The town of played an important role in the history of the pioneers who came to Canada from France. At the instigation of Jerome LeRoyer de la Dauversiere a total of 278 men, 45 women and children and 3 religious persons, left for Canada in the years 1640, 1642, 1653, and 1659.

Recruited from the La Fleche district and neighbouring provinces, the pioneers set sail from the old port of Luneau on the Loir river ( not to be confused with the Loire ), sailing down to Nantes, and eventually to New France from the port of La Rochelle.

It was one of these missions that eventually on the 18th of May 1642, laid the foundations of Ville Marie on the banks of the St Lawrence River at the site which is now the city of Montreal. On the bank of the Loir at the site of the original point of departure, a commemorative plaque is located. On the 2nd of May 1954 the plaque was inaugurated by his Excellency Mr Jean Desy the Canadian ambassador to France.

Two names are reminders of La Fleche's contribution to Montreal, the Boulevard de Montreal, runs parallel to the river from the old port of Luneau to Montreal Stadium in the heart of the city.

It seems the city has changed little since the old days, its history is replete with reminders. A once beautiful castle built for Guillaume Fauquet de la Varenne, a confidante of King Henry IV of France still has vestigial remains in the city, Indeed a portion of the castle which was sold after the French revolution and later in 1820 torn down, remains as a hotel ( Hotel du Vert Galant ) on the Grand Rue. At one time it was the residence of the politician and writer, Benjamin Constant whose grandson, Paul d'Estournelles de Constant, winner of the Nobel Peace Prize was born there.

Born Rene Robert Cavelier dit Des Lauriers, in Cherboug, Normandy, possibly influenced by the settlers who departed La Fleche while he was a student there, came to Canada in 1666 and established a fur trading post near Montreal, biding his time until his high spirits and love of adventure took him to complete his role as one of North America's great explorers.

The military school's church, with it its cathedral like setting, has a plaque dedicated to Bishop and vicar - apostolic of Canada, who fought strenuously to separate church and state and strengthen the role of the catholic church in Canada.  Ironically high in the knave of the same chapel lies a gourd in which the heart of King Henry IV of France reposes.

THE PHOTO BELOW SHOWS THE OLD PORT OF LUNEAU ON THE LOIR RIVER WITH THE MONUMENT TO THE EARLY PIONEERS WHO SAILED FROM THIS PORT SHOWING IN THE FOREGROUND