The Basilim Recreation Centre — Before and After

Katherine Hughes (1876 - 1925)

By George O’Connor

From time to time we are reminded of great accomplishments made by people whose memory has faded with time. Such is the case with Katherine Hughes.

A woman who accomplished a great deal in her time, she is largely unknown to her fellow Islanders. Born in the Irish community of Emerald, P.E.|., on November 12, 1876, she was the daughter of Annie Laurie O’Brien and John Wellington Hughes.

Katherine attended the local school in Emerald before moving to Charlottetown to attend Notre Dame Academy. She later continued her education at Prince

of Wales College and Normal School. She graduated from PWC in 1892 with a diploma and first class Teacher’s License.

Following graduation she did mission work among the natives of Eastern

and Central Canada. In 1901 with the support of Catholic Bishops and Laity she organized the Canadian Indian Association. Its purpose was to generate employment outside reserves for the graduates of Indian schools. In March,

1902 she was working at St. Regis Reserve in Quebec.

In 1902 her interest turned to journalism and from 1903 to 1906 she was on the editorial staff of the Montreal Star. In 1904 she was a founding member of the Canadian Women’s Press Club and, in 1906 at its annual meeting in Winnipeg, she was appointed recording secretary. Shortly thereafter she moved from Ottawa to Edmonton, Alberta where she worked until 1908 for the Edmonton Bulletin. The year 1906 also saw the publication of Archbishop O’Brien, Man and Churchman, her biography of her uncle Archbishop Cornelius O’Brien of Halifax.

In 1908 she was appointed the first provincial archivist for the new Province of Alberta. In 1909 she was seconded to the premier’s office where she became the first woman ever to serve a private secretary to a Canadian premier.

Also in 1909 she began work on her biography of Albert Lacombe, the famous missionary priest. In the same year she was elected vice president of the

71