A Legacy of Faith, Education, and Partnership

Image: The Sisters presented a gift of $500,000 at their Annual General Meeting at St. Patrick’s Parish in Victoria, where they were joined by Dr. Gerry Turcotte, President and Principal; Dr. Lynda Robitaille, Provost and Dean of Graduate Studies; and Dr. Nick Olkovich, the Marie Anne Blondin Chair in Theology.

Sisters of St. Ann Donate $500,000

St. Mark’s College is deeply grateful to the Sisters of St. Ann, whose generous gift of $500,000 will provide enduring support for student scholarships, the future Centre for Ministerial Formation, and the ongoing work of the College.

Through the generosity of the Sisters of St. Ann, students who feel called to serve their local parishes will find both a place at St. Mark’s and an education that forms them in mind, spirit, and heart for the work of ministry. This support reaches students from dioceses across British Columbia and the Yukon, and especially those in communities beyond the Lower Mainland, where opportunities for religious formation are often scarce.

This gift flows from a much larger story, one rooted in the Sisters of St. Ann’s pioneering leadership in Catholic education and compassionate service. Since arriving in British Columbia in 1858, they have helped shape the educational, spiritual, and social landscape of the region through their dedication to education, health care, spiritual accompaniment, and the relief of poverty. Along the way they established 38 schools and 10 hospitals across British Columbia, Alaska, and the Yukon, laying a foundation of service that continues to enrich countless lives today.

Their partnership with St. Mark’s College and Corpus Christi College has long been a visionary and formative one. In 2016, the Sisters’ historic $3 million gift established the Marie Anne Blondin Chair in Theology. It is the largest endowment in the Colleges’ history and the largest gift ever received by a Catholic college in British Columbia.

Under its inaugural Chair, Dr. Nick Olkovich, the position continues to shape theological scholarship, teaching, and formation.

We are profoundly grateful, and we look forward to forming leaders who will serve with wisdom, compassion, and faith.

This article was originally published in the 2026 edition of A Year in Review. For more stories like this about the Corpus Christi and St. Mark’s College community, read the full publication at the link below.