Immaculta, a place we all know. Most of us dread waking up early in the morning and slowly getting ready knowing the fate that awaits us as we walk through the wooden doors. Some view the building as a place of escapism from reality, and others fear the day we leave through those wooden doors and enter the world of adulthood. 

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But would have you believed me if I told you that Immaculta was founded nearly 95 years ago? The school has a long history of tradition. Starting as a private Catholic school for girls in 1928 to now a boys and girls school with both high school and middle school students. As of 2018 over 985 students attend Immaculta. 

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Immaculta started as a private school for girls in 1928 and was founded by Reverend J.J O’Gordon. Immaculta was located at 211 Bronson Ave which is now the Bronson Center. The building was bought for $25,000 and was also used as a convent for the nuns who worked at the school. The building was designed by Werner Knoffke who was a well known architect for Ottawa. He designed the school as well as the French embassy located on Sussex Drive. The building had 8 classrooms, a science lab, a home economics classroom, a gymnasium, and a stage. It also had an office and a passage linked the nun’s convent to the school. If you walk by the building you can still see the school crest on the building. Immaculta began with just 85 students and 3 Grey nuns; Sister Loyola, Sister Agnes of the Sacred Heart, and Sister Geraldine. Sister Loyola eventually became the first principal of the school when the students needed to move  to Saint Patrick’s home during the construction of the school to continue their studies. After the construction was finished Sister Agnes of the Sacred Heart became principal.The school originally started with two forms, Form one and Form 2.  Immaculta had a successful first year but things really took off for the school in 1929. 

 

In 1929 the school population increased to roughly 160 students. A new building with 5 more classrooms was built. Both a science lab and library needed to be built to support the growing school population. During 1929 a commencement was held for graduates of both Form one and Form two hosted by Reverend Father E Maloney.  Immaculta had also built a flourishing music department during this time as well. Two new sisters also joined the teaching staff at this point as well,  Sister St Hilda, and Sister Waltrude. 

 

Great things continued to happen to Immaculta and in 1930 the population reached 200 students. Another Form was also added at this point and a commercial course was now available to the students as well. 

 

Immaculta continued to grow and in 1939 it reached another milestone. The school population was now at 300 students and the teaching staff had reached 9 Sisters. 9 new classrooms and a home economics department  were added as well to support the rapidly growing student population.

 

In the 1940’s and 50’s  Immaculta reached its full potential at the time. . In 1941 Immaculta had a new principal, Sister Mary Christine. The teaching staff had also grown as well, Immmaculta now had a teaching staff of 11. A camera club was also added and the popularity shot up quickly. A printing room and developing facilities needed to be added to keep up with the demands of the growing club. In 1948 Immaculta had a student population of 425. The staff had grown during this time as well. Immaculta now had 17 Sisters for their teaching staff as well. Due to the school population growth at Immaculata an expansion was necessary to accommodate the growing population. With funding from the estate of Dr B. Kearns the school added the Kearns memorial wing. This wing included 8 new classrooms, more space for the growing music department, and a double sized commercial classroom as well. The brand new wing opened in September 1950. The 1950’s marked a new beginning for Immaculta and a new era. Immaculata continued to expand throughout the decade. In 1952 they expanded the Kearns memorial wing even further by adding 3 new classrooms, a student’s library, and a principal's office. Immaculta continued to flourish and in 1954 a new convent was built on the Kearns memorial wing. The old convent was renovated into 2 classrooms and the music department. At this point the staff had reached 22, 4 of which were from the music department. The student population had reached 725 students.

 

In the 1960’s and 70’s.  Immaculta had many new and exciting projects coming its way. The school continued to expand but for the first time the school population dropped down to 400 students by 1972. The school did expand throughout the 60’s though with new and exciting projects. In 1962 a new chapel and auditorium were built, this project was led by Principal Sister Mary Christine. By 1967 a new building was built. The new building included labs,  12 new classrooms, and a gymnasium. New and exciting things continued to happen to Immaculta and in 1978 Immaculta added both 7 and 8 classes. Boys could also now attend the school as well. 

 

In the 1980’s to 90’s great and large changes happened throughout the school. By 1988 Immaculta had an enormous population growth, more than 400 more students enrolled and the population reached a whopping 870. Immaculta also welcomed its first lay principal James. J. Shea. A lay principal is someone who looks after a religious organization but they in fact are not a part of that organization. In 1994 Immaculta moved locations to the Immaculta we attend today. Our Immaculta was built anywhere between 1929 to 1930. It was originally built for St Patrick’s highschool as well as St Patrick’s College. It was later used by Algonquin college and finally was bought by The Ottawa Roman Separate School board. From there the school was given to Immaculta.

 

Immaculta and the Grey Sisters continued to do acts of service to the community. In 2000 an Immaculta classroom was organized in the basement of Saint Mary’s Home. This was made so pregnant teenagers could still continue their education. 10 teenagers were enrolled in the program. In 2000 the branch had its first graduation. The school was renamed and is now called St Mary’s Home Community Outreach. Immaculata also does service outside of Canada, Every 2 years for nearly 25 years Immaculta students and teachers go over to the Dominican Republic. There the students help buy mattresses, help renovate homes, and help out in local schools and clinics. Immmaculata has hosted nearly 12 trips to the Dominican biyearly. 

 

Immaculata has grown as a school and a community since it’s beginning. It has strengthened the school community and the community around it. Immaculta Will continue to grow and by 2028 it will celebrate its centennial anniversary.