The Government of Canada Recognizes the National Historic Importance of Father Henry Carr
News Release
June 4, 2017 Toronto, Ontario Parks Canada Agency
Marco Mendicino, Member of Parliament for Eglinton – Lawrence, on behalf of the Minister of the Environment and Climate Change and Minister responsible for Parks Canada, Catherine McKenna, today commemorated the national historic significance of Father Henry Carr. A special ceremony was held at St. Michael’s College in Toronto with members of the Historic Sites and Monuments Board of Canada, of St. Michael’s College, and of the Congregation of St. Basil.
The Government of Canada is committed to connecting Canadians to the significant events that contributed to our country’s rich history and heritage. The eldest of nine children in an Irish Immigrant family in Canada, Father Henry Carr was a priest of the Congregation of St. Basil and a leading figure in the history of higher education in Canada. He also advocated for the creation of Catholic colleges within secular universities, which later became a model adopted in other provinces.
In the early 1900s, he played a key role in modernizing the curriculum of St. Michael’s College, turning a small institution into a noted arts college, fully federated with the University of Toronto. While at St. Michael’s, Father Carr promoted excellence in Catholic education, bringing well-known Catholic scholars to the college.
Canada’s national parks and historic sites enable Canadians to experience their rich and varied history in a special way and will play a big part in the celebration of Canada 150.
As part of the centennial of national historic sites, Parks Canada invites Canadians to be inspired and captivated by the stories of the people, places, and events that shaped the Canada of today. Take advantage of the free entry to the national historic sites in 2017, and discover truly Canadian places and stories with Parks Canada!
Quotes
“The Government of Canada is very pleased to commemorate the contribution of Father Henry Carr to Canadian history. Father Carr was a pioneering figure in the history of higher Catholic education in Canada whose outstanding contribution helped promote excellence in Catholic education, bringing well-known Catholic scholars to the college. We encourage Canadians to take the opportunity to learn more about this key figure and the significant role he played in our country’s history.”
Marco Mendicino,
Member of Parliament for Eglinton – Lawrence
Quick Facts
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Father Henry Carr co-founded the Pontifical Institute of Mediaeval Studies (1929), a world-renowned research institute located on the grounds of St. Michael’s College in Toronto, Ontario
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Father Carr brought St. Michael’s model of federation to other universities and was the head of Catholic colleges at the Universities of Saskatchewan and British Columbia.
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Created in 1919, the Historic Sites and Monuments Board of Canada advises the Minister of Environment and Climate Change regarding the national historic significance of places, people, and events that have marked Canada’s history.
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Elizabeth LeBlanc
Public Relations and Communications Officer
Southwestern Ontario Field Unit
Parks Canada
905-651-4507
Elizabeth.LeBlanc@pc.gc.ca
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Parks Canada Agency
855-862-1812
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