Item 10a-c000664-d0002-001 - Photographs of Grounds

Grouard Indian Residential School (IRS) was located in northern Alberta northwest of Edmonton and east of Grouard on highway 750. The IRS operated from 1894 - 1957 (63 years) under Roman Catholic administration.

By 1895 the federal government was funding the Grouard school (also known at St. Bernard’s) at the mission.

In the 1940s, the school established a manual training building focused on Aboriginal handicrafts, an initiative that developed into a cooperative business venture.

The school enrolled a large number of Métis students: by 1949, they accounted for half of the students in residence.

During the 1950s, many of the school’s students were transferred to the Joussard school.

With the opening of local day schools, the Grouard enrollment began to decline.

The school was closed in 1961.