Campus Saint-Jean is building a dynamic future rooted in truth

Courtesy translation of the original message in French

Campus Saint-Jean is thriving. Our enrollment has grown by nearly 150% over the past three years. We work closely with the vast majority of organizations involved in the Francophonie, actively expanding our reach and influence among Franco-Alberta communities, Indigenous communities, and international newcomers. Our student body now includes students from more than 30 countries, making Campus Saint-Jean a dynamic international hub. In recent years, we have established—and continue to establish—a growing number of essential partnerships across all areas—ranging from work on diversity and equity to French-language education in Catholic and public school systems. The 50th anniversary of our faculty in 2027 will be a cause for true celebration.

This is a campus that is moving forward with determination and confidence.

It is also a campus committed to confronting its history head-on—not in spite of its momentum, but precisely because of it. Over the past two years, Campus Saint-Jean has undertaken preliminary archival research into its institutional ties to Canada’s Indian residential school system. This research has revealed documented links between individuals who held positions at Campus Saint-Jean and those who inflicted serious harm on Indigenous peoples through the residential school system. This is a difficult history that requires acknowledgment and accountability.

We decided to face it head-on.

Why Historical Honesty Strengthens Our Future

For more than a century, Campus Saint-Jean has been a pillar of Francophone education in Alberta and Western Canada—long before it became part of the University of Alberta. This legacy is of real significance—for the university, for the city, for the province, and for our country. But a legacy that deserves to be honored is one that we must fully understand.

The Oblates of Mary Immaculate—the founding congregation of Collège Saint-Jean—issued a historic statement in 1991 acknowledging their central role in the administration of the Indian residential school system as a project of assimilation. Our archival research has identified specific individuals who served at both the Saint-Jean Campus and at Indian residential schools. These connections are documented in archival records, survivor testimonies, and admissions from the institutions most directly involved.

Recognizing this history in no way diminishes our Francophone heritage. On the contrary, it strengthens it. A strong and self-assured tradition does not need to be selective. We can celebrate the dedication of those committed to education who built Francophone schools in a country where support for such institutions was not guaranteed. We can honor the linguistic and cultural legacy that has enriched Alberta. And we can simultaneously acknowledge that some of these educators caused serious harm to Indigenous peoples. These truths are not contradictory—they constitute the full story.

An institution that chooses its values

This commitment to honesty is reflected in concrete actions across our entire campus.

Campus Saint-Jean is currently conducting a comprehensive and transparent historical review. We will publish our findings in their entirety. This is an act of institutional integrity.

We have also redesigned our physical and cultural spaces to ensure that they are truly inclusive and accessible to the entire student body. As part of these efforts, we have covered a mural by artist James A. Marshall—a decision made in consultation with the design team, the University of Alberta Naming Advisory Committee, and community representatives, with Mr. Marshall’s consent. High-resolution images remain available to the public; we are preserving history without allowing it to dictate how we use our educational and community spaces.

We have renovated the Onésime Dorval Historical Hall. Several Indigenous students have emphasized the importance of ensuring that all spaces on campus are truly inclusive and safe. The renovated hall now serves as a multipurpose space for teaching and community life, allowing us to meet the growing demand from students while prioritizing truth and reconciliation.

We have revised the format of our graduation ceremony for the Francophone community, the “Cérémonie de la Lumière,” after consulting with our student association. Some members of the student body did not feel represented or included in the previous format. The revamped ceremony, which takes place on the same day as the university-wide commencement and is still conducted entirely in French, now reflects the inclusivity and diversity of our university community, while strengthening the sense of belonging to the University of Alberta as a whole. Thanks to this change in format, we are able to welcome all families from Alberta, Canada, and abroad. We have received positive feedback from the student body since this change.

These decisions reflect the values we choose to embody: a commitment to sincerity, inclusion, and equitable service to the entire student body.

Looking Toward the Future Together

Recent media coverage has raised concerns about how Campus Saint-Jean has handled its history. We understand that coming to terms with the institutional ties within the Indian residential school system is painful, particularly for those who have dedicated themselves to preserving the legacy of Francophone education in Alberta.

But we invite the Francophone community to see what we’re actually building. Our growth is no accident. Our partnerships are not marginal. Our student body—comprising students of Franco-Albertan descent, Indigenous peoples, students in French immersion programs, Francophones from across Canada, and newcomers from around the world—chooses Campus Saint-Jean because we create a space that is truly open, inclusive, innovative, forward-looking, and committed to excellence.

This momentum extends from our local region to the national and global stages. Prestigious institutions involved in the global Francophonie have reached out to us on their own initiative to develop new academic and research partnerships. The vast majority of Francophonie organizations understand that honoring our heritage requires us to move forward, to face our past head-on, and to build something better.

The future of Campus Saint-Jean is more promising than ever—and it is a future we hope to build together, grounded in truth, driven by hope, and resolutely Francophone.

Jason Carey, Ph.D., P.Eng.
Professor, Dean, and Chief Executive Officer
Saint-Jean Campus, University of Alberta