People, young people especially, ask if I'm related to Avril Lavigne, talented Canadian celebrity. I have to say, I don't know the answer to that question. My family migrated from what was then Canada. I know the year only because my Great Grandfather loved to tell me the story about going through Chicago the day after the fire. The LaVignes, my LaVignes landed in New France in the 1675. The family name was Brodeur de LaVigne, and the story goes that there was a split in the family prior to this exodus from Canada that resulted in one brother and his family retaining the Brodeur surname, and the other brother taking the LaVigne, dit name.
I do want to thank Avril for teaching the world to pronounce LaVigne correctly (LAVEEN)! I owe you Avril. All LaVignes owe you!
