The building at 489 Sussex Drive was originally composed of five commercial structures built between 1846 and 1876 when Sussex Street was at the centre of Ottawa's commercial activity. The Sisters of the Jeanne d'Arc Institute, one of the few French- speaking religious communities founded in Ontario, progressively acquired the properties between 1917 and 1926, and converted them into a single building. The building, known as the Jeanne d'Arc Institute until 1989, served as a convent, and a bilingual secretarial school and boarding house for young female students and working women. Beginning in 1936 a kindergarten program was offered through the Institute and ran for 30 years. The Institute provided private French and English lessons for men and women, and offered sewing courses for nearly 20 years. Through its existence diverse social and cultural activities filled its halls., Owned by the National Capital Commission since 1980, this Recognized federal heritage building (1986) was listed on the City of Ottawa s Heritage Register in 2017., This plaque was erected in 2019 to commemorate the 100th anniversary of the Sisters of the Joan of Arc Institute.,
The building at 489 Sussex Drive was originally composed of five commercial
structures built between 1846 and 1876 when Sussex Street was at the centre of Ottawa's
commercial activity. The Sisters of the Jeanne d'Arc Institute, one of the few French-
speaking religious communities founded in Ontario, progressively acquired the
properties between 1917 and 1926, and converted them into a single building.
The building, known as the Jeanne d'Arc Institute until 1989, served as a convent,
and a bilingual secretarial school and boarding house for young female students and
working women. Beginning in 1936 a kindergarten program was offered through the
Institute and ran for 30 years. The Institute provided private French and English
lessons for men and women, and offered sewing courses for nearly 20 years.
Through its existence diverse social and cultural activities filled its halls.
Owned by the National Capital Commission since 1980,
this Recognized federal heritage building (1986)
was listed on the City of Ottawa s Heritage Register in 2017.
This plaque was erected in 2019 to commemorate the 100th anniversary
of the Sisters of the Joan of Arc Institute.
Le bâtiment sis au 489, promenade Sussex regroupe cinq immeubles commerciaux
construits entre 1846 et 1876, période au cours de laquelle la rue Sussex était la plaque
tournante commerciale d'Ottawa. Entre 1917 et 1926, les Sœurs de l'Institut Jeanne
d'Arc, l'une des rares congrégations religieuses de langue française fondées en Ontario,
ont progressivement acheté ces propriétés pour en faire un bâtiment unique. L'édifice,
qui a abrité l'Institut Jeanne d'Arc jusqu'en 1989, était à la fois couvent, foyer d'accueil
pour étudiantes et jeunes travailleuses, et école commerciale bilingue pour jeunes
femmes. À compter de 1936, et une trentaine d'années durant, il a accueilli un jardin
d'enfants. L'Institut offrait en outre, aux hommes et aux femmes, des cours privés de
français et d'anglais et, pendant une vingtaine d'années, des cours de couture. Diverses
activités sociales et culturelles ont animé ses murs.
Cet édifice fédéral du patrimoine « reconnu » (1986)
est la propriété de la Commission de la capitale nationale depuis 1980
et est inscrit au registre du patrimoine de la Ville d'Ottawa depuis 2017.
Cette plaque a été érigée en 2019 pour commémorer le 100e anniversaire
de la congrégation des Sœurs de l'Institut Jeanne d'Arc.
Location. 45° 25.666′ N, 75° 41.706′ W. Marker is in Ottawa, Ontario. It is on Sussex Dr., on the right when traveling north. Touch for map. Marker is at or near this postal address: 489 Sussex Drive, Ottawa ON K1N 6Z5, Canada. Touch for directions.
Regionally, this marker is in Eastern Ontario. It is also in Central Canada. Globally, it is in North America, the Western Hemisphere, the Western World, and the Anglosphere. Historically, it finds itself in what was once a British colony, the Viceroyalty of New France, the Haudenosaunee (Iroquois) Confederacy, and Rupert’s Land.
Credits. This page was last revised on June 16, 2026. It was originally submitted on July 5, 2022, by Robert Rusaw of Massena, New York. This page has been viewed 395 times since then and 43 times this year. Photos:1, 2. submitted on July 5, 2022, by Robert Rusaw of Massena, New York. • Bill Pfingsten was the editor who published this page.
