education)
ST. JOHN'S ROMAN CATHOLIC SCHOOL, St. James Street, major addition, 1923-24 (C.R., xxxvii, 19 Dec. 1923, 45)
SAINT JOHN WEST, Roman Catholic Church, 1923 (C.R., xxxvii, 19 Dec. 1923, 45)
ST. PATRICK'S ROMAN CATHOLIC SCHOOL, City Line Road, 1924 (dwgs. Saint John Board of Education)
SAINT JOHN INFIRMARY, Cobourg Road, major addition, 1924 (C.R., xxxviii, 26 March 1924, 49)
ST. JOHN'S VOCATIONAL SCHOOL, Douglas Avenue at Brunswick Place, 1925 (dwgs. Saint John Board of Education)
CHURCH OF THE NATIVITY, Dezery Street, 1922-23, reconstruction of the church burned in April 1921 (C.R., xxxvi, 7 June 1922, 54; xxxviii, 4 June 1924, 577-8, illus. & descrip.; Montreal, Les Eglises, 1981, 90-3, illus.)
ST. PHILOMENE-DE-ROSEMONT ROMAN CATHOLIC SCHOOL, Fifth Avenue, 1924 (C.R., xxxviii, 3 Sept. 1924, 51, t.c.; R.A.I.C. Journal, iii, Jan.-Feb. 1926, xxvii, illus. in advert.)
OUTREMONT, Mother House of the Sisters of Holy Name of Jesus & Mary, Mount Royal Boulevard at Courcelette Avenue., 1924-25 (La Presse [Montreal], 4 Aug. 1925, 11; R.A.I.C. Journal, ii, Nov./Dec. 1925, xiv, illus. in advert.; Montreal, Les Couvents, 1984, 248-51, illus.)
ECOLE DU TRES SAINT ROSAIRE, Boyer Street, 1922-23 (Montreal, Les Edifices Scolaires, 1980, 290-1)
HOPITAL DU SACRE COUER, Gouin Boulevard West, 1924-25 (C.R., xxviii, 14 May 1924, 15 Oct. 1924, 1019-20, illus.; R.A.I.C. Journal, iv, June 1927, 221, 225, illus.; Montreal, Les Edifices Publics, 1981, 92-5, illus.)
ECOLE BREBEUF, Dandurand Street, 1924-25 (Montreal, Les Edifices Scolaires, 1980, 22-3, illus.)
COLLEGE DE SAINT LAURENT, St. Croix Boulevard, new wing 1924; new central pavilion and steeple, 1927 (Montreal, Les Couvents, 1984, 32-43, illus.)
OUTREMONT, residence for Joseph A. Durocher, Dunlop Avenue, 1925 (Montreal, Les Residences, 1987, 221-4, illus.)
HOTEL DIEU DE MONTREAL, Pine Avenue at St. Urbain Street, extension to the Pavillon Marie-Morin, 1925; residence for the Chaplains, 1925-26; addition 1931-32; reconstruction after fire, 1932-33 (Montreal, Les Couvents, 1984, 188-99, illus.)
PENSIONNAT NOTRE DAME DU SACRE COEUR, Presentation Avenue at Eglise Street, new wings and fourth floor addition, 1925 (Montreal, Les Couvents, 1984, 326-7, illus.)
HOSPICE SAINT JEAN DE DIEU, Hochelaga Street at Curatteau Street, addition of the Pavillon Bourget, 1926-28 (Montreal, Les Couvents, 1984, 180-87, illus.)
(with Alphonse Piche) COLLEGE JEAN DE BREBEUF, Cote Ste. Catherine Road at Decelles Avenue, 1927-28 (C.R., xli, 17 Aug. 1927, 52; Montreal, Les Couvents, 1984, 44-9, illus.)
ACADEMIE MARIE ROSE, Rachel Street at Drolet Street, additions and alterations, 1928 (Montreal, Les Couvents, 1984, 2-5, illus.)
NOTRE DAME DU TRES SAINT ROSAIRE ROMAN CATHOLIC CHURCH, Villeray Street, 1928-29 (Montreal, Les Eglises, 1981, 130-3, illus.)
SOEURS DE MISERICORDE, new Mother House, Frechette Avenue near Gouin Boulevard, 1929-30 (Gazette [Montreal], 13 July 1929, 4, descrip.; Canadian Hotel Review, vii, Aug. 1929, 33, descrip.; inf. Scott Edwards)
ECOLE DOLLIER DE CASSON, St. Andre Street at Mistral Street, 1930-31 (C.R., xliv, 19 Nov. 1930, 76)
ST. LAMBERT, QUE., Sisters of Jesus & Mary Convent, Logan Street at Mercille Avenue, new extensions, 1930-31 (C.R., xliv, 19 Nov. 1930, 76)
MONASTERE DU PRECIEUX SANG, Decarie Boulevard, rear wing, 1930-31 (Montreal, Les Couvents, 1984, 268-71, illus.)
VERDUN GENERAL HOSPITAL, La Salle Boulevard at Hickson Avenue, 1931-32 (C.R., xlv, 15 July 1931, 57-8)
LOUIS MARQUETTE ROMAN CATHOLIC SCHOOL, Laurier Avenue East near Breboeuf Avenue, 1932 (C.R., xlvi, 30 March 1932, 44, t.c.; Gazette [Montreal], 7 Nov. 1934, 4)
ST. DENIS ROMAN CATHOLIC CHURCH, Laurier Avenue East near St. Denis Street, c. 1932 (R.A.I.C. Journal, x, April 1933, xiii, illus. in advert.)
ALLIANCE NATIONALE OFFICE, Sherbrooke Street West at University Street, 1934-35 (C.R., xlviii, 31 Jan 1934, 29; R.A.I.C. Journal, xiv, illus. in advert. inside front cover)
VIAU & VENNE (works outside Montreal)
IBERVILLE, QUE., Roman Catholic church, 1912-13 (La Presse [Montreal], 21 Sept. 1912, 8, illus.)
TROIS RIVIERES, Ste. Cecile Roman Catholic Church, St. Paul Street, 1913-14 (C.R., xxvii, 28 May 1913, 68)
L'EPIPHANIE, QUE., Roman Catholic college, 1913-14 (C.R., xxvii, 1 Oct. 1913, 70, t.c.)
CHELMSFORD, ONT., St. Joseph's Roman Catholic Church, Errington Avenue North, opposite King Street, 1913, designed by Louis Alphonse Venne (Daily Nugget [North Bay], 4 Dec. 1913, 6, descrip.)
FARNHAM, QUE., Roman Catholic college, 1913 (La Presse [Montreal], 4 Oct. 1913, 27, illus. & descrip.)
MARIEVILLE, QUE., St. Nom-de-Marie Roman Catholic Church, 1916 (C.R., xxx, 28 June 1916, 42)
MONT LAURIER, QUE., Notre Dame Roman Catholic Cathedral, 1917 (C.R., xxxi, 16 May 1917, 42)
ST. PIERRE-AUX-LIENS, QUE., Academie Desrosiers, 1922 (C.R., xxxvi, 5 July 1922, 56)
JOLIETTE, QUE., Academie St. Viateur, reconstruction, 1919-1920 (Montreal Daily Star, 5 April 1919, 3; C.R., xxxvi, 1 March 1922, 57, illus. in advert.)
STE. ANNE DU LAC, QUE., Roman Catholic church, 1921-22 (Le Prix Courant, liv, 7 Oct. 1921, 44)
OTTAWA, ONT., University of Ottawa, Water Street, additions, 1922, 1929 (C.R., xxxvi, 21 June 1922, 53; xliii, 25 Sept. 1929, 142, t.c.)
ST. HYACINTHE, QUE., Hotel Dieu, a hospital for the Grey Nuns, 1922-23 (C.R., xxxvi, 7 June 1922, 50)
ST. JEROME, QUE., Normal School, 1923 (C.R., xxxvii, 19 Sept. 1923, 52)
RIGAUD, QUE., major additions to Bourget College, 1925 (C.R., xxxix, 12 Aug. 1925, 788, illus. & descrip.)
JOLIETTE, QUE., major additions to the Seminary, 1924-25 (C.R., xxxix, 19 Aug. 1925, 806-7, illus. & descrip.)
OTTAWA, ONT., Archbishop's Palace, St. Patrick Street, and a new vestry for Notre Dame Roman Catholic Basilica, 1925 (Ottawa Journal, 12 Jan. 1925, 4, descrip.; C.R., xxxix, 21 Jan. 1925, 65)
WINNIPEG, MAN., Misericordia General Hospital, Sherbrook Street at Wolseley Avenue, a major four storey addition at the Wolseley Avenue end of the building, 1926 (Winnipeg Daily Tribune, 15 Feb. 1926, 1, descrip.; 25 June 1927, 5, decrip. & illus., but incorrectly credited to "Veau & Vins [sic], Architects"; C.R., xl, 17 Feb. 1926, 53)
ST. MATHIAS, QUE., new Mother House, Chapel and Noviciate for the Maristes Brothers of St. Hyacinthe, 1928 ((C.R., xlii, 30 May 1928, 169)
WINDSOR, ONT. St. Mary's Roman Catholic Academy, Grand Marais Road, 1928-29; demol. 1977 (Border Cities Star [Windsor], 17 May 1928, Section One, 3, illus. & descrip.; Detroit Free Press, 20 May 1928, Section Six, p. 5, illus. & descrip.; C.R., xlii, 4 July 1928, 713, illus. & descrip.; Andrew Foot, Windsor Then & Now, 2021, 43-44, illus.)
THE PAS, MAN., Sisters of Charity Roman Catholic Hospital, 1928 (C.R., xlii, 2 May 1928, 56)
HAILEYBURY, ONT., Sisters of Misericorde Roman Catholic Hospital, 1929-30 (C.R., xliii, 25 Sept. 1929, 147)
ST. JEROME, QUE., major addition to the Convent for the Sisters of Ste. Anne, 1930 (C.R., xliv, 15 Jan. 1930, 52)
RIGAUD, QUE., seminary for the Clerics of St. Viateur, 1930 (C.R., xliv, 9 April 1930, 68, t.c.)
VALLEYFIELD, QUE., Roman Catholic hospital, 1932-33 (C.R., xlvi, 10 Feb. 1932, 47)
VALLEYFIELD, QUE., reconstruction of the Normal School for the Sisters of the Holy Name of Jesus & Mary, 1933 (C.R., xlvii, 11 Oct. 1933, 30)