Québec Corner / Medicinal Plants
Monastery Garden / Poisonous Plants

Conrad Kirouac becomes Marie-Victorin

The Botanical Garden site was once the estate of the Brothers of the Christian Schools. This imposing building, known as Mont-de-la-Salle, was both the mother house and the novitiate of the community, and in the early 20^th century stood on the site now occupied by the Alpine Garden.

In June 1901, the young Conrad Kirouac passed through the doors of Mont-de-la-Salle; after two months, he took orders under the name of Marie-Victorin. He lived there until March 1903.

In his free time, Marie-Victorin took an interest in Brother Alfred's plant collection work, and learned the basics of botany. He also offered his services to the estate's gardener. Although we can't know for sure, the founder of the Montr?al Botanical Garden may have been introduced to horticulture right here in the physic garden of the Brothers of the Christian Schools!