The Sisters of Service have worked in dozens of communities across Canada, as well as in Casa Nova (Brazil), Fargo (North Dakota), and Grand Forks (North Dakota). This map features a brief summary of some of the Canadian missions.

Alberta

Edmonton (1925-2008)

The SOS operated a religious correspondence school (1925-1967), vacation schools during the summer months, and a women's residence (1929-1967). From 1968-2008 the Sisters served in various roles throughout the city, at the University of Alberta campus, and in immigration, pastoral care, social services.

Edson (1926-1997)

The only large medical facility between Kamploops, BC, and Edmonton, AB, St. John's Hospital was opened by the SOS in 1926. It served miners, lumbermen, farm families, and local residents. Sisters also served in the local parish community and taught religion classes.

Faust (1969-1974)

Sisters in Faust worked in the local public school, child welfare services, and were active in the community parish. Sister Mary Phillips helped to develop a language program for the Cree First Nation and Metis students.

Fort McMurray (1974-1991)

In Fort McMurray Sister Phillips coordinated the new government program of early childhood services and worked in developing special education programs for which a school is named in her honour. She was accompanied by other Sisters who served in the local parish, acted as pastoral visitors, and worked in social services and education.

Hawk Hills (1965-1977)

The SOS, living in a mobile home, taught in the local portable classroom school until buses became available to send students to the larger school in Manning, Alberta.

High Level (1969-1984)

SOS served in High Level as teachers and in community health nursing. Sister Florence MacDougall has a school named in her honour.

Manning (1952-1980)

Primarily a teaching mission at the local four-room school, Sister Mary Harding also worked in the local hospital as a nurses' aide and Sister Anna Green converted their basement into a studio where she taught oil painting.

Meander River (1972-1975)

Sister Eileen Gallagher taught at Upper Hay River Day Public School in Meander River

Alberta

Onoway (1964-1988)

In Onoway, the Sisters taught in the local elementary school while also offering religious instruction and liturgies in local parishes.

Peace River (1950-1981)

The Sisters helped establish the first Catholic school in Peace River. They also organized religion classes, home and hospital visits, choir, and taught music lessons.

Rich Valley (1962-1965)

In addition to teaching in the local public school, the Sisters assisted in the parish with the liturgy, conducted parish visiting, and taught weekly religion classes.

Rycroft (1944-1972)

At the invitation of Fr. Joseph Paquin, OMI, in 1944, the Sisters opened St. Michael's Dormitory, a residence for out-of-town students until regular bus service was available. The SOS also served as teachers in the local elementary, junior, and high school.

Smoky Lake (1984-1999)

Sister Mary Halder served as a public health nurse for the Lakeland Regional Health Authority Health Unit, where she was also pastoral administrator of Our Lady of the Atonement parish.

St. Brides (1930-1933)

Foundress Sister Catherine Donnelly and two other Sisters arrived in August 1930 to teach in the three-room Celtic Public School which served 50 immigrant families from Northern Ireland.

Stony Plain (1990-1996)

Sister Marilyn MacDonald worked in child welfare and social services in this community. She was joined by Sister Mary Phillips who served in parish ministry, pastoral counseling, and sacramental preparation classes.

Vilna (1925-1970)

The SOS opened Our Lady's Hospital in 1925 and operated it until 1970 when ownership was transferred to the municipality. Outside the hospital, the Sisters participated and promoted parish life, taught weekly religion classes and organized religious vacation schools in the area.

British Columbia

Fort St. James (1976-1977)

Sisters Peggy McFadden and Marilyn Gillespie worked on the Frontier Apostolate created by Bishop O’Grady to bring Catholic education to the rural interior of British Columbia.

Nelson (1962-1969)

At the invitation of Nelson Bishop Emmett Doyle, Sister Frances Coffey with the assistance of Sister Carmelita Camozzi arrived in September 1962 to establish the diocese’s office of Confraternity of Christian Doctrine (CCD). Under the CCD, the Church’s official organization for providing religious instruction to youth and adults, the Sisters provided catechetical in-service courses for catechetists.

Penticton (1973-1981)

Sisters served as parish assistants in the two Penticton parishes. In the Okanagan Valley, Sisters participated in liturgy, marriage, and baptism preparation programs.

Vancouver (1929-1980)

In October 1929, Sisters Gertrude Walsh and Frances Church arrived to operate the Catholic Hostel of St. Anthony on Robson Avenue, replacing the Franciscan Sisters of the Atonement. The residence included social and religious clubs, and professional classes. After its closure in 1972, the SOS taught in the local elementary school and worked for the BC Family Service Agency.

Manitoba

Camp Morton (1924-1988)

The first Western mission of the SOS, Camp Morton was opened in 1924 as a teaching mission by Sisters Catherine Donnelly and Catherine Wymbs. In addition to teaching in the various rural schools, Sisters provided catechetical lessons and sacramental preparation.

Churchill (1971-1979)

Sisters taught in the local schools, served in the parish, and Sister Anita Hartman ran a full-time music program out of the Sisters' residence.

The Pas (1971-1974)

Sister Clare Gilmore served as a teacher in this community for three years.

Winnipeg (1926-1983)

The women's residence opened in 1926 and was operated by the Sisters until its closure in the 1970s. In Winnipeg Sisters also worked for the Office of the Confraternity of Christian Doctrine, Archdiocese of Winnipeg Marriage Tribunal, and as catechetical coordinators in local parishes.

New Brunswick

Moncton (1975-1981, 1987-1988)

Sister Margaret Ready worked as a family counselor at the Family Enrichment and Counseling Service. Following intense training, Sister Marilyn Gillespie was hired as a prison chaplain at Westmorland Institution, becoming one of the few women chaplains in the federal correctional services.

Saint John (1951-1953, 2009-2018)

Fluent in German, Dutch, Polish and English, Sister Katharina Klutterman, a veteran port worker in Halifax, Montreal and Quebec City, assisted the Catholic Women’s League in welcoming the influx of immigrants disembarking from European ships in the port during the winters of 1951 until 1953. Decades later, Sister Marilyn Gillespie, retired from prison ministry, provided spiritual direction for half of each year to the Sisters of Charity of the Immaculate Conception.

Newfoundland and Labrador

Bishop's Falls (1981-1984)

Sisters were assigned to the catechetical mission in north-central Newfoundland to continue the religious correspondence work initiated by the Sisters of Presentation in 1975. The Sisters assisted the pastors in the communities of Bishop’s Falls, Grand Falls, Windsor and Norris Arm by teaching catechism to the children.

Clarenville (1975-1992)

The SOS established a religious correspondence school in Clarenville. Sisters also served as Extraordinary Ministers of the Eucharist in parishes and mission churches, which were without a resident priest and conducted Liturgy of the Word and distributed Holy Communion on Sundays.

Corner Brook (1970-1972)

Sister Rosemarie Hudon arrived in September 1970 as the first religious consultant to the Roman Catholic School Board of Humber-St. Barbe in western Newfoundland.

North West River-Sheshatshiu (1971-1983)

Sisters held various teaching positions at community schools in this rural Labrador community.

St. John's (1953-1979)

At the invitation of the Archbishop, the SOS opened their seventh women's residence in Canada in St. John's. When the residence closed in 1973, several of the Sisters remained in St. John's teaching in public and alternative schools until 1979.

St. Julien's (1975-1979)

In this difficult to reach community, Sisters served as teachers and presided at the Liturgy of the Word on Sundays as priests were only able to make the journey every six weeks. The SOS remained in St. Julien's until a road connecting the the outport to the main thoroughfare was constructed.

Northwest Territories & Nunavut

Rankin Inlet (1972-1975)

Sister Marilyn Gillespie taught in the community school for three years. At the time, Rankin Inlet was part of the Northwest Territories.

Nova Scotia

Halifax (1925-2001)

For four decades, SOS served in Pier 21, meeting ships and helping passengers with the beginning of their journey into Canada. In addition to port work, the SOS operated women's residences in Halifax from 1928 to 1991. Outside of immigration services, Sisters in Halifax also assisted in catechetical instruction, local hospitals and outpatient care, pastoral, and chaplaincy work.

Stellarton (1971-1975)

Sister Margaret Ready worked as a social worker for the Family Service of Pictou County, based in New Glasgow. She lived with the Sisters of Charity in their convent in the neighbouring town of Stellarton.

Ontario

Beaverton (2005-2011)

Sister Patsy Flynn taught art and religion at Holy Family school in this central Ontario town. At St. Joseph’s parish, she offered workshops in art therapy and music.

Guelph (2003-2012)

Sister Marilyn Gillespie served at the Loyola Centre as Spiritual Director.

Kingston (1995-2018)

Sister Marilyn Gillespie was the full-time Roman Catholic chaplain at Pittsburgh Institution, a minimum security prison near Kingston, adjacent to the Joyceville Prison, where she served as chaplain for six years. Sister Marilyn MacDonald served as massage therapist. Sister Joan Schafhauser retired from active nursing at the Sisters of Providence public health long-term facility (1999-2003) and served as a parish nurse while living in a seniors apartment. She administered to in-house patients and instructed T’ai Chi.

Moosonee (1972-1978, 1989-1993)

In Moosonee, the Sisters provided teaching and medical support. Several Sisters taught in local schools and Sister Silvie Nachtegaele nursed in town as well as other remote Northern Ontario community. Sister Mary-Ellen Francoeur worked as a resident psychologist for the Ontario government's Native Mental Health Program, travelling between communities along the coast of James Bay.

Ottawa (1932-1987, 1994-2008)

At the invitation of the Rosary Hall Association, the SOS assumed ownership of it's work and social services, establishing a women's residence in Ottawa in 1932 which operated until 1968. Sister Ella Zink served in various public relations positions for both Catholic and secular organizations in Ottawa. As a psychologist, Sister Mary-Ellen Francouer operated a clinical practice in Ottawa as well as serving as the national president of Religions for Peace Canada.

Thunder Bay (1986-1989)

In 1986, Sister Mary-Ellen Francoeur was part of the clinical court team to assess young offenders and their families at the Regional Children's Centre. At the request of Bishop John O’Mara of Thunder Bay, she served on an advisory committee to assist the Thunder Bay diocese in creating policy regarding members of religious congregations and clergy accused of sexual misconduct.

Toronto (1923-present)

Home to the Motherhouse, Novitiate, and first mission, the SOS opened their first women's residence at 4 Wellesley Place in 1923. Over the last century, Sisters have also served in the community as teachers, nurses, chaplains, and in pastoral care.

Wyoming (1988-2024)

The SOS predominantly were teachers in Wyoming, but also served in pastoral care, catechetical education, home visitation, and as volunteers in palliative care.

Prince Edward Island

Charlottetown (1976-1978)

Sister Viola Mossey was secretary to Retreat Director Donald MacLeod, OMI at the Tabor Retreat Centre.

Quebec

Montreal (1926-1984)

The SOS operated a women's residence in Montreal, as well as working in local social services. Sisters met trains of newcomers to Canada, offered social and religious clubs, and visited the immigration detention centre.

Quebec City (1927-1931)

Sisters Agnes Black and Mary Szostak travelled from Montréal and lived with the White Sisters on Grand Allée, assisting Abbé Casgrain at the port. The Sisters met the ships and referred Catholic passengers en route their Canadian destination.

Saskatchewan

Bergfield (1938-1948)

Living and teaching in this rural community, the Sisters also taught catechism and helped children prepare for the Sacraments in the evenings and on weekends.

Green Lake (1979-1982)

In this community Sisters worked at St. Pascal school, as a community worker, and in family services. They also assisted in local parish work.

La Loche (1975-1979)

Sisters Patricia Burke and Anna McNally provided social services and teaching support in this community via the provincial Department of Northern Saskatchewan.

La Ronge (1983-1995)

Continuing their work from La Loche, Sisters served in social and educational support in La Ronge and its nearby communities. Sister McNally worked with the Saskatchewan Department of Education as a language development consultant in the La Ronge district, travelling to individual students throughout the area. Later she was an instructor and field supervisor with the Northern Teacher’s Education Program (NORTEP) and Northern Professional Access College (NORPAC).

Marquis (1938-1943)

In August 1938, Sister Catherine Donnelly opened the teaching mission in this community, northwest of Moose Jaw. Accompanied by two Sisters, who completed Grade 12 there, Sister Donnelly taught Grade 9 at St. Mark’s school

Meadow Lake (1981-1988)

Sisters in this community served in nursing and pastoral care, in addition to teaching Catechism on weekends.

Milestone (1991-1994)

Due to a shortage of clergy, SOS served as parish ministers in several churches in Milestone, offering RCIA, Bible studies, home visiting, and other lay pastoral services.

Radville (1997-2002)

Sister Adua Zampese was appointed as parish minister for Holy Family parish in Radville.

Regina (1934-2003)

In 1934 the SOS established a catechetical house in Regina, opening a religious correspondence school to serve children in rural Saskatchewan, Manitoba, and Northern Ontario. After several expansions, the schools was renamed the Daly Centre in 1971. Sisters also taught religion to Regina children attending public schools, assisted in local parishes, served as home visitors, and in other social services.

Saskatoon (1942-1977)

The SOS worked for three decades as social workers with the Catholic Welfare Council and Catholic Family Services in Saskatoon. At the request of Bishop Philip Pocock, they also opened a women's residence for students attending St. Thomas More College.

Sinnett (1940-1969)

At the request of Bishop Gerald Murray of Saskatoon, foundress Sister Catherine Donnelly established the teaching mission in this community. The SOS remained as teachers in Sinnett until 1969 when it became possible for students to take a bus to schools in the larger towns nearby.

Yukon

Teslin (1972-1974)

Sister Mary Halder worked as a public health nurse with the federal department of National Health and Welfare in Teslin, a small village an hour’s drive from Whitehorse.

Whitehorse (1977-1983)

Sister Mary Halder was employed as a regional health educator (1977-1982) in the federal department of Health and Welfare. In September 1982, she became the social justice animator, establishing a Social Action office in the Diocese of Whitehorse.