Byward Market - Parliament Hill in Ottawa, Ontario — Central Canada (North America)

Élisabeth Bruyère

1818-1876

Photographed By Cosmos Mariner, August 11, 2019

1. Élisabeth Bruyère Marker

Inscription. Click to hear the inscription.

English:
In the 1840s, Bytown (Ottawa) was a growing timber-trade village with a substantial French-Canadian population but no Catholic schools and few social services. In February of 1845 the Sisters of Charity of Montreal (Grey Nuns) sent four nuns here. Led by Élisabeth Bruyère, a devout, well-educated young woman, the sisters quickly established a bilingual school for girls, a hospital, and an orphanage. They helped the poor, the elderly and the sick, including hundreds of immigrants stricken during the typhus epidemics of 1847-48. By the time of Élisabeth Bruyère's death the Sisters of Charity of Ottawa had founded key local institutions and extended their services to sixteen other communities in Canada and the U.S.
Ontario Heritage Foundation, Ministry of Culture, Tourism and Recreation
Français:
Pendant les années 1840, Bytown (Ottawa) est un village de commerce de bois d’œuvre en plein essor qui a une importante population canadienne-française, mais pas d’école catholique et peu de services sociaux. En février 1845, les Sœurs de la Charité de Montréal

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(Sœurs grises) y envoient quatre sœurs. Sous la direction d'Élisabeth Bruyère, jeune femme instruite et pieuse, les sœurs établissent rapidement une école bilingue pour filles, un hôpital et un orphelinat. Elles aident les pauvres, les personnes âgées et les malades, dont des centaines d'immigrants frappés par les épidémies de typhus de 1847-1848. À la mort d'Élisabeth Bruyère, les Sœurs de la Charité d’Ottawa avaient fondé d’importantes institutions locales et étendu leurs services dans seize autres collectivités au Canada et aux États-Unis.

Fondation du patrimoine ontarien, Ministère de la Culture, du Tourisme et des Loisirs

Erected by Ontario Heritage Foundation, Ministry of Culture, Tourism and Recreation.

Topics. This historical marker is listed in these topic lists: Charity & Public Work • Churches & Religion • Education • Women. A significant historical month for this entry is February 1845.

Location. 45° 25.896′ N, 75° 41.84′ W. Marker is in Ottawa, Ontario. It is in Byward Market - Parliament Hill. Marker is on Bruyère Street east of Sussex Drive (Route 93), on the right when traveling west. Marker is located beside sidewalk, near entrance to The Sisters of Charity of Ottawa/Oratoire Soeurs de la Charité d'Ottawa. Touch for map. Marker is at or near this postal address: 27 Bruyère Street, Ottawa ON K1N 5C7, Canada. Touch for directions.

Other nearby markers.

Élisabeth Bruyère Marker (<i>Français</i>) image. Click for full size.

Photographed By Cosmos Mariner, August 11, 2019

2. Élisabeth Bruyère Marker (Français)

At least 8 other markers are within walking distance of this marker. Hôpital Élisabeth Bruyère / Élisabeth Bruyère Hospital (within shouting distance of this marker); Mother House, Sisters of Charity / Maison Mère, Sœurs de la Charité (within shouting distance of this marker); Motherhouse, Sisters of Charity at Ottawa (within shouting distance of this marker); The Royal Canadian Mint / La Monnaie Royale Canadienne (about 120 meters away, measured in a direct line); La Salle Academy Tercentenary (about 180 meters away); The College of Bytown (about 180 meters away); Basilique Notre-Dame / Notre Dame Basilica (about 210 meters away); The Historic Notre Dame Cathedral Restoration (about 210 meters away). Touch for a list and map of all markers in Ottawa.

Related markers. Click here for a list of markers that are related to this marker. Élisabeth Bruyère Hospital

Also see . . .
1. A Remarkable Woman, Élisabeth Bruyère. Mother Élisabeth Bruyère was a woman with a warm and compassionate heart, ever attentive to the needs of her time and a deeply committed Christian who sought the social, moral and spiritual betterment of Bytown, known today as Ottawa. Élisabeth Bruyère passed away on April 5, 1876 leaving behind a well-established community of 198 Sisters living in 23 different convents. She also inspired work that transcended Ottawa’s boundaries. Inspired by her leadership and continuing

Élisabeth Bruyère Marker • <i>tall view<br>(Bruyère Street in background)</i> image. Click for full size.

Photographed By Cosmos Mariner, August 11, 2019

3. Élisabeth Bruyère Marker • tall view
(Bruyère Street in background)

her mission, sisters from the Grey Nuns have done much work in various capacities to serve in Eastern Ontario, Quebec and the world over. (Submitted on October 21, 2019, by Cosmos Mariner of Cape Canaveral, Florida.)

2. Élisabeth Bruyère (Wikipedia). In 1839, she joined the Sisters of Charity of the Hôpital Général of Montreal, also known as the Grey Nuns. In 1845, she was asked to set up a community of the Sisters of Charity at Bytown. With three other Grey Nuns, she established Roman Catholic schools, hospitals and orphanages there. The hospital opened in Bytown later became the Ottawa General Hospital. (Submitted on October 21, 2019, by Cosmos Mariner of Cape Canaveral, Florida.)

3. Élisabeth Bruyère and the 1847 Typhus Epidemic. The typhus epidemic of 1847 was brought about by the massive influx of Irish immigrants who came on disease ridden ships fleeing famine in their motherland. The Sisters of Charity devoted themselves to building barracks to house the sick and to provide for them essential services and care. The mental and physical strain on the Sisters caused many to fall ill themselves, including Bruyère. (Submitted on October 21, 2019, by Cosmos Mariner of Cape Canaveral, Florida.)

Élisabeth Bruyère Marker • <i>wide view<br>(Sisters of Charity of Ottawa in background</i>) image. Click for full size.

Photographed By Cosmos Mariner, August 11, 2019

4. Élisabeth Bruyère Marker • wide view
(Sisters of Charity of Ottawa in background)

Élisabeth Bruyère Hospital<br>(<i>located just east of marker</i>) image. Click for full size.

Photographed By Cosmos Mariner, August 11, 2019

5. Élisabeth Bruyère Hospital
(located just east of marker)

Credits. This page was last revised on January 24, 2022. It was originally submitted on October 21, 2019, by Cosmos Mariner of Cape Canaveral, Florida. This page has been viewed 242 times since then and 28 times this year. Photos: 1, 2, 3, 4, 5. submitted on October 21, 2019, by Cosmos Mariner of Cape Canaveral, Florida.