Agapit Dominique Leblanc was born in 1887 in Bouctouche, a predominantly Acadian community in Kent County, New Brunswick, Canada. Little is documented about his early years, but by 1920, he had joined the Canadian Fisheries and Marine Service as a fishery guardian.
At the age of thirty-three, Leblanc took on the role of enforcing fishing regulations along the province’s rugged coastline, a job that involved patrolling waters to curb illegal activities such as smelt fishing out of season.
This period coincided with Canada’s Prohibition era—federal alcohol prohibition had ended in 1920, but New Brunswick maintained strict liquor laws until 1927—creating an environment where smuggling operations often overlapped with illicit fishing. Leblanc’s diligence in his duties made him a target in a region where economic hardships sometimes drove locals to bend the rules.
By 1926, at age thirty-nine, Leblanc was a respected figure in his community, married and committed to his role in protecting marine resources. His work was not without peril, as fishery officers often confronted armed poachers in isolated bays.
In the weeks leading up to his murder, Leblanc’s family reported receiving anonymous death threats, underscoring the escalating risks of his job. One particularly chilling message included a drawing of a coffin accompanied by the French inscription: “Voici ton cercueil si tu n’arrêtes pas de venir nous trouver sur la mer” (“Here’s your coffin if you don’t stop coming to find us on the sea”). These warnings suggested that Leblanc had crossed paths with dangerous individuals involved in illegal operations, possibly linked to alcohol smuggling that thrived along the Atlantic coast.
On the evening of October 20th, 1926, Leblanc set out to investigate reports of illegal smelt fishing in Bouctouche Bay. He never returned home. Details of the confrontation remain murky, but evidence later indicated he was ambushed. A medical examination revealed that Leblanc had been shot in the face with numerous small pellets—likely birdshot from a shotgun fired at long range—causing superficial skin damage but no immediately fatal wounds. He also sustained non-fatal blows, possibly from a struggle. The official cause of death was shock, a condition that could result from trauma, exposure, or drowning in the cold waters.
Leblanc’s body was discovered four days later, on October 24th, 1926, floating in Bouctouche Bay, weighted down with rocks to conceal the crime. Authorities launched an extensive investigation, but despite contemporary news reports in 1928 suggesting arrests were imminent, no suspects were ever publicly named or charged. The case quickly went cold, hampered by the remote location, lack of witnesses, and the tight-knit community where loyalties might have protected potential perpetrators.
The murder’s connection to prohibition-era activities has been speculated upon, as smugglers often used fishing vessels for bootlegging operations. However, no concrete evidence linking specific individuals or groups has surfaced, leaving Leblanc’s death on the list of Canada’s unsolved homicides.
Nearly nine decades after his death, Agapit Leblanc’s sacrifice was formally honored by the Department of Fisheries and Oceans. In 2011, as part of the Hero-class mid-shore patrol vessels program, the seventh vessel was named CCGS A. LeBlanc in his memory. The ship was commissioned on July 9th, 2015, by Minister Gail Shea, and is primarily used for fisheries enforcement in the St. Lawrence River and Gulf of St. Lawrence. Leblanc’s granddaughter attended the ceremony, paying tribute to Agapit’s courage and ensuring his story was not forgotten.
Crime Immemorial 