École secondaire Sœur-Sainte-Anne-Marie

Institution founded in 1956, Montréal, Québec.

On September 14, 1950, the Montreal Catholic School Commission bought land in Montreal between Christophe-Colomb, Gouin, Chambord and Henri-Bourassa Streets in Sainte-Madeleine-Sophie Barat Parish. In 1956, Sœur-Sainte-Anne-Marie High School was built on this land. The architect was Gaston Gagnier. The school was located on Christophe-Colomb Street (later Georges-Baril Street) and the residence was adjacent to it. The pastor of the parish, Father Augustin Lemay, asked the Congrégation de Notre-Dame sisters to teach at the new school, named in honour of Mother Sainte-Anne-Marie (Marie-Aveline Bengle), founder of the Institut Pédagogique, the first Catholic women’s classical college in Quebec. It was a large school for its time. When it opened in September 1957, six hundred sixty-two students were enrolled. The first school superior was Sister Sainte-Jeanne-Frémiot (Jeanne Clément). Three curriculums were offered in Sœur-Sainte-Anne-Marie High School: classical, general and business. Both sisters and lay teachers taught at the school.

On September 14, 1950, the Montreal Catholic School Commission bought land in Montreal between Christophe-Colomb, Gouin, Chambord and Henri-Bourassa Streets in Sainte-Madeleine-Sophie Barat Parish. In 1956, Sœur-Sainte-Anne-Marie High School was built on this land. The architect was Gaston Gagnier. The school was located on Christophe-Colomb Street (later Georges-Baril Street) and the residence was adjacent to it. The pastor of the parish, Father Augustin Lemay, asked the Congrégation de Notre-Dame sisters to teach at the new school, named in honour of Mother Sainte-Anne-Marie (Marie-Aveline Bengle), founder of the Institut Pédagogique, the first Catholic women’s classical college in Quebec. It was a large school for its time. When it opened in September 1957, six hundred sixty-two students were enrolled. The first school superior was Sister Sainte-Jeanne-Frémiot (Jeanne Clément). Three curriculums were offered in Sœur-Sainte-Anne-Marie High School: classical, general and business. Both sisters and lay teachers taught at the school.

However, around 1965, the number of lay teachers steadily increased. While many teachers taught every course in the general curriculum during a school year, some were specialized in certain subjects, such as, English, Physical Education, Music, and Arts and Crafts. From 1958 to 1967, there were also various student associations: Jeunesse des Écoles Catholiques, Union de la Sainte-Vierge, Service missionnaire and Union mariale, Congrégation mariale. The young women were also able to enjoy another special activity: Film-Club, an elective course given by an assigned teacher. The course was given to a limited number of students during class hours. It enabled students to become familiar with the different elements of film. At the beginning of the 1965-66 school year, the direction was ceded to lay personnel. In December 1966, the General Council decided to permanently withdraw the sisters from Sœur-Sainte-Anne-Marie High School. In July 1967, the last group of sisters departed and the Montreal Catholic School Commission took over the responsibility of administering the school.

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 secondaire Sœur-Sainte-Anne-Marie

Exterior view - École secondaire Sœur-Sainte-Anne-Marie, Montreal, Quebec, [between 1956 and 1967].

École secondaire Sœur-Sainte-Anne-Marie

École secondaire Sœur-Sainte-Anne-Marie

Montreal, Quebec

Institution fondée en 1956

Dernière adresse : 10755, avenue Christophe-Colomb

Nom de l’architecte(s) ou de la firme : Gaston Gagné

10755, avenue Christophe-Colomb