St. Ann's Academy

Behind the busy streets of downtown Victoria, a pocket of lawns and old trees surrounds one of the most unusual building groups in British Columbia. St. Ann's Academy began in 1858, when the Sisters of St. Ann travelled from Quebec to Vancouver Island at the invitation of the bishop to open a school for girls. Over the following decades the school expanded, and the large main building was raised in stages beginning in 1871, with later additions that made the complex one of the biggest and most imposing in the colony. The sisters also provided a convent, a boarding school, an orphanage and hospital services, making the site a central part of early Victoria's social life.

The oldest structure on the grounds is the 1858 chapel, a modest building whose interior is decorated with painted details and carved woodwork. It was the centre of the sisters' community, and its restored interior gives a sense of the faith and craft that went into the original building. The main academy building is a tall, pale structure with long galleries that look out over the grounds. The academy closed as a school in the 1970s, and the buildings were later restored by the provincial government and now hold offices, though the grounds and some of the heritage spaces remain open to the public.

The site is a National Historic Site of Canada. It lies on Humboldt Street, within walking distance of the Inner Harbour, and the grounds are laid out as a quiet park with paths, benches and a fountain. The landscape is a restful place to sit, and the trees give shade in summer. Visitors who like architecture will enjoy walking around the exterior to see how the stages of building fit together, and those with an interest in religious history will find the story of the Sisters of St. Ann a good example of how women's orders shaped education and healthcare in western Canada.

Access to the interior of the chapel and exhibits varies by season and by event, so contact Tourism Victoria's Visitor Centre or the site's own staff for current information before visiting. It is an easy stop to combine with the nearby Beacon Hill Park, the Royal BC Museum and the Parliament Buildings.