The work of teaching deaf girls

The work of teaching deaf girls began under the inspiration of Emilie Gamelin[1] (1851). First with a few students at a small school in Longue-Pointe (Montreal), the work was permanently established in a building on Saint-Denis Street in 1864. Even if sold in 1979, the building of the former Institution des Sourdes-Muettes (ISM, Institute for Deaf-mute Girls) still extends its imposing framework in the Plateau-Mont-Royal borough within Montreal.

Since 2016, the Société d’histoire du Plateau-Mont-Royal (SHPM, Plateau-Mont-Royal History Society) believes this building needs to be classified as “historical heritage” and has made requests to the Quebec Government for this purpose. For now, the call has not been heard by Quebec, but the SHPM intends to continue to raise awareness to preserve this testimony of the work that Sisters of Providence carried out until 1978.

One of the ways SHPM found to raise awareness was to design a historical plate[2] to be placed in the yard of 3725 Saint-Denis Street. It was revealed in June 2017 in the chapel of the former ISM. At the same time, a special 40-page newsletter devoted to the Institution des Sourdes-Muettes was issued. Articles written by people from all backgrounds and professions, including former teachers and students, were combined to make a coherent whole with a unique goal: highlighting the work of teaching the deaf through the preservation of the building which sheltered the work for almost 115 years.

Let us mention the participation in this project of the Historical Providence Archives[3], for research and writing an article[4], and of the Emilie Gamelin Centre and Museum of the Sisters of Providence[5] for the visit of the members of the SHPM at the museum, the chapel of the Motherhouse and the tomb of Blessed Emilie Gamelin. Visit the website of the Société d’histoire du Plateau-Mont-Royal if you want to support their projects or get a copy of the special bulletin on the ISM (in French only, minimum charge may apply): www.histoireplateau.org / also on Facebook.

[1] To learn more about Blessed Emilie Gamelin, foundress of the Sisters of Providence,: https://providenceintl.org/en/search-requests/three-great-providence-women/blessed-emilie-gamelin/

[2] To see the plate: http://histoireplateau.org/wp-content/uploads/2014/09/institut_sourdes_muette.jpg

[3] https://providenceintl.org/en/providence-archives/

[4] To read the article, which is reproduced with the permission of the SHPM: please click Télécharger le fichier

[5] https://providenceintl.org/en/emilie-gamelin-centre-museum/