Images of Canadian Teachers Through History

Our Canadian Educators: A Visual Journey from the 17th century and Beyond

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Our Canadian Educators

A Visual Journey from the 17th century and Beyond

Content warning: this page contains photos of Indian Residential Schools and Japanese internment camp schools.

The narrative of Canadian education is incomplete without acknowledging its somber chapters, especially that of Indian Residential Schools. I felt it necessary to include these images, though I understand they may be difficult for survivors and their loved ones to see. Support is available for anyone affected by their experience at residential schools. A national Indian Residential School Crisis Line has been set up to provide support for former students and those affected. People can access emotional and crisis referral services by calling the 24-hour national crisis line: 1-866-925-4419.

“First Ursuline Nuns with Indian Pupils at Quebec,” watercolour by Lawrence R. Batchelor, circa 1931

“Marguerite Bourgeoys,” by Jean-Baptiste Lagacé in Histoire du Canada

"Marguerite Bourgeoys, with Untiring Zeal, devotes herself to the Education of the Children of New France, the Stable, First School, 1657,” postcard, circa 1920

“The Schoolmistress,” engraving by François-Bernard Lépicié after Jean Siméon Chardin, 1740

“Québec A.D. 1800 - The Seminary,” engraving

“The Old Schoolmaster,” oil painting by Jean-Jacques Monanteuil, 1850

“Entrance to the Seminary – Quebec,” 1860 engraving

“Leaving Class,” engraving by Marie Adrien Lavieille

“Grey Nun Teacher at the Notre-Dame du Sacré-Cœur Convent,” 186?

"Yamachiche Students at Nicolet in 1870,” in Le Monde illustré, Vol. 12, number 623 (11 Apr 1896), p. 796

“Aboriginal students and parents with teachers outside an Indian school near the Poplar River, Manitoba, 1890”, photo by Joseph Burr Tyrrell

“Group of L.H. Teachers,” June 1897

“Mother House – Painting Workshop,” photo by Sister Marie de l’Eucharistie (Elmina Lefebvre), 1897. “Inside view, a group of students painting with their work.”

“Graduating students of the Séminaire de Saint-Hyacinthe, 1899-1900,” photo by Archambault

“Mother House- Photography Workshop,” 1900. “Subject photographed: student girls with a nun."

“Twenty-six students with their teacher,” circa 1900

“Congrégation Notre Dame, Villa Maria, Montreal,” postcard, between 1903 and 1920

”Congrégation Notre Dame, Villa Maria, Montreal,” postcard, between 1903 and 1920

"Congrégation Notre Dame, Villa Maria, Montreal,” postcard, between 1903 and 1920

“Sacré-Cœur Boarding School, Sault-au-Récollet,” postcard, between 1903 and 1912

“Group of Acadian teachers,” in Album universel, Vol. 22, number 1112 (12 Aug 1905), p. 462

“Back to school under the supervision of the nuns, the little girls prepare for study,” published in Album universel, Vol. 22, number 1119 (30 Sep 1905), p. 679

“Back to school; before starting the class, we say a short prayer,” published in Album universel, Vol. 22, number 1119 (30 Sep 1905), p. 679

“Talmud Torah Class, Ottawa, Ontario. Mr. Slonemsky is the teacher on the right. 1906.” Ottawa

“Grade 5 students, 1906-1907," postcard

“Plum Ridge School, the first school for Ukrainians in Manitoba. Mr. Kohut, teacher, and Dr. George Dragan, pupil, on right”, 1908, Pleasant Home, Manitoba

“Congress of rural school teachers,” photo by A.D. Noury, 1908

“Interior of classroom, School District #3, Glenelg, Ontario. Teacher J.L. MacDonald, 1910.” Photo by Fred. W, Kelsey.

“Schoolchildren playing in front of a small schoolhouse located in Lac-Simon,” circa 1910

“Group of schoolboys and schoolgirls with their teacher in front of the Rivière Désert schoolhouse”, circa 1910

“School in Sainte-Anne-de-la-Pocatière; students at recess,” postcard, circa 1910

“John Demchuk, prominent school teacher, Pleasant Home, Manitoba,” circa 1912

“Oleshaw School (later 2 districts - Oleshaw & Mazeppa, Alberta). M. Michasiw teacher, 1913”

“Children and their teachers outside a schoolhouse, circa 1915”

“Tiferes Israel School and Synagogue, Lipton Colony. Louis Rosenberg, teacher,” circa 1915-1918, Lipton, Saskatchewan

“Sixth Grade Class 1915-1916"

“Academic class of the Ursulines de Québec,” photo by Montminy & Cie, 1916

“Montmagny - Pensionnat Notre-Dame-du-Bon-Conseil,” 1917

“Children at their studies with a lady teaching at the Forest School in High Park, Toronto, June 13, 1917,” photo by John Boyd

“Mazeppa School District, Alberta. N. Michasiw, teacher and Joseph Wawryk, 1917”

“Pioneer Ukrainian teachers, Vegreville, Alberta,” 1917

“Classe of Jules Landry,” 1917 or 1918

“Ukrainian School, (South Edmonton). Elia Shklanka teacher. 1918.”

“Kalush School, Alberta. Mr. Elia Shklanka, teacher. 1918.”

“Olga Burak (later Swystun), teacher at Meacham, Saskatchewan, 1918”

“Sichynski School, Meacham, Saskatchewan. Teacher is E. Shklanka. 1919”

“Primary school class: boys only, circa 1920"

“Group of teachers and students in front of Scholasticat Saint-Joseph in Ottawa,” circa 1920

“Group of students in uniform,” circa 1920

“School Day,” circa 1920. “School on ‘the other side of the bay’ in a small French village in [Atonacha?]. Children giving flowers to their teacher.”

“Teachers of Shelter Bay,” 1920-1930

“Photo of male students on a staircase,” postcard, between 1920-1927

“Students of the Pointe-aux-Esquimaux convent,” 1920-1930

“Students of Sept-Îles,” 1922

“Jeanne Doyle, teacher, and her students at Moisie,” 1924

“Miss Ev. Richard and her students, November 12, 1924, at Landrienne,” postcard

“Students from the first school in Blanc-Sablon,” 1928

“Students,” circa 1925

“Group photo of female students in uniform with teacher Anne Swain outside entrance of St. Paul's Residential School,” photo by Anne Swain, 1928, Cardston, Alberta

“L. P. Papineau, abbot, and his students at Wikwémikong,” circa 1928

“Group of primary school students with a nun from the Sainte-Marie-de-Namur Sisters in Templeton,” 1929

“Mi'kmaq girls in sewing class at the Roman Catholic-run Shubenacadie Indian Residential School in Shubenacadie”, circa 1929, Shubenacadie, Nova Scotia

“Students of Clarke City,” 1930

“Students of Sainte-Marguerite,” 1930

“Graduating students from École St-Pierre, Montréal,” 1930-1931

“Group photo of Aklavik students with teacher Anne Swain standing outside building,” 1932 photo by Anne Swain, Aklavik, Northwest Territories

“Students of Rivière Saint-Jean,” 1934

“Teacher from Havre-Saint-Pierre with some of her students ,” circa 1935

“Group of students in St-Martin, Québec,” undated postcard

“After the treaty dance. Mission schooner GUY, leaving; the children are bound for the convent at Fort Resolution,” photo by Charles Keefer, 1937, Fort Rae, NWT

“Argyle School,” photo by Conrad Poirier, 1938

“Group of priests, nuns and students in Lasarre, Abitibi,” 1938

“Group of priests, nuns and students in Amos, Abitibi,” 1938

“Post-school students of Saint-Barthélémy,” 1938

“Summer School at Wesley United Church,” photo by Conrad Poirier, 1938

“Physical Training. Stadacona Gym Display,” photo by Conrad Poirier, 1939

“Students in Chinatown,” photo by Conrad Poirier, 1940

“Junior League. At the Art Association,” photo by Conrad Poirier, 1940

"Gymnastic; field day at the catholic school,” photo by Conrad Poirier, 1940

“School number 2 in Saint-Casimir, Miss Dolorès Lanouette and her students,” 1940

“Students,” 1940-1947

“Tapestry teachers,” photo by Raymond Audet, 1941

“Public School teacher and pupils,” 1941 photo by Mackay Meikle, Fort Smith, Northwest Territories

“Canadian-trained teachers staff the internment camp school at Slocan City,” circa 1943, Slocan City, British Columbia

“Cree students at their desks with their teacher in a classroom, All Saints Indian Residential School, Lac La Ronge, Saskatchewan, March 1945,” photo by Bud Glunz

“Schoolteacher Miss Bennett teaching English to her pupils at Boys' Farm and Training School in Shawbridge,” photo by Conrad Poirier, November 1947

“The teacher and the teacher's residence, Big Eddy Indian Day School,” 1947, The Pas, Manitoba

“A deaf child during an oral test,” photo by Chris Lund, 1952

“Teacher Hector Knife posing in front of blackboard with Cree translations of English phrases,” circa 1950-1960, published in The Indian News of March 1965, Vol. 8, No. 1, page 8

“Classroom of Laidley Spring School on the Matador Co-operative farm about 40 miles north of Swift Current, Saskatchewan. Teacher is R. L. Moen,” photo by Gar Lunney, 1952, Matador, Saskatchewan

“A group of young children and a teacher at a sugar bush,” 1955 photo by Malak, Québec

“Boys of grade 3 and 4 get help from teacher Miss Irene Reesor,” undated photo by Nick Nickels, Curve Lake Reserve (Ontario)

“Industrial arts teacher, Noel H. Johnson, teaching his students woodworking in Lucasville School, Nova Scotia,” 1952 photo by Chris Lund, Halifax West, Nova Scotia

“A group of children from the Federal Day School with their teacher Miss E. Thompson at Tuk-Tuk, Northwest Territories,” photo by Gar Lunney, 1956

“Aboriginal children and teacher, Fort Providence, Northwest Territories,” March 1956

“Group of Inuit children with their teacher lining up outside their classroom,” photo by Rosemary Gilliat Eaton between 1956 and 1960, likely in Cape Dorset (Kinngait), Nunavut

“Miss Velma MacDonald teaching English to First Nation and Inuit children, Inuvik, Northwest Territories, December 1959”

“Group of Naskapi children in a classroom with their teacher, Synthia Clinton at Knob Lake Anglican Indian Day School,” photo by Nick Nickels, circa 1960, near Lac John in Quebec

“Teacher reading to students at Somerled Daily Vacation School, Montreal, Quebec,” 1960

“Woman teaching students to read, Iqaluit, Nunavut,” photo by Rosemary Gilliat Eaton, 1960

“Teacher Jackie Otis and a group of children attending an art class, Calgary Allied Arts Centre,” photo by Rosemary Gilliat Eaton, 1962

“Teacher Jackie Otis holding a girl's painting during an art class, Calgary Allied Arts Centre,” photo by Rosemary Gilliat Eaton, 1962

“Kindergarden students from the Lac-des-fées School in Hull,” January 12, 1963

“Children sing as teacher play piano accompaniment at the Akwesasne Mohawk School, St. Regis, November 1985,” photo by George Mully

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Images of Canadian Teachers Through History

Our Canadian Educators

A Visual Journey from the 17th century and Beyond