Aside from his personal interests, he was for over fifty years active in public life. In 1838 he was elected alderman for St. Antoine ward of Montreal but could not take his seat until later when he became of age. For nine years he served in the council, being elected three times by acclamation. Politically he was a stanch liberal-conservative and three times he refused a senatorship, but later, at the urgent request of his family and friends, he accepted in 1888, being gazetted senator on the 17th of December, of that year, for the division of Mille Isles. He last attended parliament the week before his death and was last at his desk on the 24th of January, 1890. He gave careful consideration to the grave questions which came up for settlement and stanchly supported any movement which he considered of vital worth. His activities also extended to other lines. He was president of the St. Jean Baptiste Society; was warden of Notre Dame church; and president of St. Vincent de Paul Society. He was also lieutenant colonel of the Sixty-fourth Beauharnois Battalion at the time of its formation and he was ever a generous contributor to religious, educational and charitable institutions.
Senator Rodier was united in marriage in 1848 to Miss Angelique Lapierre, a daughter of Andre Lapierre. The death of Mr. Rodier occurred January 26, 1890, when he had reached the age of seventy-two years, while his wife survived until March 24, 1907. They were the parents of four sons and four daughters.
In business circles of Montreal the name of Alexander C. Henry was well known, for from 1899 until his death, three years later, he was purchasing agent for the entire system of the Canadian Pacific Railway, the magnitude and importance of his duties making his position a most difficult and responsible one. He was born at Beamsville, Canada, in 1849, and after mastering the branches of learning taught in the public schools he attended the Upper Canada College, at Toronto. Subsequently he removed to Montreal, and gradually working his way upward in business connections became, in 1884, assistant purchasing agent for the Canadian Pacific Railway, and in 1899 was made general purchasing agent for the entire system. His ability, fidelity, indefatigable energy and enterprise brought him to the prominent position which he occupied. At the time of his death Sir Thomas Shaughnessy, president of the Canadian Pacific Railway, paid high tribute to his memory and bore testimony to his honesty, which was manifest in his careful accounting for every penny, although in his capacity of purchasing agent he expended over one hundred and two million dollars.