James Bay in Victoria in Capital, British Columbia — Canada’s West Coast (North America)

The Sisters of St. Ann

Photographed by Barry Swackhamer, September 14, 2011

1. The Sisters of St. Ann Marker

Inscription. In 1850, Marie Esther Blondin, now known as Blessed Marie Anne Blondin founded the Congregation of the Sisters of Saint Ann, a Roman Catholic religious order dedicated to education and nursing in Lachine, Quebec.

Bishop Modeste Demers of Victoria went to the Sisters of St. Ann in Quebec to recruit volunteers to educate children. Her returned via Panama with Sister Mary Conception, Sister Mary Angèle, Sister Mary of the Sacred Heart, and Sister Mary Lumena.

On June 5, 1858, the Bishop and Sisters sailed into Victoria harbour, expecting to see a simple trading post of two-dozen log cabins. Instead, they found a gateway to the gold rush – a town of two hundred buildings surrounded by a sea of tents. Two days later they began their first classed in the schoolhouse. Other Sisters followed and the order established a network of schools and hospitals throughout the region as far as Alaska and Yukon.

[Photo caption]
Composite of P0023,P0018, P0024 and P0025, Sisters of St. Ann Archives

Topics. This historical marker is listed in these topic lists: Charity & Public Work • Education • Religion & Religious Structures • Women. A significant historical month for this entry is June 1975.

Location. 48° 25.164′ N, 123° 22.018′ W. Marker is in Victoria, British Columbia, in

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Capital. It is in James Bay. It can be reached from the intersection of Douglas Street and Belleville Street. This marker is located in Thunderbird Park, near the Royal British Columbia Museum. Touch for map. Marker is in this post office area: Victoria BC V8V 2P8, Canada. Touch for directions.

Regionally, this marker is on British Columbia’s Vancouver Island.

Globally, it is in North America,

in the Inside Passage,

on the Ring of Fire,

in the Pacific Rim,

in the Western Hemisphere,

in the Western World,

and in the Anglosphere.

Historically, it finds itself in what was once a British colony.

Other nearby markers. At least 8 other markers are within walking distance of this marker: St. Ann’s Schoolhouse (here, next to this marker); Dr John Sebastian Helmcken (here, next to this marker); Elliot Street Square (here, next to this marker); St. Ann’s Pioneer Schoolhouse (a few steps from this marker); Doctor John Sebastian Helmcken (a few steps from this marker); Log Cabin to Victorian Parlour (a few steps from this marker); Sir James Douglas (a few steps from this marker); Cecilia Helmcken (a few steps from this marker). Touch for a list and map of all markers in Victoria.

The Sisters of St. Ann Marker and School image. Click for full size.

Photographed by Barry Swackhamer, September 14, 2011

2. The Sisters of St. Ann Marker and School

Credits. This page was last revised on February 16, 2023. It was originally submitted on October 26, 2011, by Barry Swackhamer of Brentwood, California. This page has been viewed 1,309 times since then and 26 times this year. Photos: 1, 2. submitted on October 26, 2011, by Barry Swackhamer of Brentwood, California. • Bill Pfingsten was the editor who published this page.