Vital-Justin Grandin


Vital-Justin Grandin

Bishop of St. Albert
Vital-Justin Grandin, c. 1900
DioceseDiocese of St. Albert
In office1871–1902
SuccessorÉmile-Joseph Legal
Other post(s)Bishop of Satala (titular)
Orders
Ordination1854 (priest)
Consecration1859
Personal details
Born(1829-02-08)8 February 1829
Died3 June 1902(1902-06-03) (aged 73)
St. Albert, Alberta, Canada
DenominationRoman Catholic

Vital-Justin Grandin (8 February 1829 – 3 June 1902) was a Roman Catholic priest and bishop labelled as a key architect of the Canadian Indian residential school system by contemporary mainstream and Catholic news sources,[1][2][3] which has been considered an instrument of cultural genocide. In June 2021, this led to governments and private businesses to begin removing his name from institutions and infrastructure previously named for him. He served the Church in the western parts of what is now Canada both before and after Confederation. He is also the namesake or co-founder of various small communities and neighbourhoods in what is now Alberta, Canada, especially those of francophone residents.

  1. ^ Ian Froese (August 14, 2018). "Winnipeg street named after residential school architect an opportunity to educate public, councillor says". CBC.
  2. ^ "Outrage over residential schools spurs renewed calls to rename Winnipeg's Bishop Grandin Boulevard". CBC News. June 1, 2021.
  3. ^ Dean Dettloff (September 27, 2021). "Explainer: Why did the Catholic Church cooperate with the Canadian government's abuse of Indigenous children?". America Magazine.