A Century of Educational Service

The Ave Maria school

Even before Sutton High School students left for their new premises on Highland Street in the fall of 1955, negotiations had already started between Sutton’s anglophone school board and the village’s Catholic school commission, which was now responsible as well for children who had previously attended schools out in the countryside. These rural schools were now closed.

Discussions ended with the sale of the former Academy to the Catholic school commission, and by October 1956 the new owners approved preliminary plans to restore, modernize and enlarge the building.

AM 1 1956

Credit: Archives Société d'histoire de la Haute-Yamaska

A major event speeded things up. On the night of March 17, 1957, fire destroyed part of the Soeurs de la Présentation de Marie's convent.

Derrière du couvent, feu couvent
Derrière du couvent, feu couvent

Credit : Archives Héritage Sutton

Credit : Archives Héritage Sutton

From what we read in the minutes of the meeting of the Catholic school commission less than a week later (on March 22,1957), we can see that the commissioners of the commission scolaire catholique du village de Sutton approved accelerating the renovations. In August, the school commission borrowed $4,000 to finance the project.

AM_3-1

Credit : Archives Société d'histoire de la Haute-Yamaska

AM_3-3

Credit : Archives Société d'histoire de la Haute-Yamaska

The Ave Maria School was born. To  help trace its history until the school closed in 1986, dozens of former students and teachers were contacted and nine were interviewed on camera.

 

08 Jacqueline Brazeau-Cyr
09-Josée Barette
16-Lorraine Cournoyer

Jacqueline Brazeau-Cyr
1957-1959

Josée Barrette
1964-1968

Georgette Beaulac
1962-1968

lorraine cournoyer 3
10-Diane Dominque
11-Janice Hill

Lorraine Cournoyer
1962-1968

Diane Domingue
1962-1968

Janice Hill
1962-1968

12-Monique Sévigny
13-Edith Dandenault
14-Louise Delorme-Kelly

Monique Sévigny
1962-1968

Edith Dandenault
1982-1984

Louise Delorme-Kelly
1965-1966 et 1969-1973