Last
revised April 15th, 2001
In 1919 the Brothers of Our Lady of Mercy came from Mechelen
(Malines) Belgium to give religious instruction and
schooling for the Flemish population in southwestern
Manitoba. The name "Scheppers College" came from the name of
Msgr. Victor Scheppers in Mechelen. The Brothers of Our Lady
of Mercy were called "Broeders van Scheppers" because their
Congregation was founded by Msgr.
Victor Scheppers
in
Mechelen, Belgium. The
Prospectus
of the College detailed its offerings to parents of
prospective students. For
several years the Scheppers College in Swan lake was very
prosperous, was popular with students and had 60 to 75
boarders and 15 to 20 day pupils. The College provided
excellent instruction. Among the subjects taught was
agronomy. Its primary intended function was to teach farm
boys the usual academic subjects and agricultural methods.
The Brothers' teaching in that subject was kept practical
because they also operated a farm. According to a former
pupil Morris DeRoo, the Brothers also taught the importance
of mental arithmetic in daily life. 1
Painting
and some of the text by James Wyndels, grandson of Firmin
Wyndels the builder of the Scheppers College. Additional
contributions by George & Yvette Brandt and Morris
DeRoo.
The events related to the foundation and operation of
the College by the Brothers of Our Lady of Mercy are
described in their Archives.
These were recorded by Brother Rombaut Obbens, the Brother
Superior at the time, and made available by Brother Omer
Beaulieu. The Archives were kindly translated by Claire
Carbonez-DeJaeger.
The architectural drawings for the
building were by A.J. Boisonneau, Construction Engineer, St.
James, MB and are now preserved in the Brandt archives in
Swan Lake . The "Scheppers College", as it was known
locally, was built in Swan Lake MB by a Belgian contractor,
Firmin
Wyndels
with a $120,000 bequest in 1922 on land purchased from the
retired pioneer George H. Couch. It had three stories, was
160 ft wide, 70 ft. deep and its name "Collège du
Sacré Coeur" and the date "1920" were carved in stone
above the main entrance. Although some more cautious members
of the congregation had objected against building such a
huge and impressive school, their advice was ignored.
Most of the instruction was in English but
some was in French. However, if the parents wished, Brother
August taught the Catechism in Flemish and tutored students
about the Flemish language.
However, by the late 1920s hard times were
being felt and the situation became worse every year.
Enrollment dropped and the College was closed in the Fall of
1932. Although the Canadian
Government offered to buy it in 1938, a senior member (or
senior members) of the clergy in Quebec arranged to have the
building and land given to the Parish of Swan Lake. It was
sold for $500 and demolished in 1939. However, the altar in
its Chapel was sold for $125 and is currently used in the
St. Alphonse church.
Some stones of Scheppers College's foundation
are still visible but there is no monument or plaque
commemorating the importance of the College in Swan Lake and
the surrounding Flemish communities.