Nicolas Tardy, a native of France, was a miller and owner of a flour mill in the Roman district, Péage canton, in the Drôme region. He was married to Philomène Audrapt, and they had at least six children.
In 1906, Nicolas and three of his children—Augustine, Joseph-Constant, and Ulysse—along with Augustine’s son, Henri Tardy, who was eleven years old, arrived in Quebec. They were contracted for a five-year period as land clearers to help colonize the area north of Mont-Laurier, Labelle County, about 22 miles north of the railway line.
At that time, conditions were extremely harsh. After completing their five-year term, the Tardy family moved to Montreal, settling in the eastern part of the city. The Canadian Pacific Railway was expanding rapidly, leading to a housing shortage. Seizing the opportunity, they began purchasing land and constructing houses.
After some time, Nicolas decided to return to France with Ulysse, who was too young to remain alone in Canada. However, Joseph, Augustine, and her son stayed. Later, in 1912, after completing his military service, Ulysse returned to Canada aboard the French ship Niagara, the first vessel to cross the Atlantic after the Titanic disaster. He settled in Sturgeon Falls, Ontario, on a farm where all his children were born. However, in 1930, he and his entire family returned to Montreal.
Today, the majority of the descendants of this Tardy branch are found in Montreal and its surroundings.