Discussions

In 1882, the Roman Catholic denomination of Brandon consisted of over two hundred persons. $6,000 was allocated for the construction of a Church, and Archbishop Tache of St Boniface purchased land on the southwest corner of Third Street, and Lorne Avenue for a site for St. Joseph’s Convent.  
 
St. Joseph’s Convent was completed in May of 1883.  
 
In order to “bribe” the sisters of the Faithful Companions of Jesus to come to Brandon they were asked to establish a school. In the summer of 1883 five Sisters arrived from France, and took up residence in the Convent.  
 
They began classes for fifteen children on October 8th of that year. By 1890 their enrolment had swelled to ninety pupils because they had a better education program than the Public School system, and the Protestant citizens sent their children along with the Catholic children.  
 
By 1895 the enrolment had drastically fallen to thirty, and it is said that was because a Protestant student by the name of Clement had told her parents she wished to became a Nun.  
 
The Sisters were no longer welcome in Brandon, so they left that year, and the school was closed.  
 
In 1899 four Sisters of Our Lady of the Missions arrived in Brandon, took possession of the convent, and re-opened the School on September 1st with fifty pupils.  
 
Source: Brandon, a prospect of a city. Mary Hume.