Duck Lake in Duck Lake No. 463, Saskatchewan — The Prairie Region (North America)
Mademoiselle Onésime Dorval
(1845-1932)
Photographed By Cosmos Mariner, July 19, 2022
1. Mademoiselle Onésime Dorval Marker
Pédagogue remarquable, Mademoiselle Dorval fut la première institutrice diplômée de la Saskatchewan. Originaire du Québec, elle s'établit dans l'Ouest en 1877, devint membre de l'Ordre de Saint-François et consacra le fruit de son travail aux missions des Oblats. Elle enseigna pendant plus de quarante ans à Baie St. Paul au Manitoba ainsi qu’à St-Laurent-Grandin, à Battleford, à Batoche et à Duck Lake en Saskatchewan. Ses peintures et son travail sur bois sont pleins d'originalité et s'avèrent un riche patrimoine. C'est avec beaucoup d'affection que les communautés métisse et francophone évoquent son souvenir.
Mademoiselle Dorval, Saskatchewan's first certified teacher, was an esteemed educator. Born and raised in Quebec, she came west in 1877 and dedicated her life's work to the Oblate missions as a member of the Order of St. Francis. She taught for over forty years at Baie St. Paul in Manitoba and in Saskatchewan at St-Laurent-Grandin, Battleford, Batoche and Duck Lake. A talented painter and innovative woodworker, she left a rich legacy of artwork. She is affectionately
this page online
Erected 2001 by Historic Sites and Monuments Board of Canada/Commission des lieux et monuments historiques du Canada.
Topics and series. This historical marker is listed in these topic lists: Arts, Letters, Music • Churches & Religion • Education • Women. In addition, it is included in the Canada, Historic Sites and Monuments Board series list. A significant historical year for this entry is 1877.
Location. 52° 49′ N, 106° 12.98′ W. Marker is in Duck Lake, Saskatchewan, in Duck Lake No. 463. Marker can be reached from Anderson Street (Provincial Highway 783/212) half a kilometer west of Louis Riel Trail (Provincial Highway 11), on the right when traveling west. Marker is located at the Duck Lake Regional Interpretive Center. Touch for map. Marker is at or near this postal address: 24 SK-783, Duck Lake SK S0K 1J0, Canada. Touch for directions.
Other nearby markers. At least 2 other markers are within 19 kilometers of this marker, measured as the crow flies. Dr. Seager Wheeler (approx. 18.9 kilometers away); Gerhard Ens (approx. 18.9 kilometers away).
Also see . . .
1. Onésime Dorval. Wikipedia ebtry:
She became the "best known and most respected French-language teacher" in settlements throughout the northern plains of Saskatchewan. In 1880 she travelled as part(Submitted on July 22, 2022, by Cosmos Mariner of Cape Canaveral, Florida.)of a company of nineteen Red River carts with Giroux on a gruelling two and a half month trip led by Louis Chatelain. She would often walk ahead of the caravan, and once remarked that the environment she observed "had power to charm the saddest of hearts", despite being inhospitable at times with prairie fires, ravenous mosquitoes, dust, as well as the sound of rickety ox carts and the bland food.via Parks Canada, unknown2. Mademoiselle Onésime Dorval
2. Onésime Dorval. Encyclopedia of Saskatchewan website entry:
Between 1881 and 1883 she made her way to St. Albert, next to Ste. Anne, and then back to St. Laurent de Grandin, which was soon to be Saskatchewan territory. She spent many hours teaching and performing religious duties with the Métis and French communities of St. Albert (Alberta), St. Laurent (Saskatchewan), and Ste. Anne (Manitoba). Her kindness, piety and great memory won her the admiration of many; she was also a resourceful teacher, who loved and respected her Métis students.(Submitted on July 22, 2022, by Cosmos Mariner of Cape Canaveral, Florida.)
3. Onésime Dorval. My Hero website entry:
Though her intent and mission was to convert the Metis children to Roman Catholicism, she showed no less respect for her aboriginal students and they requited her love. Ever modest and humble, she was(Submitted on July 22, 2022, by Cosmos Mariner of Cape Canaveral, Florida.)always in her usual attire of black and often found making her own repairs at the school. Almost every nail was lovingly hammered with Dorval's own two hands at the school she founded at Battleford. She eventually retired in 1921, leaving behind her gifts to the prairie lands and passed away at the ripe old age of 87.Photographed By Cosmos Mariner, July 19, 20223. Mademoiselle Onésime Dorval Marker(looking southwest from the Duck Lake Regional Interpretive Center entrance)
4. Mademoiselle Onésime Dorval, National Historic Person. Parks Canada website entry (Submitted on July 22, 2022, by Cosmos Mariner of Cape Canaveral, Florida.)
Photographed By Cosmos Mariner, July 19, 2022
4. Duck Lake Regional Interpretive Center
Credits. This page was last revised on July 2, 2023. It was originally submitted on July 21, 2022, by Cosmos Mariner of Cape Canaveral, Florida. This page has been viewed 93 times since then and 10 times this year. Photos: 1. submitted on July 22, 2022, by Cosmos Mariner of Cape Canaveral, Florida. 2. submitted on July 2, 2023, by Larry Gertner of New York, New York. 3, 4. submitted on July 22, 2022, by Cosmos Mariner of Cape Canaveral, Florida.
