Name/Title
St. Ann's AcademyEntry/Object ID
2025.09.06Description
In process
This print depicts the main entrance gate for St. Ann's Academy, Victoria facing Humboldt Street. St. Ann's Academy was a girls' Catholic boarding and day school from grade 3–12, and boys K–3. The main academy building, which also served as the Provincial House, convent and novitiate, was built by the Roman Catholic Congregation of Women the Sisters of Saint Anne of Lachine, Québec.
The initial building on the property was the chapel, which was built in 1858 and later moved and added to the school. It was Victoria’s first Roman Catholic cathedral, and the original St. Andrew’s Cathedral.Artwork Details
Medium
Reproduction print on paperSubject Place
Region
Pacific NorthwestContinent
North AmericaContext
St. Ann's Academy is valued for its association with one of B.C.'s major pioneering religious orders, and also for its role in the educational growth of the province. It is also the earliest and most prominent example of major convent architecture on the west coast.
Over time, the Academy of St. Ann "adapted and evolved their educational and missionary work in Victoria to include a school, a convent, a novitiate program, and nursing services at this site in order to meet the needs of the community. As the headquarters of the major Catholic female teaching order in the Pacific Northwest from 1871 until 1973, St. Ann's Academy manifests the growth of the educational and spiritual needs in the region and the province for over one hundred years....Although St. Ann's Academy is typical of Canadian nineteenth century convent architecture, it is a rare example of its type on the west coast. Architecturally, the value of this landmark building lies in two major features: its large scale additive form, and the eclecticism of its design. The practicality of the building, which is fairly spare in detailing, is reflective of its primarily functional use. Following the pattern of antecedent convents in Quebec, the substantial composite form of the Academy building is attributable to a number of architects and builders over a considerable period of time. Architect Charles Vereydhen designed the original portion of the building in 1871 with plans for the first addition constructed by John Teague in 1886. The second addition by Thomas Hooper was constructed in 1909-10. The cathedral at the rear of the building was built by Father C. Michaud in 1858, and is notable for its wooden construction reflective of Quebec provincial architecture...." From Canada's Historic Places, see Web Links below
___________________________
The main entrance gate faces Humboldt Street, opening onto the north end of the property. This first formal entrance was added in 1872, and the gate was later set within the brick wall that partially surrounds the Academy's grounds. The gate became the unofficial symbol for the Academy, and the St. Ann's logo design incorporates the gates. Many of the thousands of students who attended the school over the years never actually entered through the main gate, rather they entered the grounds at the Blanshard Street side. By 1922, a wrought iron gate had been added at this side entrance as well. Old photographs served as the model for the refurbished gate we see today. The curving metalwork holds up the words "St. Ann's Academy". These letters appear almost to float in the centre of the sign, as they are mounted on a fine mesh background that is invisible from only a short distance away.
___________________________
In 1989 St. Ann’s Academy was designated a national historic site of Canada because of its role in the cultural and educational life of Western Canada for over a century, and because of its landmark status - due to its scale and the surrounding open space (formerly the gardens) - in the community. The school buildings and grounds were renovated and restored in the late 1990s. The property/facilities now serve a variety of community purposes such as government offices, an interpretive centre, historic site spaces, and public multi-purpose spaces for weddings, concerts, graduations, etc.Made/Created
Date made
n.d.Time Period
20th CenturyNotes
ARTIST BIOGRAPHY
After a childhood in North Wales, Deirdre Roberts became a well recognized radio and television broadcaster, philanthropist and artist. She began her career with the BBC in London, England and continued with the CBC in Vancouver for 25 years before she retired to become a full-time artist.
Roberts is well known for her generous support of philanthropy in the wider Victoria community. She was the recipient of The Generosity of Spirit Award from the 2011 Philanthropy Day Awards in recognition of her work with Pacific Opera Victoria, The Victoria Foundation, Victoria Hospice and Palliative Care Foundation, The partnership Walk for Global Poverty, and Friends of UVic Libraries. She was also the recipient of a Sovereign's Medal for Volunteers, The Governor General of Canada, in 2012. Roberts served on the boards on many of these organizations and more.
Roberts credits her love of architectural detail, the usual focus of her artwork, to her family, her great-grandfather and grandfather, both of whom were builders. And also to her father who was an architect and her first teacher. Since then she has been mostly self-taught. Roberts is an admirer of the famed British Romantic painter J.M.W. Turner RA (1775-1851), and Canadian artists such as the landscape painters, F. M. Bell-Smith RCA (1846-1923) and C. J. Collings (1848-1931), born in Devon and who later moved to Shuswap Lake, B.C.
Roberts prefers to create smaller scale work, often monochromatic. She is well known locally for her work as an artist, notably as the Pacific Opera’s 2010 Artist in Residence, where she produced 18 behind-the-scenes paintings that were exhibited and sold to raise significant funding for the opera.Inscription/Signature/Marks
Type
LabelLocation
Label verso frame, printed:
With thanks from the Victoria Foundation
This is a print of a watercolour
painted by Dierdre Roberts
Note: The artist's watercolour from which this print was created was likely painted using a self-developed technique whereby the support paper is coated with gesso and then the drawing and painting is done using a combination of both dry and wet brushwork. See Web Links below (Amos' Victoria Times Colonist article)Dimensions
Dimension Description
OverallHeight
50 cmWidth
39.5 cmDimension Description
ImageHeight
26.5 cmWidth
19 cmAcquisition
Acquisition Method
GiftDate
Sep 10, 2025Relationships
Related Entries
Notes
Four-Part Gift from The Sisters of Saint Ann, Sept. 10, 2025:
2025.09.03 Dallas Road
2025.09.04 White Calla Lilies
2025.09.05 Stone Church, Cowichan
2025.09.06 St. Ann's AcademyProvenance
Notes
From the Sisters of Saint Ann collection. Gifted to the Sisters of Saint Ann by the Victoria FoundationCopyright
Notes
Images are provided for research and reference use only. Permission to publish, copy, or otherwise use these images must be obtained from the copyright holder. It is the sole responsibility of the applicant to determine the copyright holder and to obtain permission(s) as needed.
