Campus Saint-Jean is evolving

The Onésime Dorval Room had to be refurbished during the summer of 2023, and the furniture and items inside had to be moved. Refurbishment work was carried out and the room was transformed into a multi-purpose space for educational and community use, in response to the campus’s needs.

No recent comprehensive inventory of the Onésime Dorval Hall existed, but the Hall contained, apart from the more recent furniture:

• Three wooden altars
• Framed photographs of graduating classes from the institution under Oblate administration
• An antique clock
• Two original doors from the institution
• A statuette of Brother Antoine
• A small cross
• Two small antique desks
• An antique wooden chair
• A carved wooden map which, formerly via an electric mechanism, identified French-speaking and bilingual municipalities in Western Canada

In addition, the hall featured a series of panels presenting the history of the Saint-Jean institution and the Oblates, large printed presentation banners, and a frieze tracing the history of Saint-Jean’s infrastructure. The clock featured two decorative glass panels.

No items have gone missing from the Onésime Dorval Room.

No items have gone missing, been destroyed or thrown away.

The altars have been bequeathed to a cultural association, where they will be used for religious purposes in a respectful setting. This decision was taken following consultation, in the spring of 2023, with leaders of the French-speaking community.

The other objects, particularly those used in worship, have been passed on either to the Diocese of Edmonton or to the Royal Alberta Museum. Some of these objects form the centrepiece of the exhibition “Chez nous: Alberta’s Francophone Community”, running from 2 March 2026 to 9 May 2027.

The Campus Dean meets regularly, both formally and informally, with leaders of community organizations within Alberta’s diverse Francophone community. In particular, the administration consulted several of these leaders as part of the launch of the Campus’s decolonization process. All members of the community or organizations that submitted requests were contacted in writing or by email.

The Dean of the Campus meets regularly, both formally and informally, with the heads of community organizations in Alberta's French-speaking community. The administration consulted several of these leaders as part of the launch of the Campus decolonization process. All community members and organizations who made requests were contacted in writing or by e-mail.

The fundamental principles of inclusivity and decolonisation are directly at odds with the way in which the history of the Saint-Jean institution was presented in this room, without any educational context and, in particular, with very little mention of the significant role played by the Oblate Order in the cultural genocide perpetrated by Indigenous residential schools. As a reminder, the Oblates ran the majority of Catholic residential schools in Canada – 48 out of 70.

The Saint-Jean institution, in particular, maintained close ties with the administration of several residential schools. Several members of the Oblate staff working at Saint-Jean had, at one time or another, worked in a residential school. It is therefore important to conduct a thorough review of how the history of the Saint-Jean institution is presented, so as not to omit any significant facts.

It is also important to recognise that the history of Francophones in Alberta is not limited to the presence of the Oblates. The Onésime Dorval Room contained virtually no objects other than those directly related to the Oblates’ educational work. Apart from a few photographs, there were no objects representing other sporting or cultural activities, notably those of the Chorale Saint-Jean.

Finally, it should be noted that the layout of the hall predated the findings and calls to action of the Truth and Reconciliation Commission (TRC). It was therefore not only desirable but absolutely necessary to undertake a process of reflection. This will take place once the renovations to the Campus Saint-Jean are complete, in order to avoid constantly moving the objects and risking damage to them.

There are also plans to digitize the photographs of pupils and students and make them available online to the wider community.

It is clear that, in this context, there is no ‘erasure’ or ‘destruction’ of Alberta’s Francophone heritage, nor is there any conflict between the process of decolonisation and the preservation of the Francophones’ historical heritage.
Alberta’s Francophone community is a vibrant, diverse and constantly evolving one. Reducing its historical heritage to a small number of religious artefacts does not reflect this diversity. The Campus is keen to represent Alberta’s Francophone community and the diversity of its history, and will work with all community partners who wish to be part of this project and this inclusive vision.

Renovation work was carried out, and the Onesime Dorval Hall was transformed into a multipurpose space for educational and community use, in response to the campus's needs.

There are no plans to rename Campus Saint-Jean. 

The grotto of Notre-Dame de Lourdes is part of the Campus Saint-Jean infrastructure and will not be moved or destroyed.

In consultation with student representatives, the Ceremony of Light—which was established in the 1990s—has been restructured to better meet their expectations. The campus now organizes a celebratory event on the same day as the graduation ceremony to allow the families of graduating students to fully enjoy this special day. With the increase in student enrollment, these celebratory events now draw nearly 500 participants.

Campus Saint-Jean does not seek to erase the past, but rather to evolve the Franco-Alberta heritage so that it remains vibrant, inclusive, and rooted in the 21st century.

Our position is based on three fundamental pillars:

• Celebrating the struggle for language rights through excellence: The Campus celebrates the historic struggles for language rights by being a vibrant and rapidly growing French-speaking campus. Today, we are spreading this legacy far beyond our borders by attracting global attention. For us, the French-speaking world goes hand in hand with academic excellence.
• Historical awareness and a clear-eyed perspective: The Campus is fully aware of its origins and the history of the Saint-Jean institution, which was administered by the Oblates from 1908 until 1976. As an institution of learning committed to truth and reconciliation, we recognize the complexity of this history and of the Francophone colonial presence in Western Canada. Analyzing our past honestly and critically does not mean erasing it, but rather demonstrating social responsibility and scientific rigor.
• A forward-looking academic mission: The Campus’s top priority is its academic mission. We are a place of higher education, innovation, and research—not a museum frozen in time. Our primary responsibility is to maximize the quality of the learning environment for our students and researchers, which inevitably leads us to make planning decisions to ensure that French remains a language of the future and of opportunity.

As proof that our history is preserved on a daily basis, the Campus continues to house and showcase numerous symbols, historic monuments, and notable figures that remind us of our French and Franco-Alberta roots, including:

• The statue of Brother Antoine;
• The portrait and artifacts associated with Chancellor Louis-Armand Desrochers;
• The Grotto of Lourdes;
• The historic benches of the Juniorate;
• The mosaic located at the side entrance of the McMahon Pavilion;
• The statue of Saint John.

We do not erase the past by adding new chapters to it. It is precisely to honor the struggles of yesterday that Campus Saint-Jean continues to evolve, ensuring that Alberta’s Francophone community remains a dynamic, inclusive force and a model of excellence for future generations.

The removal of the carved brick mural by James A. Marshall, which was installed in the McMahon Pavilion in 1995, stems from a carefully considered decision related to the evolution of our spaces and our institutional standards. Several key reasons underpin this decision:

• The modernization of learning spaces: To fulfill its mission of academic excellence, the Campus must modernize its infrastructure and adapt its common areas. Unlike a museum, a dynamic campus must constantly reinvest in and transform its facilities to meet the changing needs of students, faculty, and researchers.
• A renewed and inclusive vision: The Campus now seeks to project a modern, transdisciplinary image that is resolutely forward-looking. Freeing up this space opens the door to future initiatives that will more accurately, inclusively, and diversely reflect the current face of Alberta’s Francophone community, while honoring our duty to remember the past.
• A Lack of Pedagogical and Historical Rigor: Upon analysis, it became apparent that certain visual elements of the mural did not represent the history of Saint-Jean in an adequate or pedagogically rigorous manner. As an institution of higher education, the Campus has a duty to ensure that historical representations within its walls meet current standards for knowledge transmission and contextualization.

Campus Saint-Jean is not neglecting this history; rather, it is preparing to highlight it. The institution has been undergoing a major infrastructure renovation since 2022, and these modernization efforts are actively continuing today.

We are firmly committed to giving pride of place to the history of the Campus, its founders, and its alumni. To achieve this, a comprehensive process is already underway:

• Ongoing research and consultations: We have launched in-depth community consultations and invited the community to share their valuable stories. At the same time, our teams are conducting rigorous research into our campus’s past.
• An upcoming development plan: The data, memories, and archives we have gathered will very soon be used to develop concrete plans for showcasing this history within our modernized spaces.
• A neutral and educational approach: True to its academic mission, the Campus will ensure that this historical presentation is carried out in a neutral, scientific, and educational manner. Our role is to provide a space for the transmission of knowledge that respects historical truth and educates future generations.

The representation of our history has not been forgotten; it is currently being reconstructed. The ongoing renovations offer us a unique opportunity to rethink our spaces in order to integrate the rich Franco-Alberta heritage in a way that is at once dignified, rigorous, and in line with the standards of a major institution of higher education.

The role of the Saint-Jean Institution (historically known as the Collège or Institution Saint-Jean) within the system of residential schools is based on clear and well-documented historical ties, marked by a significant flow of clergy between the institution and various residential schools in Western Canada.

True to its commitment to truth and reconciliation, Campus Saint-Jean draws on the findings of the National Center for Truth and Reconciliation (CNVR) as well as its own archival research to acknowledge the following facts:

• The movement of administrative and teaching staff: Key figures who held leadership, management, or teaching roles at Collège Saint-Jean also served in major capacities (as missionaries, teachers, or principals) within the network of Indigenous residential schools. Among them:
  • Father Antonio Duhaime (treasurer at Saint-Jean in 1951–1952) and Father Georges Chevrier (teacher from 1945 to 1949) were both principals of the St. Michael’s residential school in Duck Lake, Saskatchewan. They are mentioned in documented investigations involving allegations of abuse.
  • Reverend Émeric Drouin (assistant at Saint-Jean in 1951–1952) served as head teacher at the Ste-Marie residential school in Cardston.
• The career paths of clergy from the institution: Several priests who served in the administration or were trained within the institution worked for extended periods at these schools. This was the case for Father Antoine Kacl (active in Saint-Jean between 1927 and 1953), who worked at the residential schools in Dunbow, Duck Lake, Ermineskin (Hobbema), and Blue Quills (St. Paul). Father James Michael McGrath (a 1940 graduate), for his part, became principal of the Cariboo residential school in Williams Lake.
• Testimonies and Allegations of Abuse: Historical research and survivors’ testimonies shed light on allegations of abuse involving individuals whose paths crossed with that of Saint-Jean. For example, Father Laurent Houde (who graduated from the College in 1950) has been accused by survivors of the Duck Lake residential school.

These findings reveal a systemic reality linked to the period when the institution was under the administration of the Congregation of the Oblates of Mary Immaculate (from 1908 to 1976), a congregation that itself publicly acknowledged in 1991 its central role in this system of assimilation and the suffering that resulted from it.

As part of the University of Alberta, Campus Saint-Jean believes it is impossible to plan for the future without shedding light on the history of the past.

That is why the administration is committed to conducting this research in depth, publishing all of its findings, and moving irreversibly along the path of truth, decolonization, and reconciliation.

Campus Saint-Jean does not refuse to work with community organizations. On the contrary, the door to dialogue remains—and will always remain—open to all long-standing institutional and community partners.

However, as part of its current strategic planning, differences in position have led some organizations to choose to withdraw from the consultation process on their own initiative.

The Campus maintains a firm and transparent set of guidelines regarding what guides its collaborations:

• A shared foundation of historical acknowledgment: The Campus firmly believes that constructive dialogue to build the community’s future must be based on a mutual and clear-eyed acknowledgment of the historical facts established by research. University administration maintains that it is impossible to plan for the future without fully shedding light on the institution’s past ties to the residential school system, as documented by the National Center for Truth and Reconciliation (NCTR).
• The Primacy of the University’s Mission: As part of the University of Alberta, the Campus must operate according to rigorous principles of scientific research, neutrality, and historical truth, while adhering to contemporary ethical protocols. Collaborations must be conducted in a manner that respects this autonomy and academic mission.
• An Irrevocable Commitment to Truth and Reconciliation: To ensure its growth and sustainability, the Campus has a responsibility to be a space of absolute openness, inclusivity, and safety for every student, regardless of their background or identity. The Campus cannot compromise its decolonization process, which is essential to its modern educational mission.

Campus Saint-Jean does not seek to exclude, but rather to bring people together around universal values of intellectual transparency. Although the administration regrets the decision by certain organizations not to participate in the consultation forums, it reiterates that the door remains open to anyone who wishes to move forward together on the basis of open, honest dialogue focused on the excellence of tomorrow’s Francophone community.

The removal of the composite portraits of graduating students (grad photos) is part of the major modernization efforts at the Saint-Jean Campus and is essential to ensure regulatory compliance.

Here are the specific reasons for this removal:

• Renovation work and digitization project: The Campus is currently undergoing a major phase of infrastructure renovation. To preserve this visual heritage and modernize access to it, we have launched a large-scale project to digitize the entire photographic archive. The physical collages therefore had to be temporarily removed from the walls to allow for the renovation work and the digitization process.
• Compliance with FOIP/POPA Legislation: The previous physical display of these photographs did not always meet the requirements of current privacy protection legislation, particularly the POPA (Protection of Privacy Act / Freedom of Information and Protection of Privacy—FOIP). As a public institution of higher education, the Campus has a strict obligation to comply with these contemporary ethical and legal regulations.

Access to the history of our graduates will not disappear; it will evolve. Once the digitization project is complete, an interactive digital kiosk will be installed on campus.

This modern kiosk will allow the entire community to easily access the composite portraits and celebrate our graduates, all in digital format and in full compliance with the procedures and requirements of the current POPA legislation.

No, Campus Saint-Jean does not deny access to its spaces as a matter of policy. The campus facilities remain important community spaces, but their management and allocation depend directly on logistical constraints and our renovation schedule.

If an external event cannot be hosted or if a reservation must be modified, this is due to very specific operational realities:

• A very limited construction window: To avoid disrupting the academic year, the vast majority of our modernization work must be concentrated each year into a period of just a few weeks (during the summer). This extremely tight schedule means that not all spaces are necessarily available at the same time.
• Unforeseen construction issues beyond our control: Infrastructure renovation comes with its share of uncertainties. Sometimes, unexpected technical issues or unforeseen delays in the work force us to close areas on an emergency basis and cancel prior reservations.
• Priority given to academic missions: As an institution of higher education, priority for the use of facilities is always given to teaching activities, research, and the direct needs of our student community.

Room denials or cancellations result solely from scheduling constraints and unforeseen issues related to ongoing renovation projects. The Saint-Jean Campus regrets any inconvenience these logistical adjustments may cause and reaffirms its commitment to welcoming the community as soon as the spaces are safe and functional.

Le remplacement temporaire du panneau d'accueil découlait d'une erreur logistique lors de la mise en place de la signalisation du nouveau logo de l’Université de l’Alberta et ne reflétait en rien un changement d'orientation de l'institution.

Dès que l'erreur a été constatée, l'administration a immédiatement pris les mesures nécessaires pour corriger la situation.

Afin de réaffirmer haut et fort son identité et sa fierté, le Campus a choisi d'aller encore plus loin : le panneau en place est désormais uniquement en français. En tant que cœur de la francophonie universitaire dans l'Ouest canadien, il est tout naturel que notre langue officielle soit la première à accueillir nos étudiants, notre personnel et nos visiteurs.

The dissolution of the Amicale Saint-Jean chapter in 2023 resulted from an official decision made by the Executive Committee of the University of Alberta’s Alumni Council, due to several specific operational and administrative factors:

• Prolonged inactivity and lack of resources: The chapter was considered dormant, having recorded no official activity (events or meetings) for more than three years. Despite efforts to recruit new volunteers, the group had only three active members remaining, while university policies require a minimum of five members to maintain a chapter.
• Staffing constraints and restructuring: Due to internal restructuring and resource constraints at that time, the Office of Alumni Relations did not have the necessary staff to support efforts to rebuild the association.

• Discrepancies from the university's administrative protocols and management standards have been identified, requiring a reassessment of the chapter's structure.

Faced with these cumulative challenges, the Executive Committee ratified the decision not to reactivate this dormant chapter in November 2023, a measure that also affected other affinity groups on campus at the same time.

The closure of this chapter did not end our commitment to our alumni. On the contrary, the Saint-Jean Campus has taken up the torch by implementing a local and more inclusive approach:

• A dedicated team: The Campus has hired staff to directly manage relations with alumni.
• Concrete plans are now being implemented to engage the alumni community through themed and professional development workshops, sports activities, and cultural visits.

The alumni community is currently thriving and vibrant. It is a top priority for the Campus and the University to ensure that the legacy, history, and ongoing significance of Saint-Jean’s alumni are fully recognized and celebrated.

No, Campus Saint-Jean’s primary mandate is not to be a place of remembrance or a static museum. As a faculty of the University of Alberta, Campus Saint-Jean is first and foremost guided by a mission of higher education, research, and a relentless pursuit of excellence.

While the Marcelle and Louis Desrochers Institute for Heritage and Transdisciplinary Research on Canadian and International Francophone Communities (IMELDA) conducts rigorous research on heritage using archives, documents, and various historical resources, its role remains academic. Archival preservation and the museum-based promotion of local history fall within the essential role of historical associations and heritage societies. These organizations have the specific mandate and necessary expertise to fulfill this mission, and the Campus strongly encourages them to continue this work—which is indispensable to the community—within their own spaces.

For our part, this research—conducted to the highest academic standards—redefines our relationship with history through three guiding principles:

• Educational Space and Scientific Rigor First: Our top priority is to offer our student body a modern, innovative, and internationally competitive learning environment. Given space constraints, our planning decisions always prioritize the excellence of educational infrastructure (classrooms, laboratories, collaborative spaces) over the preservation of static structures.
• Excellence Through Historical Truth: An institution of excellence does not idolize the past; it studies it with clarity and intellectual rigor. Whether celebrating Franco-Albertan language struggles or transparently analyzing historical ties to the Indigenous residential school system, the Campus adheres to contemporary ethical and scientific standards. Facing our history head-on is a mark of social responsibility and academic maturity.
• A living memory propelled toward the future: Aligning the Francophonie with excellence means demonstrating that French is a language of science, leadership, and the future—not a relic of the past. Our rich heritage is preserved and celebrated in a dynamic way (as evidenced by our iconic outdoor monuments and our digitization projects), but it serves as a springboard to propel tomorrow’s leaders, rather than an anchor that keeps us frozen in time.

The Campus’s mandate is to promote the French-speaking world through academic excellence, while leaving it to specialized associations to safeguard our community’s museum heritage. Our role is not to freeze the past within our walls, but to draw on an honest and rigorous understanding of history to propel Campus Saint-Jean toward 21st-century academic excellence.

No, quite the contrary: the role and impact of Campus Saint-Jean within the Canadian Francophonie are experiencing unprecedented growth. Far from being weakened, the institution stands out more than ever as a beacon of higher education in French, driven by a historic modernization effort and increased institutional recognition.

Our influence and national relevance are now evident through major advancements:

• Rapid growth and international connections: The Campus is experiencing a remarkable increase in enrollment. This vitality is attracting attention far beyond our borders: Campus Saint-Jean is now forging numerous international connections and partnerships with institutions throughout the global Francophone community, becoming a true hub of attraction for talent and researchers from here and abroad.
• Historic support from the central administration: As evidence of the strategic importance of the French language, the central administration of the University of Alberta has demonstrated an unprecedented institutional commitment. The University now publishes all of its strategic documents in French, thereby formally recognizing linguistic duality and the central role of Campus Saint-Jean in the identity and future of the institution as a whole.
• A Center of Research Excellence: As part of a world-renowned university, the Campus is making an increasing number of high-level scientific contributions. Our researchers are advancing French-language research in crucial fields such as health sciences, education, the environment, and the humanities, thereby strengthening Western Canada’s influence within the scientific Francophonie.
• An Economic and Leadership Driver: By training future bilingual or Francophone teachers, nurses, managers, and leaders, the Campus directly addresses the pressing need for a skilled workforce. We give the French language a professional and economic value that is indispensable to the country’s future.

Campus Saint-Jean is not merely maintaining its position; it is taking its operations to a new level. Driven by rapid growth, a rapidly expanding international network, and the unwavering support of a university that now communicates its strategic priorities in both official languages, Campus Saint-Jean is establishing itself as a forward-looking, modern, and ambitious player for the entire Canadian and global Francophone community.