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8 March 2019

Mother Sainte-Anne-Marie, Remarkable Woman in Quebec’s Educational History

Montreal, March 8, 2019 – It is with great joy that the Sisters of the Congrégation de Notre-Dame have learned that the name of Sister Marie-Aveline Bengle (known as Mother Sainte-Anne-Marie) is found on the list of women who were honoured by the Quebec Government today, for the great impact they had in Quebec’s history.

Mother Saint-Anne-Marie was a true pioneer. She founded Collège Marguerite-Bourgeoys (1908), the first Classical College of the Province opened to young women, which paved their way to higher learning at the university level. She believed better trained teachers would increase the education level of their students: she thus founded the Institut pédagogique (1916) for teachers. As various educational needs arose, she addressed them by founding the École Normale de musique (music school) in 1926 and the École supérieure des arts et métiers (trade school) in 1932.

Mother Sainte-Anne-Marie entered the Congrégation de Notre-Dame in 1883 and taught for many years before becoming a principal in various schools. As Marguerite Bourgeoys had done
before her, she dedicated her whole life to the mission of liberating education, meeting the needs of her times, despite the challenges that came her way.

We join the women and men of the Province of Quebec in celebration of Mother Sainte-Anne-Marie’s life and works. We pay tribute to the vision and courage of all the women who came
before us: may they guide our us as we strive to fulfill the same mission.

Information:
Les Sœurs de la Congrégation de Notre-Dame
2330 Sherbrooke Street West
Montreal, QC H3H 1G8
http://cnd-m.org/en/biographies/sainte-annemarie.php
http://www.heritagecnd.org/pdf/Heritage.fr_no36.pdf
https://crc-canada.org/en/biographies/mere-sainte-anne-marie-cnd/

Stéphanie Manseau
Director, Communication Services
Congrégation de Notre-Dame
(514) 931-5891 Ext. 236
smanseau@cnd-m.org

Source: Congrégation de Notre-Dame