The Résidence Sainte-Esther, circa 1923
![Bucolic image of Val-David Church, side-by-side with the Résidence Sainte-Esther des Sœurs de Sainte-Anne.](https://www.communitystories.ca/v2/val-david-escalade_rock-climbing/wp-content/uploads/sites/115/2019/08/Archives-Soeurs-Ste-Anne.jpg)
Source:
Archives of the Congrégation des Soeurs de Sainte-Anne, Lachine; PH66/13.
The first parish priest (or curé) of Val-david, Ernest Brousseau, was approached in 1921 by Sister Marie-Antonine (Albina Bélisle), a daughter of Joseph Belisle (the local train station was named after his mills) who joined the Congrégation des Sœurs de Sainte-Anne in 1883. The Congregation wished to build a home in which members could come to retreat or be cared for if they were ill. The region being known for its curative virtues, more than a dozen sanatoriums were built around Sainte-Agathe between 1889 and 1912. Both Monseigneur Brunet, bishop of the diocese of Mont-Laurier, and Curé Brousseau were very happy to have the Congrégation des Sœurs de Sainte-Anne come and settle on their territory.