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Dillon Hargreaves, age 15, filmed and compiled the following video, "The Catholic Church in Fort McMurray: Past and Present," in response to the tour at Heritage Park.

Transcript of "The Catholic Church in Fort McMurray: Past and Present"

Text: THE CATHOLIC CHURCH IN FORT MCMURRAY
PAST AND PRESENT

Audio: Hi. I'm Dillon Hargreaves. Have you ever wondered about the many Catholic schools and churches in Fort McMurray?

Text: IT IS DUE TO HISTORY

Audio: Construction of the first Catholic mission building began in 1911. After a new church was built, it was rented as a dwelling. The church was abandoned and nearly sold for firewood until B. W. Brown initiated action to save it.

Text: THE SECOND CHURCH BURNT IN 1939./ SINCE THEN MANY MORE CATHOLIC CHURCHES. HAVE BEEN BUILT/ IN THE FORT MCMURRAY AREA

Audio: Because of the growth in population, the two-bed infirmary was no longer big enough to meet the medical needs of Fort McMurray.

Text: THE GREY NUNS OF MONTREAL CAME NORTH IN 1938 TO ESTABLISH THE/ (on sign) HOPITAL + SAINT GABRIEL
1966: GENERAL HOSPITAL OPENED/ IT HAS SINCE EXPANDED

Audio: It wasn't until 1970 that St. Gabriel's was closed.

Text: IN 1960 A RETREAT WAS BUILT/ FOR THE NUNS WHO OPERATED THE HOSPITAL/ IT WAS MOVED TO HERITAGE PARK/ AND IS NOW A FOOD STAND (on sign) CHATEAU GAI HOT DOG CAFÉ

Audio: Another need in Fort McMurray which the Grey Nuns met was education.

Text: NOW THERE ARE NINE CATHOLIC SCHOOLS IN FORT MCMURRAY. THE CATHOLIC MISSION ESTABLISHED IN 1911 STILL INFLUENCES THIS COMMUNITY THROUGH / CHURCHES/ SCHOOLS/ MEMORIES & HISTORY

Audio: Although there has been much controversy over the effects of Catholicism in northern communities, it is clear that its influence was and is in Fort McMurray.
For more information on the history of this great city, contact the Fort McMurray Historical Society at Heritage Park on Tolen Drive.

Text: PAST AND PRESENT

COMPILED BY DILLON HARGREAVES
PHOTOS BY FORT MCMURRAY HISTORICAL SOCIETY, DILLON HARGREAVES, SUZANNE BRAAT
FILMED BY DEVON HARGREAVES
SPECIAL THANKS TO CHRISTIAN HENDRIKS

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Video: "The Catholic Church in Fort McMurray: Past and Present," by Dillon Hargreaves
November 2009



Credits:
Dillon Hargreaves