St. Mary, circa 1955

Many thanks to the Capreol Public Library Board for information about the early years of St. Mary School and the history of Capreol, compiled in Capreol: The First 75 Years, 1918-1993, c1993.

Information is also available online at The Greater Sudbury Virtual Heritage Museum website: http://www.sudburymuseums.ca/

In the 1940's and 1950's Capreol’s population was growing rapidly and the need for another elementary school in the area existed. On Friday October 3, 1952 all Catholic ratepayers in the Capreol area were invited to attend a meeting to begin the process for a Catholic elementary school to be constructed. An interim School Board was appointed at that time: Angus MacDonald - Chair, Betty MacDonald - Secretary/Treasurer, Rev. Father Hilary A. O’Neill, Wildred Blanchette, Luke Boucher, Lionel Depatie and Napoleon Pitre.

The first election for the new School Board was held in 1953. Members were: Arthur MacDonald - Chair, Nels Marquis - Secretary/Treasurer, Rev. Father Hilary A. O’Neill, Wildred Blanchette, Luke Boucher, Roland Mayer, and Napoleon Pitre.

Thanks to the efforts of the people of Capreol, construction of the four room brick and tile school began in May 1953. The official opening was held at 8 p.m. on Sunday December 6, 1953. The school was named after the patron saint of the local Catholic community - Our Lady of Peace.

When the school opened it housed both English and French speaking students in one building. In 1960 a two room extension was officially opened. In 1961 the administration of the school was divided into two sections - English and French. The English section was known as St. Mary’s, and the French section was known as École Ste. Marie. In 1966 plans were approved for a four room addition.

In 1996 the Capreol Child Care Centre began operations in the building offering a wide variety of programs to children aged 18 months to 12 years. The Centre provides children from the community with an opportunity to make an easy transition from the day care setting to Junior Kindergarten when the time comes at the age of four years. In 2003 St. Albert Adult Learning Centre created a satellite campus at St. Mary School.

Principals of the School
(some dates overlap because of the English/French nature of the school)

J. A. Pezet 1953 - 1955

Howard McNamara 1955 - 1960

Ann Sauvé 1960 - 1961

Lionel Rémillard 1960 - 1962

Eli Martel 1961 - 1967

Wayne Reynolds 1967 - 1978

John Rauh 1978 - 1991

E. (Sandy) MacDonald 1991 - 1995

Brenda Mailloux 1995 - 1998

Louisa Bianchin 1999 - 2000

Bob Wilson 2000 - 2003

Allan Cormier 2003 - 2006

Genovefa Waszczylo 2006 - present