Item R00004590 - Maintenance, Supplies, and Accounts

Edmonton Indian Residential School (IRS) was located near the town of St. Albert about 10 miles northwest of Edmonton in Treaty 6 territory. The residential school operated from 1924 - 1968 (44 years), officially closing on June 30, 1968.

Other names identifying the residential school include Edmonton Indian Industrial School from 1920 - 1923, Edmonton Indian Residential School from 1924 - 1968, Edmonton Institute in 1924, and after 1960 as Edmonton Hostel or Edmonton Indian Student Residence.

Edmonton IRS was also referred to as the St. Albert Indian/Residential School due to its location near the Town of St. Albert. It was also referred to as the” ‘St. Albert Methodist’ Residential School” or the “United Church” school to distinguish it from a Roman Catholic Indian residential school operated until 1948 near St. Albert.

The Government of Canada was responsible for funding which was managed and operated by the Missionary Society of the Methodist Church of Canada from 1924 - 1926, then by the Board of Home Missions of the United Church of Canada from 1926 - 1966, after which the federal government took over the management and operation from January 1, 1967, to June 30, 1968.

In 1962, there is an agreement for the operation of the IRS (no details on signatories).

There are scant references as to which grades were available at the residential school; however, during 1933 an inspection report indicates grades 1 to 8 were taught at the school and in 1953 the new classroom provided improvised accommodation for a senior class of pupils in grades 6 to 8 which had been held in the school chapel since September 1952.

Students from the following reserves attended said residential school:

Alberta - Saddle Lake Agency, Hobbema Agency, Edmonton Agency, and from Sarcee, Blackfoot, Blood, Lesser Slave Lake, and Rocky Mountain House.

British Columbia - Babine Agency, Skeena River Agency, Queen Charlotte Agency, Terrace
Agency, and Bella Coola Agency.

Manitoba - Pupils from Brandon IRS were accommodated at Edmonton IRS for the 1929-30 school year while Brandon IRS was demolished and rebuilt.

Saskatchewan - Crooked Lake Agency, Qu’Appelle Agency, and File Hills Agency.

Northwest Territories - A pupil from the “Champagne Band, Ft. McPherson”, attended the IRS in 1954.

Yukon Territory - A student from Dawson attended the IRS in 1958.

In 1955, two “Eskimo” children were admitted; a grant for these pupils was paid by the
Department of Northern Affairs. Student enrolment statistics are inconsistent and missing from 1935 - 1968, with a low of 42 in 1968 to a high of 200 students in 1930.