The College of Iona

Photo by Alan L Brown - June 29, 2005

Plaque Location

The United Counties of Stormont, Dundas and Glengarry
The Township of South Glengarry
In St. Raphaels in front of the old college building on the north side of County Road 18 across from the ruined church

Plaque Text

Established by the Reverend Alexander Macdonell, father of Roman Catholic education in Upper Canada and later Bishop of Kingston, the College of Iona was opened in 1826 in a log building near this site. The central portion of the nearby stone structure, erected by Macdonell in 1808 as the presbytery for the parish, served as a residence for teachers and students. Much of the cost of construction and of the operational expenses of the school were borne by Macdonell. In addition to being the first seminary in Upper Canada, the school offered a general academic education preparing boys for secular vocations. After about ten years its functions were taken over by Regiopolis College in Kingston.