Title and statement of responsibility area
Title proper
General material designation
- Multiple media
Parallel title
Other title information
Title statements of responsibility
Title notes
- Source of title proper: Title based on content of fonds.
Level of description
Reference code
Edition area
Edition statement
Edition statement of responsibility
Class of material specific details area
Statement of scale (cartographic)
Statement of projection (cartographic)
Statement of coordinates (cartographic)
Statement of scale (architectural)
Issuing jurisdiction and denomination (philatelic)
Dates of creation area
Date(s)
-
1920-2004 (Creation)
- Creator
- Congregation of the Sisters of St. Joseph in Canada (Pembroke, Ont.)
Physical description area
Physical description
55.5 cm of textual records
340 photographs : col.
11 photographs : b&w
Publisher's series area
Title proper of publisher's series
Parallel titles of publisher's series
Other title information of publisher's series
Statement of responsibility relating to publisher's series
Numbering within publisher's series
Note on publisher's series
Archival description area
Name of creator
Administrative history
The Sisters of St. Joseph for the Diocese of Pembroke in Canada was first incorporated by letters patent dated January 21, 1922 under the Ontario Companies Act. The town of Pembroke, Ontario is located on the traditional lands of the Algonquin and Anishinaabe Peoples.
In 1910, Sisters from Peterborough began teaching at St. Michael’s Parish school in Douglas, followed by Killaloe in 1915 and Mount St. Patrick in 1916, all three being small rural communities in Ontario. Eleven years later, on August 25, 1921, a new community was formed at Bishop Ryan’s request by 27 Sisters from Peterborough. 14 of these Sisters were already serving in Douglas, Killaloe, and Mount St. Patrick. Mother Vincent Carroll was elected General Superior.
The new community needed a motherhouse, and the O’Kelly farm was purchased by Bishop Ryan, giving the Sisters 40 acres of farmland and 107 acres of woods on the Ottawa River, along with an old farmhouse. On September 19, 1921 St. Joseph’s-on-the-Lake, the first Motherhouse, was officially opened and blessed by Father Dowdall. St. Joseph’s Convent, the first mission of the newly formed congregation, was established in Chapeau on August 27, 1921. Here the Sisters taught in the local school for many years. The Pembroke Sisters spread out throughout Ontario and Quebec, and even made their way westward to Saskatchewan and Alberta. Some other missions included Calabogie (1924), Campbell’s Bay (1925), Barry’s Bay (1928), Renfrew (1928), Sheenboro (1936), Madawaska (1936), Deep River (1948), Quyon (1951), Des Joachims (1958), Whitney (1958). Bancroft (1959), Ottawa (1962), and Petawawa (1962).
The General Superiors of the Congregation were elected from the ranks of the founding Sisters until 1945 when Mother Magdalen Donegan was elected. She had entered the Congregation in September 1923. At the peak of its membership growth, the Congregation numbered approximately 190.
After three decades, on September 15, 1952, Bishop Smith took part in the sod turning for a new Motherhouse. On April 26, 1953 he blessed the cornerstone. The new motherhouse officially opened on December 12, 1953 – providing a home for years to which Sisters could return from missions outside Pembroke. Many of the convents outside Pembroke housed teachers, as education was a significant ministry. The first classes held at St. Joseph’s Academy, a girls’ high school in Renfrew, on September 10, 1928. A new building was completed in 1940 and the school stayed open for almost three more decades. In October 1940, the Normal School, later St. Mary’s Teachers’ College, opened in Chapeau, and saw its last graduates in 1969. This ministry was unique to the Pembroke Sisters, as no other of our communities provided teacher training.
Following the original thread of the Sisters in Le Puy, the Pembroke Sisters served others in corporal works of mercy through healthcare. On July 25, 1946 Sisters arrived in Radville, Saskatchewan to establish the first hospital, which they administered until 1998. Ten years after opening the hospital, they founded Marian Home to provide long term care, and senior care. Sisters also went to Regina, where they opened Santa Maria Senior Citizens’ Home on October 12, 1968. On January 7, 1947 they assumed the administration and staffing of St. Joseph’s Hospital in Barrhead, Alberta from the Religious Hospitallers of St Joseph. This ministry lasted until 1978.
Closer to home, St. Francis Memorial Hospital in Barry’s Bay, Ontario was opened on October 25, 1960. This hospital was also staffed by the Sisters. Sr. Rosenda Brady, who administered this hospital, later took charge of Valley Manor, a senior’s home in Barry’s Bay, which opened on June 23, 1978. On August 24, 1968, Sisters arrived to administer and staff St. Joseph’s Manor, a home for senior citizens, in Campbell’s Bay, Québec, where they remained until 1982.
There was only a short-lived ministry of orphan care at Villa St. Joseph in Renfrew from 1940 to 1947. In a spirit of adventure, the Sisters set sail to South America on April 17, 1964, to found St. Joseph’s Convent in Chincha Alta, Peru. On the feast day of St. Martin de Porres, November 2, 1964, they opened Clinica San Martin. In the spring of the following year, on April 1, 1965, the parish school opened in Chincha Alta. Classes began at Colegio San Jose in March 1970. On January 1, 1966 Clinica Tom Dooley opened in Chincha Baja.
Still following the thread of the Sisters in Le Puy, the Pembroke Sisters served others in spiritual works of mercy through parish work and spiritual development ministry. On August 15, 1978, Sisters began parish ministry in Penticton (to 1984). In September 1969, St. Joseph Centre, a renewal centre in Chapeau, opened for a brief period, followed in July 1989 by Stillpoint House of Prayer in Springtown, which has seen decades of service.
On November 22, 2012, the congregation amalgamated with those in Hamilton, London, and Peterborough into one charitable corporation under the name Congregation of the Sisters of St. Joseph in Canada by the Congregation of the Sisters of St. Joseph in Canada Act, a Private Act of the Legislative Assembly of Ontario which received Royal Assent on June 13, 2013.
Custodial history
Scope and content
This fonds contains the annals of the Sisters of St. Joseph of Pembroke, Ontario. There are annals recording the Sisters activities in Pembroke and at each mission. The annals cover the Sisters activities in Penticton, British Columbia; Barrhead, Alberta; Radville and Regina, Saskatchewan; Bancroft, Barry’s Bay, Calabogie, Deep River, Des Joachims, Douglas, Madawaska, Mount St. Patrick, Ottawa, Pembroke, Petawawa, Renfrew, and Whitney, Ontario; Campbell's Bay, Chapeau, and Quyon, Quebec; and abroad in Peru. Some annals also contain information about contemporary events and the history of the mission locations. In addition to the annals there is relevant correspondence, meeting minutes, news clippings, histories, and photographs about the Sisters and the locations of the missions. There are also the written vows of Sister Mary Patricia, a report on poverty in Peru in 1997, a list of Bishops of the Pembroke Diocese from 1898 to 1993, and publications of The Parish Bulletin from 1976-1980.
Notes area
Physical condition
Immediate source of acquisition
These records were accumulated by the Sisters of St. Joseph of Pembroke, Ontario.
Arrangement
Original order was maintained.
Language of material
Script of material
Location of originals
The records are located at the Congregation of the Sisters of St. Joseph in Canada Archives.
Availability of other formats
Restrictions on access
The Archives reserves the right to restrict access to the collection depending on the condition of the archival material, the amount of material requested, and the purpose of the research. The use of certain materials may also be restricted for reasons of privacy or sensitivity, or under a donor agreement. Access restrictions will be applied equally to all researchers and reviewed periodically. No researcher will be given access to any materials that contain a personal information bank such as donor agreements or personnel records, or to other proprietary information such as appraisals, insurance valuations, or condition reports.
Terms governing use, reproduction, and publication
Permission to study archival records does not extend to publication or display rights. The researcher must request this permission in writing from the Archives.
Finding aids
Series and file list available.
Associated materials
Accruals
No further accruals are expected.
General note
Some content within this record group contains language which may be offensive, derogatory, or harmful. This language does not reflect the values of the Congregation of the Sisters of St. Joseph in Canada.
General note
This project has been made possible in part by Library and Archives Canada’s Documentary Heritage Communities Program.
Alternative identifier(s)
Standard number
Standard number
Access points
Subject access points
Place access points
Name access points
Genre access points
Control area
Description record identifier
Institution identifier
Rules or conventions
Status
Level of detail
Dates of creation, revision and deletion
This project has been made possible in part by Library and Archives Canada’s Documentary Heritage Communities Program.
Created by Lyllie Sue and Rhiannon Allen-Roberts, 2024.
Language of description
Script of description
Sources
“Village of Quyon,’’ https://www.heritagepontiac.ca/hhf.htm, accessed 2024/05/23.
Bancroft Ontario, “The History of Barry’s Bay,” https://bancroftontario.com/history-barrys-bay/, accessed 2024/05/30.
County of Renfrew, “Indigenous Relations,” https://www.countyofrenfrew.on.ca/en/living-here/indigenous-relations.aspx, accessed 2024/05/24.
CSJ Archive, “History of the Congregation – Pembroke,” https://csjarchive.org/about/history-of-the-congregation/4/, accessed 2024/06/03.
CSJ Archive, “History of the Congregation – Pembroke,” https://csjarchive.org/about/history-of-the-congregation/4/, accessed 2024/06/03.
CSJ Archive, “History of the Congregation Pembroke,” https://csjarchive.org/about/history-of-the-congregation/4/, accessed 2024/05/30.
CSJ Archive, “May 24, 2017: St. Mary’s Teachers’ College, Chapeau, Quebec,” https://www.csjcanada.org/blog/2017/5/24/st-marys-teachers-college-chapeau-quebec.html, accessed 2024/06/03.
CSJ Archives, “Congregation of the Sisters of St. Joseph in Canada Finding Aid - Missions-Mount St. Patrick series (50-0028)”, https://www.archeion.ca/downloads/missions-mount-st-patrick-series.pdf, accessed 2024/06/06.
CSJ Canada, “Santa Maria Senior Citizens Home,” https://santamariaregina.ca/, accessed 2024/05/22.
CSJ Canada, “Santa Maria Senior Citizens Home,” https://santamariaregina.ca/, accessed 2024/05/22.
CSJ Canada, “Stillpoint – House of Prayer,” https://www.stillpoint.ca/, accessed 2024/05/21.
D. Dickson (ed.), and R. Dickson (ed.), “Fanatics invade public school at St. Mary’s School, Quyon,” The Equity, 21 September, 1967, https://numerique.banq.qc.ca/patrimoine/details/52327/2558080, accessed 2024/05/23.
Diocese of Pembroke, “Mount St. Patrick Parish (1843),” https://pembrokediocese.com/mount-st-patrick/, accessed 2024/06/06.
Friends of St-Joseph’s Manor, “History,” https://www.lesamisdumanoir.ca/en/who-are-we/history/, accessed 2024/06/03.
G. McGuire, “March 10, 2021: Memories from the 100th Anniversary of the Sisters in Pembroke,” https://www.csjcanada.org/blog/tag/Pembroke, accessed 2024/06/03.
Gouvernment du Québec-Commission de toponymie, “Quyon,” https://toponymie.gouv.qc.ca/ct/ToposWeb/fiche.aspx?no_seq=128331, accessed 2024/05/23.
Government of Ontario, “Map of Ontario Treaties and Reserves,” https://www.ontario.ca/page/map-ontario-treaties-and-reserves, accessed 2024/05/28.
M. Cherpin, “Town of Radville,” http://radville.ca/about-radville/, accessed 2024/05/27.
M. Lambert, “Municipality of Pontiac-History and Heritage,” https://municipalitepontiac.com/en/histoire-et-patrimoine/, accessed 2024/05/23.
M. Leroux, “L'Autre Outaouais : guide de découverte du patrimoine,’’ 2012.
M. McGuire, “The Chapeau Convent and Teachers’ College,” https://www.eganvilleleader.ca/monthly-feature/the-chapeau-convent-and-teachers-college/, accessed 2024/06/03.
Marmora Historical Foundation, “Profile of Michael John O'Brien, Deloro Tycoon,” https://www.marmorahistory.ca/michael-j-obrien, accessed 2024/05/24.
Multicultural Council of Saskatchewan, “Land Acknowledgement,” https://mcos.ca/wp-content/uploads/2019/10/land-acknowledgement-udpate-oct-22-2019.pdf, accessed 2024/05/27.
Multicultural Council of Saskatchewan, “Land Acknowledgement,” https://mcos.ca/wp-content/uploads/2019/10/land-acknowledgement-udpate-oct-22-2019.pdf, accessed 2024/05/27.
Multicultural Council of Saskatchewan, “Land Acknowledgement,” https://mcos.ca/wp-content/uploads/2019/10/land-acknowledgement-udpate-oct-22-2019.pdf, accessed 2024/05/27.
Municipality of Isle-aux-Allumettes, “History,” https://www.isle-aux-allumettes.com/en/history/, accessed 2024/06/03.
Native Land Digital, “Deep River, Ontario, Canada,” https://native-land.ca/resources/territory-acknowledgement/, accessed 2024/06/05.
Native Land Digital, “Pembroke, Ontario, Canada,” https://native-land.ca/, accessed 2024/05/30.
Native Land Digital, “Petawawa, Ontario, Canada,” https://native-land.ca/resources/territory-acknowledgement/, accessed 2024/06/05.
Native Land Digital, “Robinson-Huron (Treaty 61, 1850),” https://native-land.ca/maps/treaties/robinson-huron-treaty-61-1850/, accessed 2024/06/05.
Native Land Digital, “Robinson-Huron (Treaty 61, 1850),” https://native-land.ca/maps/treaties/robinson-huron-treaty-61-1850/, accessed 2024/06/05.
Native Land Digital, “Springtown, Burnstown, Ontario, Canada,” https://native-land.ca/, accessed 2024/05/30.
Nuclear Heritage, “The Early History of Deep River and “the Plant”,” https://nuclearheritage.com/wp-content/uploads/2017/10/The-Early-History-of-Deep-River-and-the-Plant.pdf, accessed 2024/06/05.
Ontario Federation of Labour Aboriginal Persons Caucus, "Traditional Territory Acknowledgements in Ontario," https://ofl.ca/wp-content/uploads/2017.05.31-Traditional-Territory-Acknowledgement-in-Ont.pdf, accessed 2024/05/31.
Ontario Federation of Labour Aboriginal Persons Caucus, "Traditional Territory Acknowledgements in Ontario," https://ofl.ca/wp-content/uploads/2017.05.31-Traditional-Territory-Acknowledgement-in-Ont.pdf, accessed 2024/06/06.
Ontario Federation of Labour Aboriginal Persons Caucus, “Traditional Territory Acknowledgements in Ontario,” https://ofl.ca/wp-content/uploads/2017.05.31-Traditional-Territory-Acknowledgement-in-Ont.pdf, accessed 2024/05/30.
Ottawa Valley Tourist Association, “Algonquins of Pikwakanagan First Nation,” https://www.ottawavalley.travel/places-to-visit/communities/algonquins-of-pikwakanagan-first-nation/, accessed 2024/05/24.
S. Adams, “What does the history of Deep River pre-1945 look like?, The Silent Community: A Case Study in Cultural and Heritage Preservation in the Ottawa Valley - AOO May 2022,” page 18, https://www.deepriverlibrary.ca/wp-content/uploads/2022/07/The_Silent_Community_Steffanie_Adams-1_compressed-3.pdf, accessed 2024/06/05.
Saskatchewan Health Authority, “Radville Marian Health Centre,” https://www.saskhealthauthority.ca/facilities-locations/radville-marian-health-centre, accessed 2024/05/27.
SFMH, “St. Francis Memorial Hospital (SFMH) – History and Profile,” https://www.sfmhosp.com/about-us/history-and-profile/, accessed 2024/05/30
Sister Mary McGuire, “Sisters established schools in several communities,” https://www.eganvilleleader.ca/monthly-feature/sisters-established-schools-in-several-communities/, accessed 2024/05/31.
Sister Mary McGuire, “Sisters established schools in several communities,” https://www.eganvilleleader.ca/monthly-feature/sisters-established-schools-in-several-communities/, accessed 2024/05/24.
Sister Mary McGuire, “Sisters of St. Joseph – Health Care – A Service of Love, 1940 ~ Renfrew, Ontario,” https://www.eganvilleleader.ca/monthly-feature/sisters-of-st-joseph-health-care-a-service-of-love/, accessed 2024/05/24.
SMSCH, “Santa Maria Senior Citizens Home (SMSCH),” https://santamariaregina.ca/, accessed 2024/05/27.
Sr. Mary McGuire, “Sisters established schools in several communities: Quyon-Quebec,” https://www.eganvilleleader.ca/monthly-feature/sisters-established-schools-in-several-communities/, accessed 2024/05/23.
St. Joseph's Catholic High School, https://sites.google.com/rccdsb.ca/jagpride/home, accessed 2024/05/24.
Statistics Canada, “Census Profile, 2016 Census - Radville, Town [Census subdivision], Saskatchewan and Treaty Four Reserve Grounds 77, Indian reserve [Census subdivision], Saskatchewan,” https://www12.statcan.gc.ca/census-recensement/2016/dp-pd/prof/details/page.cfm?Lang=E&Geo1=CSD&Code1=4702031&Geo2=CSD&Code2=4706829&SearchText=Regina--Moose%20Mountain&SearchType=Begins&SearchPR=01&B1=All&type=0, accessed 2024/05/27.
T. McHugh, “Our ancient landscapes: Holy wells in Ireland, An Chomhairle Oidhreachta / The Heritage Council,” https://www.heritagecouncil.ie/content/files/Holy-Wells-of-Ireland.pdf, accessed 2024/06/06.
The Township of Greater Madawaska, “Early days in Mount St. Patrick and Dacre By Bill Graham, Former Editor: The Madawaska Highlander,” https://www.greatermadawaska.com/en/play-and-discover/mount-st-patrick-and-dacre.aspx, accessed 2024/06/06.