Everyday Life at Collège Sainte-Anne

The years 1908 to 1969 brought on new challenges. Life wasn’t always easy at Collège Sainte-Anne and it faced many financial problems throughout the years. Poverty was no stranger to Sainte-Anne’s population. In order to alleviate the lack of money, bazars, flea markets, and financial campaigns were often organized.

With the wind blowing over Saint Mary's Bay, heating the College proved to be a tough task. Water was rare and the food supply was so low at times that portions were limited. In addition to the College’s misfortunes, the Eudist Fathers often did not value the nuns' hard work. They felt that their many household duties in the kitchen and the laundry went unappreciated.

Discipline

Discipline was strongly enforced at Sainte-Anne's. Many students thought the level of discipline was too harsh and often modelled on military practise. However, under the Acadian Superiors, discipline was more relaxed. In Laliberté and LeBlanc’s Sainte-Anne: collège et université 1890-1900, some of the College’s rules and regulations are enumerated. For example, in 1916 laziness and non-academic books were not permitted. As well, smoking was strictly prohibited. In 1937 boys over sixteen years of age, with parental consent, were permitted to smoke outside at specific times and in designated areas. Smoking inside the building at any time was prohibited. Rules and discipline were stressed at Sainte-Anne's, but throughout the years, the Superiors became more lenient and tried to adapt to the continuing changes of the times.

The Schedule

The students at Collège Sainte-Anne were up at the break of dawn to get an early start. The older boys rose at 5:30 am and the younger ones half an hour later. Mass, classes, and study periods occupied the mornings. Dinner was served at noon and was followed by a recess that ended at 1:30 pm. Afternoons and evenings were designated study periods with supper being served at 6:00 pm, following the evening prayer.

The students spent the evening studying and went to bed at 9:00 pm after bedtime prayer.

The young boys' dormitory	The older boys' dormitory

Students were allowed to wash once a week but had to do so quickly as the water supply was rationed. Saturdays were a real treat because the students were permitted to watch movies and after 1934, they were able to play hockey which was becoming more and more popular.

On Sunday mornings, they got up later than usual and had to attend classes in religion.

Students studying	The study room