French Canadian Heritage

t. Ann’s Academy’s French cultural heritage can be traced back to its beginnings in rural Quebec, with the founding of the Sisters of St. Ann by Marie Esther Blondin. There was widespread illiteracy during this time in Quebec because many schools had been closed as a result of the withdrawal of government subsidies for education. Although there were some private schools, there were very few teachers. Marie Esther Blondin was aware of the need to make education more accessible to the young. On September 8, 1950, she founded the Sisters of Saint Ann, and dedicated her life to the education of the young, particularly to the poorer children, both boys and girls, of the rural areas of Quebec.

The influences of the Sisters' French backgrounds are reflected in the architecture of the St. Ann’s building, and in some of the activities and other elements that were introduced to the students by the Sisters.

During the holidays, the Sisters went to great lengths to amuse the children, and many customs were brought from Lachine and Montreal and introduced to the children. Emma Chismore Engelcke, a student of St. Ann’s from 1867-1882, describes one special occasion:

“Now, besides Christmas and New Years and Epiphany, there was Holy Innocents Day-in our minds a second Christmas day-a day particularly devoted to the playing of all kinds of pranks. Would one of the boarders of St. Ann’s Academy of nowadays be surprised to see one of the older nuns doff her black veil and habit and appear dressed as a novice at the front door? I remember that happening.”

St. Ann's Academy, 2000

Interpretive Centre - East Block 1886
The style of architecture was based upon the 1871 wing, and in keeping with its French Canadian influences. The windows were underlined with a string course, a thin band running across the front of the building, to give a sense of where the floors were divided on the inside of the school, from the outside. These features helped to give the brick architecture the appearance of stone, the material which would have been most popular in Quebec.

The new entrance block was capped by a bell tower, with a cross at the very top. This became a major feature of the Victoria skyline, and can still be seen over the treetops from several blocks away. Having such a focal point was another design motif that linked this building to the French Canadian origins of the Sisters. It is clear, comparing St. Ann’s Academy in Victoria with the present Mother House of the Sisters Lachine, Quebec, that this particular combination of ecclesiastical, institutional and Classical Revival architecture was also popular in Eastern Canada.

Stained Glass Transom in Student Parlour

Pupils Parlor
A beautiful leaded glass door led into the parlour from the hallway. Most of the glass had to be restored or replaced when the Interpretive Centre was restored in the 1990s, involving glass workers who carefully re-cut the pieces, using techniques very similar to the ones employed in the 1800s. This art glass and the wood trim around the door and windows was often found in the parlours of private homes in Victoria, a city that could import art glass from California, Europe and Eastern Canada by ship. The windows in this room were typical of those commonly used in Quebec at the time, with a casement window that opened inward.

Activity: 1. Research French history and culture in Canada, and learn about how it influenced the early development of our country. In what other areas has French culture been influential in Canada? Give examples (Art, Music, Architecture, Language), and see how many areas you can find! 2. Research the architecture and history of your home. What materials is it made of?

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