The school and church, Christian Island, 1941. (SOSA 9-06.5-3-4, The Field at Home-April 1942)
Sister Dorothy Daley with St. Francis Xavier church in the background, 1942. (SOSA 9-06.5-7-4, The Field at Home-April 1942)
Sisters Anne O'Connor and Dorothy Daley in procession to St. Francis Xavier Church, Christian Island, 1947. (SOSA 9-06.5-9-4)
Sister Florence Kelly with congregation outside St. Francis Xavier Church, Christian Island, 1948. (SOSA 9-06.5-10-4)
Sister Waltrude Donnelly and students on school steps, Christian Island, 1949. (SOSA 9-06.5-12-4)
Sister Margaret MacMillan in a classroom, Christian Island, 1954. (SOSA 9-06.5-6-15)
Sister Anna Coughlin with students, Christian Island, 1961. (SOSA 9-06.5-30-4, The Field at Home-April 1962)
Sisters Agnes Black and Dorothy Daley arrived to teach in the Christian Island Roman Catholic Indian Day School on November 19, 1941 through the efforts of Father Oscar Labelle, S.J., and Dr. J.M. Bennett, Catholic School Inspector, who had opened the school in 1937. Located on the southeast corner of Georgian Bay, Christian Island — originally called St. Joseph’s Island — is the home of the Beausoleil First Nation of the Ojibwa.
The Sister companion/housekeeper looked after the house, the altar, choir in the church, supervised the Ladies’ Club and taught music and home economics in the school. After 1943, the Sisters were in charge of prayers in the church on Sundays.
As the teacher, Sister Mary Jackson (1943-1945) did much to set up the traditions of the Roman Catholic school, leaving written records of social and school events, the fall fair, school concerts and 4-H club.
On 1960, fire destroyed the old school. It was replaced by a prefabricated building and a new residence for the Sisters, who left the island in June 1968.
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