Algoma University
Chief Shingwauk (1773-1854) envisaged a school as part of a self-determination strategy for the Anishnabek People and in 1832, he led a delegation from Sault Ste. Marie to York to petition Governor Colbourne for teachers. The Reverend William McMurray, a Church of England missionary/teacher, was sent to Sault Ste. Marie and in 1833 the first 'Shingwauk' School was built on Pim Hill.
The new Shingwauk Home was formally opened in 1873; however, a fire broke out and destroyed the building. On August 2nd, 1875 the school re-opened through Bishops Hellmuth of Huron and Fauquier of Algoma. Rev. E.F. Wilson served as the school’s first principal, in charge of 50 boys mostly drawn from Ojibway settlements at nearby Garden River and distant Walpole Island, Sarnia and Muncey.
The New Shingwauk Indian Residential School, designed for 140 pupils, opened on October 3rd, 1935, which is the main building we see today. In 1970, the residential school closed forever and reopened in 1975 in its present location as an affiliate university of Laurentian. It became designated as Ontario's 17th university in 2008.
It is alleged that on the third floor and basement, children can still be heard running, playing, giggling and crying. Ghostly shadows are also seen by the George Leach Centre and out-buildings from Algoma to Sir James Dunn.
