Canadian identified in Japan disaster

A Quebec priest and missionary has been identified as the single Canadian casualty in Japan.

Father Andre Lachapelle died after a forty-year-career teaching english, religion and counselling prisoners.

Martin Laliberté with Quebec’s Society of Foreign Missions tells 660News that Lachapelle was a member of their order.

He says the 76-year-old priest was at the cathedral in Sendai at the time of the quake.

“After the earthquake, one of our colleagues told him it was better to stay here just wait for a few hours or maybe sleep here in Sendai.  He said ‘no, I have to go back and be with with my people,’ so he took the road and went home.”

Laliberté says the missionary was found later on the side of the road, dead from an apparent heart attack.

The group still has 10 other Canadian priests, working in Japan.

Funeral arrangements will be made in Sendai, where he will be buried as per their beliefs.

Foreign Affairs has said that one Canadian is confirmed dead, but have not confirmed whether it was Lachapelle.

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