The years 1969 to 1971 are a watershed in the life of Sainte-Anne. These years were years of crisis, hardship and destitution. Once again, the lack of financial ressources and low student enrolment were causing problems at the institution.

The people who wished to see the College remain in Church Point formed a small minority. Oftentimes, feelings of despair and doubt filled the hearts of the people who wished to see the College remain "at home". Their position for a time seemed to be a losing one.

Yarmouth as the new site for Collège Sainte-Anne ?

The lack of money once again menaced the future of Collège Sainte-Anne, but this time, in a severe way. The possibility of the College being closed was now frequently discussed. In order to find a solution to this problem, a series of inquiries began in 1965. Garneau and Tremblay reported on the question of founding a bilingual Junior College in Yarmouth, a prospect that pleased the Acadians from the Municipality of Argyle because the move would bring Sainte-Anne closer to them. In the meantime, an Advisory Board was created at Sainte-Anne in order to negotiate with the Grants Committee. Negotiations and decisions took a long time and the Advisory Board’s requests went unnoticed. The delay of a division regarding the choice of a location for the Junior College was affecting many aspects of academic life. Be it renovations, constructions, or curriculum, everything was on hold. The Grants Committee and the Minister of Education, Mr. Gérald Doucet, wished to see the closing of Collège Sainte-Anne in Church Point and the establishment of a Junior College in Yarmouth because being situated in Yarmouth, it would attract more students and would encourage anglophones to learn French as a second language. In 1968, Minister Doucet, accompanied by Mr. Normand Belliveau, tried to persuade the people of the region that Yarmouth as the chosen site would be the best decision. They managed to influence the clergy of the Yarmouth diocese and they had its support, but the Yarmouth diocese’s approval created turmoil at Sainte-Anne. When l’Association des étudiants du Collège learned of this, a general strike was declared on December 5, 1968.