Indigenous Peoples in North America--Canada--Residential schools

The St. John's Indian Residential School operated in Chapleau, Ontario from 1907-1948. The original residential school in Chapleau was operated by the Anglican Diocese of Moosonee from 1907 to 1920. In 1920 the school's administration was taken over by the Department of Indian Affairs. The school was built to accommodate 40 students, and in 1919 it was expanded to accommodate 45 students. The residential school was located on 153 acres on the east side of Chapleau near the Nebskwashi River. This original school building burned down on June 27, 1926. The original Residential School site in Chapleau was never developed and is now part of the forest.

In 1914 a new location of 1,184 acres was bought from the Ontario government for one dollar an acre. However, the new location was far from the town of Chapleau and did not have convenient road access. In 1920 a new 2,142 acre site, closer to town, was purchased.The new two-storey school building designed to accommodate 100 students was built at a cost of $89,000. The school operated at capacity until it closed on July 1, 1948. Many students were transferred to the Shingwauk Indian Residential School or the Moose Factory Indian Residential School. The school property was purchased by Nick Gionet for $7,000 in 1948 and eventually all of the school buildings were demolished, this site is now a small residential subdivision.

The Anglican Church of Canada established a day school on Gordon’s Reserve just north of Regina, in 1876. In 1888, it was expanded to provide housing to students attending the School. In 1929 the original School building was destroyed by fire. It was rebuilt, but problems with water supply and maintenance led to its being closed for much of the time between 1947 and 1953.

Apart from the local children from Gordon’s Reserve, students attended the School from a wide area in Saskatchewan, with Gordon's often acting as the overflow School from other Residential Schools. In 1969, the government took full control over the school from the Anglican church, and continued to operate as a residential school until its closure in 1996. The Gordon Residential School was the last school to be closed in Canada. The School building was subsequently torn down after its closure.

James J. Mara (January 8 1921 - July 9 1992) was born to parents James Mara and Catherine Lomasney in Sarnia, Ontario.

In 1941 Mara made  vocation retreat at St. Peter's Seminary, London, Ontario, under the direction of Philip Francis Pocock.  As a result of this retreat Mara decided to entered the Jesuit Order and was received at St.Stanislaus Novitiate, Guelph Ontario on October 30, 1941 as a postulant.  On April 29, 1942 he became as novice.  Most of Mara's novice years were spent as a kitchen apprentice. He went on to serve as a cook for fifteen years at numerous locations including: Guelph (1944-1955), Jesuit Seminiary, Toronto (1945-1946), Manresa Restreat House in Erindale, Ontario (1946-1949), Provincial Superior's Residence in Toronto (1949-1951), the Indian Residential School at Spanish, Ontario (1951-1958), and the retreat house at Raydor, Oakville, Ontario (1958-1959).

On August 15, 1953 during a trip to Guelph Mara pronounced his final vows as a Jesuit Brother. In addition to cooking Mara became involved in the recruitment of retreatants while at Erindale and Oakville. In 1948 he organized the distribution of the retreat house bulletin, Manresa, to over 5,000 members of the archdiocese. At Spanish he was known for his fundraising schemes - bingo games, alumni donation campaigns, and collection boxes in support of the new arena in 1952,  He was also known for putting on performances as a magician and he helping organize the school's skating carnivals.

His later appointments included: Toronto (1968-1963/1963-1964) and Ottawa (1962-1963), Port Arthur (1964-1965), Garden Village (1965-1967), an Fort William Reserve (1967-1973). While in Lakehead (1967-1973) he planned a performance of Indigenous activities for the visit of the Queen and Prince Philip to the Fort William Reserve in July 1973. He was also involved in the construction of a new twelve-sided church in Fort William.

In 1973 Mara returned to Toronto due to ailing health. That same year he became involved in the establishment of a new Jesuit residence at 67 West Avenue, Toronto.  The residence aimed to help minority and impoverished groups in the surrounding community. From 1975-1980 Mara served in the kitchen at St. Joseph's College, North Point, Darjeeling, India.  He was responsible for the preparation and distribution of food for the 350 students at St. Joseph's.  He was also the moderator of the students' photography club and was the Regional Coordinator of School Communications. He returned home in the summer of 1980 when his visa was revoked.  Once back in Canada he served at the Canadian Martyrs' Shrine in Midland, Ontario for the next eleven years. While at the Shrine he also wrote small devotional pamphlets about the early missionaries of the area. Beginning in 1986 Mara also began organizing tours to Catholic shrines abroad as a way to generate revenue for the Midland Shrine.

In December 1990 Mara was diagnosed with cancer. Despite his health in April 1992 he joined a pilgrimage to Our Lady f Guadalupe in mid April. On his fiftieth anniversary of service with the Jesuits Mara was back in his winter quarters at La Sorta Residence in Pickering, Ontario. He passed away two months later on July 9, 1992. His funeral was held at the Martyrs' Shrine.

Source: "Mara, James J." in Dictionary of Jesuit Biography: Ministry to English Canada Vol. II 1988-2006. Toronto: Canadian Institute of Jesuit Studies, 2007, p. 199-202.