Description of Historic Place

Garderie Mont Ste-Marie is located on St-François Street in Edmundston. This three-storey light-coloured brick structure with a flat roof is in the Modern International style.

Heritage Value

Garderie Mont Ste-Marie is designated a Local Historic Place for its architecture and for its different roles in the community.

Garderie Mont Ste-Marie is recognized for its architecture. Built in 1952 under the initiative of Mgr. W. J. Conway, this good example of the Modern International style has three storeys, a flat roof, and an imposing Art Deco style entrance. One of the important characteristics reflecting the Modern International style is its long rows of juxtaposed windows.

Garderie Mont Ste-Marie is also recognized for its role in the community as an orphanage that was built to meet a growing need within the municipality of Edmundston. At the time, about 50 orphans were in need of a home. The orphanage was run by the Marist Sisters, who came to the Edmundston area from France in 1952. Expanded in 1955 to provide local children with a Grade-1-to-6 education, the building was converted into a daycare centre in 1970 and then into a kindergarten in 1972, still under the direction of the sisters, who wanted to help disadvantaged persons in Edmundston and the surrounding area. It was sold in 1995.

Source: Madawaska Historical Society, Site File - Garderie Mont Ste-Marie

Character-Defining Elements

The character-defining elements that describe Garderie Mont Ste-Marie include:
- three-storey rectangular massing;
- flat roof;
- light brick exterior walls;
- imposing Art Deco style entrance creating a central frontispiece;
- long rows of rectangular windows, comprising a majority of the façades.