École Marguerite-Bourgeoys

Institution founded in 1953, Sorel (Sorel-Tracy), Québec.

In 1934, the Sorel School Commission opened the small Saint-Pierre School in the former kindergarten of the Sisters of Charity in Saint-Hyacinthe, on the corner of Albert and Charlotte Streets. The Congrégation de Notre-Dame, which was already administering Saint-Pierre Convent, accepted to take on the direction of the school; it thus became a branch of the convent. The founders of this mission were two teaching sisters: Sister Saint-Pierre-de-la-Résurrection (Maud Saint-Pierre) and Sister Sainte-Marie-Rose-du-Sacré-Cœur (Lucienne Lesieur); they were under the direction of Sister Sainte-Thècle (Marie-Rose-Malvina Fortin), convent superior. Two lay teachers made up the rest of the teaching staff. The school opened on November 14 to receive sixty-nine boys and twelve girls registered in the preparatory course. In 1940, four grade 1 and grade 2 classes were opened; two years later a grade 3 class was added. In 1946, the registration list included one hundred forty-nine names. In 1949, the School Commission had to temporarily transfer a grade 1 class of boys to the Hospital of the Grey Nuns. Because the school became too small and too unhealthy to receive an ever-increasing student population, the School Commission inspector Édouard Guité, declared the following year that the school premises were unacceptable and that the students were seriously affected. The small Saint-Pierre School was therefore closed.

In 1934, the Sorel School Commission opened the small Saint-Pierre School in the former kindergarten of the Sisters of Charity in Saint-Hyacinthe, on the corner of Albert and Charlotte Streets. The Congrégation de Notre-Dame, which was already administering Saint-Pierre Convent, accepted to take on the direction of the school; it thus became a branch of the convent. The founders of this mission were two teaching sisters: Sister Saint-Pierre-de-la-Résurrection (Maud Saint-Pierre) and Sister Sainte-Marie-Rose-du-Sacré-Cœur (Lucienne Lesieur); they were under the direction of Sister Sainte-Thècle (Marie-Rose-Malvina Fortin), convent superior. Two lay teachers made up the rest of the teaching staff. The school opened on November 14 to receive sixty-nine boys and twelve girls registered in the preparatory course. In 1940, four grade 1 and grade 2 classes were opened; two years later a grade 3 class was added. In 1946, the registration list included one hundred forty-nine names. In 1949, the School Commission had to temporarily transfer a grade 1 class of boys to the Hospital of the Grey Nuns. Because the school became too small and too unhealthy to receive an ever-increasing student population, the School Commission inspector Édouard Guité, declared the following year that the school premises were unacceptable and that the students were seriously affected. The small Saint-Pierre School was therefore closed.

In 1951, the School Commission announced the building of a new three-storey, eight-classroom school on Albert Street. During its construction, classes were held in rooms in the old General Hospital of the Grey Nuns. The new school named Marguerite-Bourgeoys School opened in September 1953 to receive two hundred ninety girls and boys from grade 1 to grade 4. A few days later, because the number of registered students was greater than that allowed by the School Commission, the school administration was forced to transfer, despite the parents’ protests, about twenty students to Saint-Maxime School. The school was blessed on April 17, 1955 by Domestic Prelate and Dean Jean-Baptiste Nadeau in Saint-Pierre-de-Sorel Parish. The following year, the government launched immunization campaigns against tuberculosis and poliomyelitis; the students were vaccinated. In 1958, the students presented a diction and gymnastics performance for Mothers Day; pride was felt by both teachers’ assistants and parents. In 1960, for the first time in the school’s history, and to the sisters’ satisfaction, girls outnumbered boys: one hundred eighty five girls to fifty boys. The following year, the School Commission proceeded to expand the school; eight new classes, a library and a teachers’ room were built. In September, there were two hundred eighty girls registered from grade 1 to grade 7. In 1965, an excursion in the woods was organized for grades 6 and 7 students; an exposition of the best leaf specimens picked was presented. Two years later, the students of the school organized a contest recalling their visit of Expo 67. The school annals end in June 1967. The annals of Saint-Pierre Convent have information about the existence of Marguerite-Bourgeoys School until 1973.

NB: This text was written using documents found in the archival holdings in our possession and does not constitute a complete administrative history of the teaching establishment.

Exterior view - École Marguerite-Bourgeoys

Exterior view - École Marguerite-Bourgeoys, Sorel (Sorel-Tracy), Quebec, [19-].

École Marguerite-Bourgeoys

École Marguerite-Bourgeoys

Sorel (Sorel-Tracy), Quebec

Institution fondée en 1953

Dernière adresse : 14-15, rue Albert

14-15, rue Albert