The city of Saint-Albert will remove the mural commemorating the history of the Gray Nuns due to its deteriorating condition.

A report submitted to the local council recommends dismantling the work Tribute to the Sisters of Charity Gray Nuns of St. AlbertOr Homage to the Gray Nuns of Charity of Saint-Albertby artist Lewis Lavoie.

The city’s visual arts coordinator, Dani Rice, writes in this report that the work will be presented irreversible damagebecause of the materials used not suitable for continuous outdoor use.

He goes on to say that the owner of the building on which the mural is painted is demanding that the mural be removed.

The work represents the importance that the Gray Nuns of Charity had in the areas of education and health in Saint-Albert.

They were leaders, especially in the health sector. We’re ignoring that a little bit today, that’s what we’re talking about Gray nunswe see Gray nuns anywhere on desiInstitutionsFrancophone Historical Society of Alberta Director General Denis Perreaux said during an interview on the show The coffee show.

Delete history?

This case does not appear to be about erasing French-Canadian history, said Judge Denis Perreaux. However, he fears the possibility of a gap in the collective memory.

This is a case where art does not survive […] It’s sad, but there may be an opportunity here to reach out to the city to ensure that these pieces of history about who the first missionaries were to establish the first church services in Saint-Albert are not lost.

Denis Perreaux is referring to the first three sisters who came to help the missionaries of Saint-Albert: Adèle Lamy, Zoé Leblanc-Emery and Marie-Jacques Alphonse.

With information from the show The coffee show