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The Online Home of James Leslie Chagnon



Basic Infantry Trades Training, CFB Dundurn, Saskatchewan, 1989

(That's me, 4th from the left, with the chest bandolier and the FNC2 machinegun)






I was born March 31, 1972, in Winnipeg, Canada, to Jean and Jim Chagnon. I was the first (yet not last) child of this marriage. My mom calls our family "Heinz 57", because we are a mix of many cultures, but the most prominent in my blood is the Scottish/Irish of my Mom's parents, and the French/Ukranian of my Dad's parents. I recently introduced my mother to the wonders of the Internet, and now all her waking hours are spent in pursuit of genealogical information about her side of the family. Her mother's Scottish roots are very well documented (Clan Munro), and she is currently working to discover her Father's Irish/Germanic ancestry. Her father's mother's line came from Rennish Prussia, members of the Bower (or BAUR) family.



The Badge of Clan Munroe - Motto: "Dread God"




The Tartan of Clan Munro



I grew up on the East Side of Winnipeg, in the suburb of Transcona. My mom is a retired Buyer for Canadian National Railways, and my dad is about to retire as a corporate manager for Canada Customs and Revenue.

I attended from High School from 1986-1990, and during that time I was an active athlete, playing football, rugby, and baseball. During grades 11 and 12 I also served in the military reserve, as a rifleman with "A" Company of the Royal Winnipeg Rifles infantry reserve regiment based here in Winnipeg. I was also involved heavily in music, playing Tenor and Baritone saxophone, bass guitar, and tubular bells (!?!) in the high school band. I was lucky enought to have been given the opportunity to listen to and develop an appreciation for many types of music, everything from Classical to Blues, Jazz to Heavy Metal. I ended up enjoying most of it, but developed a strong dislike of Country/Western. I don't know, but it all seems like whining and pining for your dog, your truck, or your girl. Some of my favorites from my High School days were Iron Maiden, KISS, Metallica, Megadeth, Misfits, Danzig, George Thorogood and Led Zepplin.

I was also active in my school's Drama program during this time, and after working as a stage technician for 2 years (doing lights, sound, special effects, and playing in the pit band for musicals) I decided to give acting a try. My first and only part was as Larry the Gun-Toting Thug in a production of Class Dismissed. It's a story about a teacher who, in reaction the the attitudes of the students around him, holds his class hostage to teach them a thing or two about the real world. Some people wonder if this role was a defining moment in my decision to become a teacher :).

After High School I went on to attend the University of Manitoba, where I majored in English Literature and minored in History and Geography. In 1996 I graduated with a Bachelor's Degree from the Faculty of Education, where I was a Student Union representative for my faculty. During my university career I continued to play football for the Winnipeg Hawkeyes of the Prairie Junior Football Conference, until my playing career was cut short by a severe hamstring tear (yee-ouch!) in 1994. Since graduating from University I have been working as a substitute and term teacher, and have recently completed a part time (.875 time) term teaching Grade 9 Social Studies and Grade 10 Geography at my old Alma Mater, Transcona Collegiate. I am currently seeking more full-time teaching work, but in the meantime, I work regularly at Anola School, a smaller rural K-8 facility located 25 minutes from Winnipeg in Anola, Manitoba.




I met my beautiful mate Michelle in November of 1995, and we have been inseparable ever since. Recently (May 2000), we have just purchased a beautiful 100-year-old character home in the city's West End. Michelle is also of Scottish/German descent, and her Scottish lineage (Clan Duncan) is well known. She, like my mother, has become interested in genealogy, and is researching her Scottish/German family history from her grandparents back.



The Badge of Clan Duncan - Motto: "Learn to Suffer"




The Tartan of Clan Duncan


I have a 12-year old stepson named Stephen, who is currently in Grade 6 and is obsessed with Pokemon (and Mewtwo in particular). He has also inherited a strong love for Heavy Metal from his mom, and could sing KISS lyrics by the age of 2.



Together the three of us are ruled by our pets: Ming-a-Ling (a black/white "Sylvester-looking" short haired female); Toonces (that's right - this driving cat is a very stupid but loving long-haired male Maine Coon); and Shaitan (a male mix of Purebred Bluepoint Siamese and Purebred Himalayan, a muscular monster that keeps the other 2 in line, and who is named after our friend Dallas. His mom breeds cats and she gave him to us). The most recent addition has been Nala, our 2 year old female German Sheppard/Rottwieler cross that we adopted from an abusive home the same day we took possession of our house.

My love of roleplaying and live theatre has grown over the past few years, and now I content myself as an active participant in a few Live Action Roleplaying games that allow me to stretch my creative legs. Stephen and Michelle are also involved, making this a family activity for us. Additionally, I love to make costumes. Pictured below is "Ugly Joe", a two-headed, four-armed mutant I designed and built for a Hallowe'en 2001 Horror/Mystery roleplaying game that Michelle wrote and hosted.



Links to elsewhere from my Homepage

More information on Clan Munro (whose badge is pictured above)
Gathering of the Clans Homepage - Scottish Genealogy
The Official Robert The Bruce Homepage
Royal Winnipeg Rifles Homepage
My Winnipeg Roleplaying Page
LARPs in Winnipeg
Characters I Play
About the Author

Email: skruface@hotmail.com