Fonds 198 - Sacred Heart Parish (Fort Simpson) fonds

In 1858, the Roman Catholic Church opened the Sacred Heart Mission at Fort Providence. From there, missionaries were sent to various communities along the Mackenzie River. In 1858, Father Henri Grolier became the first member of the Oblates of Mary Immaculate (O.M.I.) to visit Fort Simpson. His visit was followed by the arrival of Bishop H. Grandin in 1861 and Father Emile Grouard in 1866. In 1867, the first Grey Nuns arrived at Fort Providence to work with the Oblate Fathers. Between 1858 and 1894, many other members of the Oblates visited Fort Simpson to conduct religious services. In 1894 Father Laurent Brochu became the first resident priest at Fort Simpson, remaining there until 1903. The mission at Fort Simpson continued to grow and eventually the headquarters of the Sacred Heart Mission was moved to Fort Simpson from Fort Providence. In 1916, the Roman Catholic Mission opened its first hospital in Fort Simpson, l'Hopital Ste. Marguerite [St. Margaret's Hospital]. When this accidentally burned down in 1930, a second facility was built and was in operation by 1931. In 1917, the Sacred Heart Mission opened its first school, a residential school, in Fort Simpson. Other members of the Oblates of Mary Immaculate who worked at the Sacred Heart Mission in the early twentieth century were J. Turcotte, Father J. Sareault, Father L. Gosselin, Father H. Tesniere, J. Dessy, Father F. Turcotte, J. Lusson and Father Henri Posset.