Collège Saint-Alexandre
Encyclopedia
Collège Saint-Alexandre is a private secondary school (high school) located in Gatineau
, in the Outaouais region, in the province of Quebec
, Canada
. It is located on Rue Saint-Louis in the Gatineau sector in the Limbour neighbourhood.
Once limited to males only, it opened its doors to girls in 1988 in order to improve its rating. Known for its solid reputation of superior education, it attracts students from all over the region, particularly from the towns of Ottawa
, Hull
, Gatineau
, Cantley
, Chelsea
, Aylmer
, Buckingham
and Masson-Angers.
. It was at first used as a manor for parties. Wright died in 1894. After the death of his wife in 1904, the property was bought by Jesuit
priests fleeing secularization
in France
. They sought to turn the building into a private institution where they would teach classical studies, including philosophy
, Greek
, and Latin
.
In 1912, it would become the Collège Saint-Alexandre, which was founded by the Congregation of the Holy Ghost
. In 1967, the classical courses were abolished after extensive reforms by the Quebec government during the Quiet Revolution
, in which the province acquired a large role in the jurisdiction of education. Priests have gradually stopped teaching, and today the institutions is as secular as public schools. In 1988–89, the first female students were admitted to the College; the first group finished the secondary level in 1993.
In 2004, students, who already had a strict clothing policy, started wearing a uniform.
. It means, "To devote one's life to the truth."
Gatineau
Gatineau is a city in western Quebec, Canada. It is the fourth largest city in the province. It is located on the northern banks of the Ottawa River, immediately across from Ottawa, Ontario, and together they form Canada's National Capital Region. Ottawa and Gatineau comprise a single Census...
, in the Outaouais region, in the province of Quebec
Quebec
Quebec or is a province in east-central Canada. It is the only Canadian province with a predominantly French-speaking population and the only one whose sole official language is French at the provincial level....
, Canada
Canada
Canada is a North American country consisting of ten provinces and three territories. Located in the northern part of the continent, it extends from the Atlantic Ocean in the east to the Pacific Ocean in the west, and northward into the Arctic Ocean...
. It is located on Rue Saint-Louis in the Gatineau sector in the Limbour neighbourhood.
Neighbourhoods of Gatineau
List of neighbourhoods in the City of Gatineau, Quebec, Canada.-Aylmer Sector:* Centre-Ville Aylmer* Champlain Park* Deschênes* Glenwood* Lakeview Terrace* Le Plateau * Les Cedres* Lucerne Nord...
Once limited to males only, it opened its doors to girls in 1988 in order to improve its rating. Known for its solid reputation of superior education, it attracts students from all over the region, particularly from the towns of Ottawa
Ottawa
Ottawa is the capital of Canada, the second largest city in the Province of Ontario, and the fourth largest city in the country. The city is located on the south bank of the Ottawa River in the eastern portion of Southern Ontario...
, Hull
Hull, Quebec
Hull is the central and oldest part of the city of Gatineau, Quebec, Canada. It is located on the west bank of the Gatineau River and the north shore of the Ottawa River, directly opposite Ottawa. As part of the Canadian National Capital Region, it contains offices for twenty thousand...
, Gatineau
Gatineau
Gatineau is a city in western Quebec, Canada. It is the fourth largest city in the province. It is located on the northern banks of the Ottawa River, immediately across from Ottawa, Ontario, and together they form Canada's National Capital Region. Ottawa and Gatineau comprise a single Census...
, Cantley
Cantley, Quebec
Cantley, Quebec, Canada, is a rural municipality north of the city of Gatineau, east of the Gatineau River, located within Canada's National Capital Region approximately 15–20 minutes from Parliament Hill. The population in 2006 was 7,926. Between 2001 and 2006, Cantley had the largest population...
, Chelsea
Chelsea, Quebec
Chelsea is a municipality located immediately north of Gatineau, Quebec, Canada and about 7 miles north of Ottawa. Chelsea is located within Canada's National Capital Region. In 2006 the population was 6,703....
, Aylmer
Aylmer, Quebec
Aylmer is a former city in Quebec, Canada. It became a sector of the City of Gatineau on January 1, 2002. Located on the Ottawa River and Route 148 it is a part of the National Capital Region. The population in 2006 was 41 882 — approx. 16% of Gatineau...
, Buckingham
Buckingham
Buckingham is a town situated in north Buckinghamshire, England, close to the borders of Northamptonshire and Oxfordshire. The town has a population of 11,572 ,...
and Masson-Angers.
History
The building in which the school is housed was built in 1850 by Alonzo WrightAlonzo Wright
Alonzo Wright was a Canadian member of Parliament and businessman commonly known as "King of the Gatineau".He was born in Cantley, Quebec in 1821. He was a grandson of Philemon Wright, and son of Tiberius Wright...
. It was at first used as a manor for parties. Wright died in 1894. After the death of his wife in 1904, the property was bought by Jesuit
Society of Jesus
The Society of Jesus is a Catholic male religious order that follows the teachings of the Catholic Church. The members are called Jesuits, and are also known colloquially as "God's Army" and as "The Company," these being references to founder Ignatius of Loyola's military background and a...
priests fleeing secularization
Secularization
Secularization is the transformation of a society from close identification with religious values and institutions toward non-religious values and secular institutions...
in France
France
The French Republic , The French Republic , The French Republic , (commonly known as France , is a unitary semi-presidential republic in Western Europe with several overseas territories and islands located on other continents and in the Indian, Pacific, and Atlantic oceans. Metropolitan France...
. They sought to turn the building into a private institution where they would teach classical studies, including philosophy
Philosophy
Philosophy is the study of general and fundamental problems, such as those connected with existence, knowledge, values, reason, mind, and language. Philosophy is distinguished from other ways of addressing such problems by its critical, generally systematic approach and its reliance on rational...
, Greek
Greek language
Greek is an independent branch of the Indo-European family of languages. Native to the southern Balkans, it has the longest documented history of any Indo-European language, spanning 34 centuries of written records. Its writing system has been the Greek alphabet for the majority of its history;...
, and Latin
Latin
Latin is an Italic language originally spoken in Latium and Ancient Rome. It, along with most European languages, is a descendant of the ancient Proto-Indo-European language. Although it is considered a dead language, a number of scholars and members of the Christian clergy speak it fluently, and...
.
In 1912, it would become the Collège Saint-Alexandre, which was founded by the Congregation of the Holy Ghost
Holy Ghost Fathers
The Congregation of the Holy Spirit is a Roman Catholic congregation of priests, lay brothers, and since Vatican II, lay associates...
. In 1967, the classical courses were abolished after extensive reforms by the Quebec government during the Quiet Revolution
Quiet Revolution
The Quiet Revolution was the 1960s period of intense change in Quebec, Canada, characterized by the rapid and effective secularization of society, the creation of a welfare state and a re-alignment of politics into federalist and separatist factions...
, in which the province acquired a large role in the jurisdiction of education. Priests have gradually stopped teaching, and today the institutions is as secular as public schools. In 1988–89, the first female students were admitted to the College; the first group finished the secondary level in 1993.
In 2004, students, who already had a strict clothing policy, started wearing a uniform.
Motto
The school's motto is Vitam Impedere Vero, which comes from the Latin poet JuvenalJuvenal
The Satires are a collection of satirical poems by the Latin author Juvenal written in the late 1st and early 2nd centuries AD.Juvenal is credited with sixteen known poems divided among five books; all are in the Roman genre of satire, which, at its most basic in the time of the author, comprised a...
. It means, "To devote one's life to the truth."