Saint Paul innovates while staying true to roots

As Ottawa’s Saint Paul University, celebrates its 175th anniversary this year, Chantal Beauvais, its first female Rector, simultaneously exemplifies its Catholic identity, historical values and its face of change.

She is at once the keeper of tradition and the driver of innovation.

Beauvais was co-appointed by the Superior General of the Oblates of Mary Immaculate, the missionary order that founded the university, and the Vatican’s Dicastery of Culture and Education. She has been charged with honouring the historical values of the founders, the Oblates of Mary Immaculate. But she is also the “face of change” as articulated in the university’s motto.

The Oblates of Mary Immaculate are a missionary order founded in France by Fr. Eugene de Mazenod in the wake of the French Revolution, Beauvais said. Canonized as a saint in 1995 by then Pope John Paul II, de Mazenod paid particular attention throughout his life to the evangelization of the poor. 

According to historical records, the first Oblates arrived in Canada in 1841, establishing a presence in what was then Bytown on the Ottawa River. In 1848, they founded the College of Bytown, which would evolve into the University of Ottawa.

In 1965 the University of Ottawa acquired its current form, dividing it into two federated post-secondary institutions, the University of Ottawa and Saint Paul University, the former a non-denominational school, while Saint Paul maintained the ecclesiastical faculties and its Catholic tradition.

Although the core identity of the university remains Catholic, equity, diversity and inclusion are also woven into the Saint Paul culture, she emphasized.

“We are open to people of all faith traditions or no faith,” she said. “It’s a Catholic university, but we are making it meaningful for a wider audience.”

The principles of equity, diversity and inclusion were formalized in 2019 when Saint Paul incorporated the principles of the Dimensions Charter unveiled by Kirsty Duncan, then Minister of Science and Sport. The charter was a call to all educational and research institutions to drive deeper cultural change to ensure equity and respect for women, Indigenous people, racialized groups and people with disabilities. Under Beauvais’ leadership, a plan is being implemented to ensure that all these groups are valued and respected for their contributions and receive equal support.

Beauvais, Rector since 2009, has overseen many innovations.

“There have been changes in infrastructure to facilitate team work and we have put together new schools that are interdisciplinary in approach, with a mix of professors teaching across subject lines,” she said. “The Élisabeth-Bruyère School of Social Innovations is closely related to the mission of the Oblates of Mary Immaculate.”

Students there explore ways of reducing poverty and developing solutions to social needs in housing and health.

“Our graduates often go on to work for non-profits that meet these needs,” she added.

The School of Leadership, Ecology and Equity prepares Canadian and international students as future leaders of communities and organizations.

“They learn to operationalize the principles of Laudato Si’,” Beauvais said, referring to Pope Francis’ encyclical focusing on care for the natural environment and all people.

“We take not only a theoretical approach to justice, peace and the integrity of creation but teach our students to be engaged in making it happen,” said Beauvais.

She noted that Saint Paul University is making every effort to implement the educational recommendations of the Truth and Reconciliation Commission’s report on Canada’s residential schools. One of the recommendations (no. 64) calls for institutions to provide an education on comparative religious studies, which must include a segment on Aboriginal spiritual beliefs and practices developed in collaboration with Aboriginal elders. In keeping with this, Saint Paul University has recently added a Centre for Indigenous Learners with two knowledge keepers and an Indigenous coordinator, Beauvais pointed out.

“Our international students can relate to the Aboriginal issues we address because many of them come from colonized countries,” she said.

“Saint Paul University offers more than outstanding intellectual learning. It offers humanity. Students also learn to discuss respectfully, to listen actively, to interact with humour, to value integrity,” Marie Charette-Poulin, a Senator in the Chretien government who now acts as parliamentarian-in-residence at Saint Paul University, told The Catholic Register.

A highlight of the 175th anniversary celebrations was an ecumenical service Sept. 19 at the De Mazenod Chapel, followed by a reception. It was attended by staff, students and dignitaries such as Archbishop Ivan Jurkovic, Apostolic Nuncio in Canada, and Archbishop Marcel Damphousse of Ottawa-Cornwall, chancellor of the university.

Saint Paul University will host an Open House on Oct. 19 from 4-7 pm.