Chapleau (St. John’s) Indian Residential School (IRS) was initially located on the north side of the Kegebesquashesing River, about half a mile west of the Chapleau town limits from 1907 - 1920. The second location was situated two miles south of the town of Chapleau on the west and north of the Kegebesquashesing River from 1920 - 1948. The IRS operated from 1907 - 1948 (41 years).
Other names identifying the residential school include Chapleau (St. John’s) Boarding School, Chapleau (St. John’s) Indian Residential School, and St. John’s (Indian) School, Chapleau, and Chapleau Industrial School (no dates identified).
The Government of Canada was responsible for funding the school, which was managed and operated by the Anglican Church through the Diocese of Moosonee from 1907 – 1923 and by the Missionary Society of the Church of Canada from April 1, 1923 - July 1, 1948. In 1911, an operational agreement was signed between the Government of Canada and the Bishop of Moosonee for the management and operation of the IRS.
Students attending the IRS came from New Brunswick House, Chapleau, Missanabie, Cochrane, Gibson Reserve, Parry Island Reserve, Shawanage Reserve, Chapleau Christian Island, Cape Croker Band, Rama Reserve, Rupert House, Senneterre, Island Falls, Bala, and the Watha Reserve. In1939, children were coming from an extended area as far as Fort Albany on James Bay to the Fort Francis Reserve, from the Six Nations Reserve near Brantford to Nipigon and the Muncey area.
No information available on the grades taught at the IRS.
1905-03-20
1939-1952
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