The first building on this site, erected sometime in the 1870s, was the home of Joseph Lemay. On his death in 1892, it was donated to the local church and, in 1903, Father Noël-Joseph Ritchot arranged the donation of the building and surrounding land to les Soeurs de Misericorde, who operated it as an orphanage from 1904 to 1948. In 1911, they undertook a major expansion, designed by local architect Joseph-Azarie Senecal, constructing the present three-story brick building. When Asile Ritchot closed in 1948, the building was used as a seminary by the Oblate Order. In 1970, the X-Kalay Foundation (later renamed the Behavioural Health Foundation) began using it for the treatment of people with drug or alcohol addictions.
Archival records for Asile Ritchot are held by Villa Rosa.
Asile Ritchot / Ritchot Orphanage (1947)
Source: Archives of Manitoba, George Harris Fonds, Album 14, P7451
Entrance to Asile Ritchot / Ritchot Orphanage (no date)
Source: Gordon Goldsborough, 2021-0103
Children at the Asile Ritchot (no date)
Source: Rob McInnes, WP1272
The former Asile Ritchot / Ritchot Orphanage (June 2011)
Source: Gordon Goldsborough
The former Asile Ritchot / Ritchot Orphanage (June 2019)
Source: Rose Kuzina
Asile Ritchot commemorative monument on the grounds (June 2011)
Source: Gordon GoldsboroughSite Coordinates (lat/long): N49.76742, W97.15151
denoted by symbol on the map above
See also:
Cityscapes: Asile Ritchot, St. Norbert by Sheila Grover
Manitoba History, Number 11, Spring 1986Memorable Manitobans: Joseph-Azarie Senecal (1841-1917)
Memorable Manitobans: Joseph Octave Lemay (1829-1892)
Memorable Manitobans: Joseph-Noel Ritchot (1825-1905)
Historic Sites of Manitoba: St. Peter Dynevor Anglican Rectory / Dynevor Indian Hospital / St. John’s Cathedral Boys’ School (1147 Breezy Point Road, RM of St. Andrews)
Asile Richot (Behavioural Health Foundation Incorporated), 35 Avenue de la Digue by Murray Peterson, Peterson Projects, December 2009.
We thank Murray Peterson, Lynda Falloon, Rose Kuzina, and Rob McInnes for providing additional information used here.
This page was prepared by Gordon Goldsborough.
Page revised: 28 July 2020
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