The Dawson College building was founded in 1969. It is located in the heart of Westmount. It takes up a 12 acre piece of land which encompases an entire city block. Dawson College adopted it's name from Sir William Dawson who was the principal of McGill University. He is known to have been the man who turned McGill University into the prestigious school it is today. (Dawsoncollege.qc.ca)
The Building Itself: Dawson College is located at 3040 Sherbrooke Street Ouest. The building was built over three years from 1905 to 1908. It is comprised of a total of eight floors above ground and It originally belonged to the "Meres des Soeurs de La Congregation de Notre-Dame / The sisters of the Notre-Dame congregation". This building still has some of it's original architecture as well as some new architecture. The original chapel still remains but it has now been converted into a library. The original light fixtures and architecture are still present even though it is now a library. The building and land only officially became occupied by Dawson college in 1988.
The building Today:
The building today currently serves as a CEGEP which is home to over 10,000 students and over 3,000 teachers and faculty. It is an english-speaking public school which includes over 50 areas of study. The school offers two different types of programs 1) pre-University programs and 2) technical. The pre-university programs are programs which take two years to complete. After the required credits are acheived the student would then move on to University. By completing CEGEP the student has one year less to attend University compared to students who are from outside of Quebec. Technical programs last for three years in which the student learns all of the skills of a specific trade. After the student has successfully completed the three year program they then go straight into their desired trade. (Dawsoncollege.qc.ca)
Map of location of Dawson College. 3040 Sherbrooke street Ouest
Maison-mère des soeurs de la Congrégation de Notre-Dame:
The congregation of Notre Dame was founded by Marguerite Bourgeoys in 1653. Marguerite Bourgeoys was born in France in 1620 in the area of Champagne. During her early twenties she experienced a moment with God which led her to change her ways. She decided she would no longer live her life worrying about the small things in life. She wanted to help others and to spread knowledge. It is believed that she made her way to Montreal in 1953 with Mr. De Maisonneuve. She was a "pioneer woman who worked in an outpost of the French empire, she built houses and established a farm, and opened schools for native children as well as for children of the colony. She was deterred by neither bishop nor king in the pursuit of her mission" (Marguerite Bourgeoys Museum).