Dossier 09 - Photographs

• Supports multiples

30 photographs: col.
1 album (62 photographs: col., and 88 photographs: b&w)
1 album (82 photographs: col., and 7 photographs: b&w)
1 album (85 photographs: col.)
1 album (40 photographs: col.)

This series is a visual representation of the Congregation of the Sisters of St. Joseph in London, Ontario during their western ministry in the Edmonton Diocese. The series contains photographs of the Sisters at the closing of the Regional House from June 29 to July 2, 2001. On October 2, 2000, there was a ribbon cutting ceremony, in which the keys and blueprint of the Regional House were handed over to the new property owners, the Birzgalis family. The Bizgalis’ transformed the building into the Venta Nursing Home, a long-term care facility, and some aging Sisters received care there. In the photographs, the Sisters who were living at the Regional House at the time of it’s closing wore corsages and were seated in the front pew during the closing ceremonies. Also in the photographs, there were items presented which were on display that related to the outstanding achievements and historical milestones of the Sisters’ legacy in the West. Activities of the Sisters in the photographs include sharing stories and memories from the past in small groups, gathering in the community room to reminisce, delivering homilies, playing the organ, standing in the chapel, sitting at tables and conversing in the dining hall, walking in a procession, and reminiscing and chatting in the hallway. In addition, in the photographs, Sister Mary Diesbourg gave a special prayer, a welcoming speech, and led the singing of the anthem, O’ Canada to recognize July 1st on Canada Day. The Sisters who attended the four-day long event that are depicted in the photographs include: Joan Atkinson, Theresa Marie Caillouette, Alice Caza, Mary Diesbourg, Mary Josephine Fox, Marilyn Keuber, Connie Kuefler, Loretta Manzara, Diane Naud, Therese (Tess) Carmel Slavik, Ethel Steinkey, Nancy Wales, and Mary Zimmer. There is also one photograph of the front door at St. Joseph’s Convent Regional House in Edmonton dated 1997. In addition, there are four photo albums documenting events that the Sistes participated in at the St. Joseph’s Convent Regional House such as: the opening of the Regional House, in 1961; Christmas, in 1998; Sister Immolata Meyen, an artist from Germany, who made paintings from 1997 to 1998; Halloween, in 2000; and the celebration of the 350th Anniversary of the Le Puy Foundation on September 24, 2000.