Mount Saint Vincent Academy

In 1873, the Sisters of Charity purchased land along the Bedford Basin in Rockingham and facilitated the construction of a new building, moving from their previous location at Saint Mary’s Convent on Barrington Street. In August of that same year, the new building was formally blessed by Archbishop Connolly and named Mount Saint Vincent. It housed the motherhouse and novitiate which also served as a normal school (a teacher-training school), marking the beginning of Mount Saint Vincent Academy.

In 1874, the sisters advertised for students at their all-girls academy. Tuition and board cost $120 per year, and students would receive religious training as well as an education in music, art, and deportment. Non-Catholic students were also welcome to apply. Sixteen students were enrolled in that first year.

The Academy’s curriculum was based on course standards from the Nova Scotia school system and taught grades 5 to 12. Courses included cultural subjects, dramatics, music, and painting. The lower grades were eventually phased out and in the later years of its operation, the Academy only taught grades 11 and 12.

In 1914, Mount Saint Vincent Academy began teaching college courses. Through an affiliation with Dalhousie University, the first two years of a liberal arts college degree were taught at Mount Saint Vincent, and the final two years were taught by Dalhousie professors. This initiative had been considered for some time, as by 1909 college degrees were required to obtain higher level teaching certificates. The agreement was formalized by Dalhousie Senate and the Sisters of Charity in 1916, and five courses were taught by Dalhousie professors who travelled to the Mount to deliver their lectures. The Dalhousie-Mount affiliation continued until 1941.

Mount Saint Vincent Academy burned down in a fire in 1951, eventually reopening in a new building in 1958. It remained there until 1972. By this time public schools had become more accessible, lowering need for private institutions. Due to the high costs of maintenance and lower demand, the Academy was closed in 1972 and the building was repurposed as a residence for 180 MSVU students.

Created: 2024-02-14 LMORRISON

Corcoran, T. (1999). Mount Saint Vincent University: A Vision Unfolding 1873-1988. University Press of America.
MacLean, R. (1972). Historic Mount St. Vincent Academy closes after 99 years in the community. The Mail Star.
MSVU 150 timeline