St. Ann's Academy (Victoria, British Columbia) Facts for Kids

Quick facts for kids St. Ann’s Academy
Main building
General information
Architectural style	French Canadian - Quebec Provincial
Location	835 Humboldt Street Victoria, British Columbia V8W 1B1
Country	Canada
Construction started	1858 Chapel 1871 School 1886 & 1909 Convent
Client	Sisters of Saint Ann
Design and construction
Architect	Joseph Michaud, Charles Verheyden, John Teague, Thomas Hooper

National Historic Site of Canada
Official name: St. Ann's Academy National Historic Site of Canada
Designated:	1989

St. Ann's Academy was once a special school in Victoria, British Columbia, Canada. It was a Catholic school for girls from grades 3 to 12. Younger boys, from kindergarten to grade 3, also attended. The school also welcomed First Nations children, including orphans, from other missions.

The main building of St. Ann's Academy was also a home for the Sisters of Saint Ann. These Sisters were a group of Catholic women from Lachine, Quebec. The oldest part of the Academy is its chapel. It was designed by Father Joseph Michaud and built in 1858. This chapel was originally St. Andrew's Cathedral. Later, in 1886, it became St. Ann's Chapel. A convent, which is a home for nuns, was added in 1887 and again in 1910.

History of St. Ann's Academy
Architecture and Design
The Chapel at St. Ann's
Art and Memorials
See also

History of St. Ann's Academy

The Sisters of St. Ann closed the Academy in 1973. They sold the property to the government of British Columbia. For a few years, the government used the building as offices. However, the building needed many repairs and had to be closed. For a long time, people debated what should happen to the building and its land.

Restoring the Academy

The Provincial Capital Commission took charge of the building. The inside of the building was completely rebuilt, from the basement to the attic. This work made the building safer in case of an earthquake. It also updated the space for modern offices. After the work was finished, most of the building was rented to the BC Ministry of Advanced Education. This use fit well with the Sisters' original goals of education.

The outside of the historic building was kept and repaired. The chapel, meeting rooms, and infirmary (a place for the sick) were restored. They now look like they did in the 1920s. These areas are used as a special center where visitors can learn about the Academy's history. The auditorium was also made safer and restored. It is now used for public talks and concerts. The building officially reopened in 1997.

The Chapel Today

When the Sisters sold the property, the chapel was no longer used for religious services. Since its restoration, the chapel and the nearby Novitiate Garden are popular. They are often used for weddings and other events.

Changes to the Grounds

An extra building behind the main Academy was once used by the Victoria Conservatory of Music. This building was taken down on September 11, 2001. The Conservatory had moved to new buildings. The area where the annex stood was cleared and turned into green space. This connected the Academy grounds with the nearby Beacon Hill Park.

Architecture and Design

St. Ann's Academy is a great example of Victoria's Quebec Colonial style of architecture. This style shows how buildings were designed in Quebec, Canada, a long time ago.

The main building of the Academy.
The Academy at night.
The entrance stairway.
The Novitiate Garden.
The west wing addition.
The west wing annex.
The main driveway.
Showing two different building styles.

The Chapel at St. Ann's

St. Ann's Chapel was originally the first St. Andrew's Cathedral in Victoria. Brother (who later became Father) Michaud designed the chapel. He was a member of the Clerics of Saint Viator.

St. Ann's Chapel.
The altar inside the chapel.
The Casavant Frères organ, built in 1914.
A beautiful stained glass window.
A main artwork showing Anne and Joachim teaching Mary.
A close-up of the main painting.
A painting of the young Jesus in the temple.
An Annunciation painting.

Art and Memorials

The Sisters of Saint Ann had two cemeteries at the Academy. Many of the first Sisters were buried there. In 1908, a new burial plot was opened at Ross Bay Cemetery. When the Academy closed in 1974, the remains of the first Sisters were moved. They were reburied in the Sisters' plot at Ross Bay.

Many of the stained glass windows were damaged when the building was empty. They had to be rebuilt during the restoration.

Sister Mary Osithe was an artist. She painted 'The Immaculate Conception' painting, which is in the Sisters' waiting room. Sister Mary Osithe also designed the Little Flower Academy school in Vancouver. She also designed St. Ann's Boys' School in Quamichan.