{"title":"Marie Wolniewicz (Woman of Art: Online Women’s Month Feature–2026)","description":"","products":[{"product_id":"marie-wolniewicz-online-feature","title":"Marie Wolniewicz Online feature","description":"\u003cdiv class=\"OutlineElement Ltr SCXW55061472 BCX8\"\u003e\n\u003cp class=\"MsoNormal\" style=\"line-height: normal; text-align: left;\"\u003e\u003cspan style=\"font-family: 'Open Sans'; mso-fareast-font-family: 'Times New Roman'; mso-font-kerning: 0pt; mso-ligatures: none;\"\u003eMarie Wolniewicz, affectionately called “Little Marie”, is fondly remembered by St. Albert students from the mid-1920s to the late 1960s. She considered the hundreds of students who began their schooling under her care, her family. \u003c\/span\u003e\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003c\/div\u003e\n\u003cp\u003e\u003ca href=\"https:\/\/www.artsandheritage.ca\/products\/early-life-2\"\u003e\u003cimg src=\"https:\/\/cdn.shopify.com\/s\/files\/1\/0602\/4508\/2157\/files\/Artboard36copy11ahfforwardbackwardbuttons_480x480.png?v=1709831656\" alt=\"\"\u003e\u003c\/a\u003e\u003c\/p\u003e","brand":"Arts and Heritage Foundation St. Albert","offers":[{"title":"Default Title","offer_id":44622950465581,"sku":null,"price":0.0,"currency_code":"CAD","in_stock":true}],"thumbnail_url":"\/\/cdn.shopify.com\/s\/files\/1\/0602\/4508\/2157\/files\/Mainpagephoto-2003_01_2302MarieWolniewicz.jpg?v=1771361377"},{"product_id":"early-life-2","title":"Early Life","description":"\u003cp class=\"MsoNormal\" style=\"line-height: normal; text-align: left;\"\u003e\u003cspan style=\"font-family: 'Open Sans'; mso-fareast-font-family: 'Times New Roman'; mso-font-kerning: 0pt; mso-ligatures: none;\"\u003eMarie Wolniewicz was born in Poland on September 9, 1903. In 1907, her father came to Edmonton to work on the High Level Bridge. Marie and her mother Anna would soon join him in Edmonton in 1908.\u003cspan style=\"mso-spacerun: yes;\"\u003e  \u003c\/span\u003e\u003c\/span\u003e\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp class=\"MsoNormal\" style=\"line-height: normal; text-align: left;\"\u003e\u003cspan style=\"font-family: 'Open Sans'; mso-fareast-font-family: 'Times New Roman'; mso-font-kerning: 0pt; mso-ligatures: none;\"\u003eWithin the first year in Canada, Marie’s father passed away. Anna felt it would be easier to raise Marie in a smaller town so the two moved to St. Albert. Marie went to the St. Albert Youville Convent School for one year. She spoke almost no English when she started but then began learning both English and French. Father Mérer School (the Brick School) opened in 1909, and Marie completed the rest of her schooling there. Her mother Anna remarried in 1909, this time to Alfred Chevigny. The family then lived on Perron Street, right across from where the St. Albert Arena (Ducky Dome) would be built.\u003c\/span\u003e\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp class=\"MsoNormal\" style=\"line-height: normal; text-align: left;\"\u003e\u003cspan style=\"font-family: 'Open Sans'; mso-fareast-font-family: 'Times New Roman'; mso-font-kerning: 0pt; mso-ligatures: none;\"\u003eOne of Marie’s earliest claims to fame came in 1909 when she was chosen to present a bouquet of flowers to Father Lacombe during the celebrations for the 60\u003csup\u003eth\u003c\/sup\u003e anniversary of his ordination. Although French was still new to Marie, Father Lacombe was impressed with Marie’s command of the language.\u003c\/span\u003e\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003e\u003ca href=\"https:\/\/www.artsandheritage.ca\/products\/marie-wolniewicz-online-feature\"\u003e\u003cimg src=\"https:\/\/cdn.shopify.com\/s\/files\/1\/0602\/4508\/2157\/files\/Artboard36copy10ahfforwardbackwardbuttons_480x480.png?v=1709831642\" alt=\"\"\u003e\u003c\/a\u003e\u003ca href=\"https:\/\/www.artsandheritage.ca\/products\/education-and-teaching\"\u003e\u003cimg alt=\"\" src=\"https:\/\/cdn.shopify.com\/s\/files\/1\/0602\/4508\/2157\/files\/Artboard36copy11ahfforwardbackwardbuttons_480x480.png?v=1709831656\"\u003e\u003c\/a\u003e\u003cbr\u003e\u003c\/p\u003e","brand":"Arts and Heritage Foundation St. Albert","offers":[{"title":"Default Title","offer_id":44624667115565,"sku":null,"price":0.0,"currency_code":"CAD","in_stock":true}],"thumbnail_url":"\/\/cdn.shopify.com\/s\/files\/1\/0602\/4508\/2157\/files\/12003_01_1515Wolniewicz.jpg?v=1771429808"},{"product_id":"education-and-teaching","title":"Education and Teaching","description":"\u003cp class=\"MsoNormal\" style=\"line-height: normal; text-align: left;\"\u003e\u003cspan style=\"font-family: 'Open Sans'; mso-fareast-font-family: 'Times New Roman'; mso-font-kerning: 0pt; mso-ligatures: none;\"\u003eMarie was an excellent academic student and also learned to play the piano from the sisters at the Convent. She graduated in 1918, winning the Medal of Excellence for her scholastic achievements. Marie then started pursuing her education to become a teacher. It was a dream Marie had quite early in life.\u003c\/span\u003e\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp class=\"MsoNormal\" style=\"line-height: normal; text-align: left;\"\u003e\u003cspan style=\"font-family: 'Open Sans'; mso-fareast-font-family: 'Times New Roman'; mso-font-kerning: 0pt; mso-ligatures: none;\"\u003eMarie studied at the Norman School in Calgary for a year and then finished her Bachelor of Education through summer courses in Edmonton. In the early 1920’s Marie became a grade one teacher St. Albert’s Father Mérer School and taught there for two years. \u003cspan style=\"mso-spacerun: yes;\"\u003e \u003c\/span\u003eShe then spent four years teaching in Winterburn, Picardville, Lac La Biche and Chauvin. By this point Marie’s stepfather, Alfred Chevigny died and Marie felt the need to be with her mother. Marie returned to St. Albert and over forty years, taught at the Little White School and the Sturgeon Division School on Mission Ave. Aside from primarily teaching early elementary children, Marie also gave music lessons to students after school. \u003c\/span\u003e\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp class=\"MsoNormal\" style=\"line-height: normal; text-align: left;\"\u003e\u003cspan style=\"font-family: 'Open Sans'; mso-fareast-font-family: 'Times New Roman'; mso-font-kerning: 0pt; mso-ligatures: none;\"\u003eLikely due to her own journey, Marie was known for being especially understanding of new immigrant children who had difficulty with English and French. Marie loved teaching her young students so much, that she turned down an offer to become principal. Marie preferred to stay in the classroom instead of running a school.\u003c\/span\u003e\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003e\u003ca href=\"https:\/\/www.artsandheritage.ca\/products\/early-life-2\"\u003e\u003cimg src=\"https:\/\/cdn.shopify.com\/s\/files\/1\/0602\/4508\/2157\/files\/Artboard36copy10ahfforwardbackwardbuttons_480x480.png?v=1709831642\" alt=\"\"\u003e\u003c\/a\u003e\u003ca href=\"https:\/\/www.artsandheritage.ca\/products\/life-in-st-albert\"\u003e\u003cimg alt=\"\" src=\"https:\/\/cdn.shopify.com\/s\/files\/1\/0602\/4508\/2157\/files\/Artboard36copy11ahfforwardbackwardbuttons_480x480.png?v=1709831656\"\u003e\u003c\/a\u003e\u003cbr\u003e\u003c\/p\u003e","brand":"Arts and Heritage Foundation St. Albert","offers":[{"title":"Default Title","offer_id":44624692019245,"sku":null,"price":0.0,"currency_code":"CAD","in_stock":true}],"thumbnail_url":"\/\/cdn.shopify.com\/s\/files\/1\/0602\/4508\/2157\/files\/2003_01_1803teachers.jpg?v=1771429977"},{"product_id":"life-in-st-albert","title":"Life in St. Albert","description":"\u003cp class=\"MsoNormal\" style=\"line-height: normal; text-align: left;\"\u003e\u003cspan style=\"font-family: 'Open Sans'; mso-fareast-font-family: 'Times New Roman'; mso-font-kerning: 0pt; mso-ligatures: none;\"\u003eLiving on Perron Street, in the heart of downtown St. Albert, made it easy for Marie to easily get around the city to her several community commitments. \u003c\/span\u003e\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp class=\"MsoNormal\" style=\"line-height: normal; text-align: left;\"\u003e\u003cspan style=\"font-family: 'Open Sans'; mso-fareast-font-family: 'Times New Roman'; mso-font-kerning: 0pt; mso-ligatures: none;\"\u003eMarie was a member of the St. Albert Parish Choir, a founding member of the Catholic Women’s League of St. Albert, belonged to the Women’s Institute and Youville Auxiliary, and served as secretary of the community league.\u003c\/span\u003e\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp class=\"MsoNormal\" style=\"line-height: normal; text-align: left;\"\u003e\u003cspan style=\"font-family: 'Open Sans'; mso-fareast-font-family: 'Times New Roman'; mso-font-kerning: 0pt; mso-ligatures: none;\"\u003eMarie also found time to start a crafts club. Marie encouraged girls to learn embroidery, sewing and crocheting, and boys to learn woodworking. Marie regularly visited the seniors at the Youville Home and made thirty quilts for the residents over time.\u003c\/span\u003e\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003e\u003ca href=\"https:\/\/www.artsandheritage.ca\/products\/education-and-teaching\"\u003e\u003cimg alt=\"\" src=\"https:\/\/cdn.shopify.com\/s\/files\/1\/0602\/4508\/2157\/files\/Artboard36copy10ahfforwardbackwardbuttons_480x480.png?v=1709831642\"\u003e\u003c\/a\u003e\u003ca href=\"https:\/\/www.artsandheritage.ca\/products\/legacy-1\"\u003e\u003cimg src=\"https:\/\/cdn.shopify.com\/s\/files\/1\/0602\/4508\/2157\/files\/Artboard36copy11ahfforwardbackwardbuttons_480x480.png?v=1709831656\" alt=\"\"\u003e\u003c\/a\u003e\u003cbr\u003e\u003c\/p\u003e","brand":"Arts and Heritage Foundation St. Albert","offers":[{"title":"Default Title","offer_id":44624693755949,"sku":null,"price":0.0,"currency_code":"CAD","in_stock":true}],"thumbnail_url":"\/\/cdn.shopify.com\/s\/files\/1\/0602\/4508\/2157\/files\/12003_01_2208MarieWolniewicz.jpg?v=1771430447"},{"product_id":"legacy-1","title":"Legacy","description":"\u003cp class=\"MsoNormal\" style=\"line-height: normal; text-align: left;\"\u003e\u003cspan style=\"font-family: 'Open Sans'; mso-fareast-font-family: 'Times New Roman'; mso-font-kerning: 0pt; mso-ligatures: none;\"\u003eMarie Wolniewicz never married. Marie took care of her mother Anna until her death in 1954. Marie eventually ended up buying a house on Madonna Drive, a short walk from the Little White School.\u003c\/span\u003e\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp class=\"MsoNormal\" style=\"line-height: normal; text-align: left;\"\u003e\u003cspan style=\"font-family: 'Open Sans'; mso-fareast-font-family: 'Times New Roman'; mso-font-kerning: 0pt; mso-ligatures: none;\"\u003eAfter Marie retired from teaching in 1968, she travelled the world and continued volunteering for many community organizations. Marie spent her final years in the Youville Home before passing away on October 4, 1986, at the age of 83. \u003c\/span\u003e\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp class=\"MsoNormal\" style=\"line-height: normal; text-align: left;\"\u003e\u003cspan style=\"font-family: 'Open Sans'; mso-fareast-font-family: 'Times New Roman'; mso-font-kerning: 0pt; mso-ligatures: none;\"\u003eMarie is synonymous with St. Albert’s education in the mid 20\u003csup\u003eth\u003c\/sup\u003e century because of her immense dedication to teaching. Marie’s legacy are the hundreds of children who went through St. Albert school doors, who still fondly recall the kindness and wisdom of “Little Marie”. \u003c\/span\u003e\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003e\u003ca href=\"https:\/\/www.dropbox.com\/scl\/fi\/dkt7wjiuno9jnh400llgx\/2003_02_170_MarieWolniewicz-full-interview.mp3?rlkey=oee5md6wsnxn4ekf16xtnv12a\u0026amp;e=1\u0026amp;dl=0\"\u003e\u003cstrong\u003eListen to Marie’s story from her own words in this oral history held at the Musée Héritage Museum.\u003c\/strong\u003e\u003c\/a\u003e\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003e\u003ca href=\"https:\/\/coe514nfjjzqqxs6-60245082157.shopifypreview.com\/products_preview?preview_key=ae9a05d4219cf949150d1d2cc75d48bf\"\u003e\u003cimg src=\"https:\/\/cdn.shopify.com\/s\/files\/1\/0602\/4508\/2157\/files\/Artboard36copy10ahfforwardbackwardbuttons_480x480.png?v=1709831642\" alt=\"\"\u003e\u003c\/a\u003e\u003cbr\u003e\u003c\/p\u003e","brand":"Arts and Heritage Foundation St. Albert","offers":[{"title":"Default Title","offer_id":44624696344621,"sku":null,"price":0.0,"currency_code":"CAD","in_stock":true}],"thumbnail_url":"\/\/cdn.shopify.com\/s\/files\/1\/0602\/4508\/2157\/files\/12003_01_1385class.jpg?v=1771430858"}],"thumbnail_url":"\/\/cdn.shopify.com\/s\/files\/1\/0602\/4508\/2157\/collections\/Main_page_photo_-_2003_01_2302_Marie_Wolniewicz.jpg?v=1771435535","url":"https:\/\/www.artsandheritage.ca\/collections\/marie-wolniewicz-woman-of-art-online-women-s-month-feature-2026.oembed","provider":"Arts and Heritage Foundation St Albert","version":"1.0","type":"link"}