PAULINE ARCHER-VANIER
(1898-1991)
HUMANITARIAN
WIFE OF GEORGES VANIER, FORMER GOVERNOR-GENERAL
MOTHER OF JEAN VANIER, FOUNDER OF L'ARCHE

Our school has been given the name "Pauline Vanier" to honour the memory of a special Canadian Catholic woman who passed away on March 23, 1991.  She provides for us, an inspirational figure to emulate in our daily interactions here.

Pauline Archer was born in Montreal in 1898.  In 1921, she married George Vanier, a military officer who turned diplomat and became Canada's Governor-General from 1959 to 1967.

Throughout her life, Madame Vanier exemplified true Christian values. She had a deep devotion to the Sacred Heart of Jesus and a prayerful confidence in the love of God, setting aside daily time for prayer, reflection and meditation. She worked tirelessly alongside her husband, George, to help ease the pain and suffering of poor, disadvantaged and destitute people on every possible occasion.

Following her husband's death in 1967, Madame Vanier joined her son Jean Vanier at L'Arche, a centre for handicapped people (that Jean had founded) at Trosly-Breuil, near Paris, France in 1967.  At L'Arche (which means "ark" or "refuge"), she became known as the community's grandmother despite what she described as her initial fear of disabled people.  This was a fear that involved her own feeling of inadequacy when she was with them. Soon after her arrival at L'Arche, Mme. Vanier said she recalled crying in the chapel when suddenly she felt a hand on the her shoulder. She turned and saw a young man standing behind her. Without speaking, he gently took her arm and walked her home. She realized then that in spite of his disability and the fact that he didn't know her well, he was concerned that she was sad and was, in his own way trying to comfort her. His sensitivity touched her deeply and from that moment on her fear of the L'Arche residents began to disappear.

When asked for permission to name this school in honour of his dear mother, Jean Vanier responding by writing:

"I am very touched by your desire to name this new school "Pauline Vanier Catholic School". I hope and pray that it will be a place where the spirit of Jesus and of the Gospels will truly be present; where those who are poorer or who have learning difficulties may be welcomed and find their place."

Madame Pauline Vanier's life of kindness, love and charity toward others makes her an excellent model for all who "learn and grow together with God" in this community.