Collège François-de-Laval (French pronunciation: [kɔlɛʒ fʁɑ̃swa də laval]), previously known as the Petit Séminaire de Québec ([pəti seminɛʁ də kebɛk]), is a private French-language Catholic secondary school in Vieux-Québec, Quebec City, Quebec.
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Origins and current status
The school was founded in 1668, as part of the Séminaire de Québec. Until 1970, the Superior of the Seminary was also the Rector of Université Laval, which was originally an offshoot of it. In 1985, the seminary transferred the secondary school to a new secular not-for-profit organization, "le Collège François-de-Laval", which was given the right to use the "Petit Séminaire de Québec" name.
Another school, Le Petit Séminaire de Québec, campus de l'Outaouais was founded as a branch of the school in the Outaouais area of western Quebec.
A separate organization with a similar name, the Petit séminaire diocésain de Québec, is a residential school for boys considering the Roman Catholic priesthood, managed by the Séminaire de Québec.
Background
Many French-Canadian clergy of the 18th and 19th century, as well as innumerable academics, went through the Petit Séminaire before higher education became widely accessible.
Of 867 students who lived at the Petit Séminaire during the French period, 198 graduated. Of these, 118 became priests or brothers, and 80 chose other occupations, according to research by historian Mgr Amédée Gosselin.
Notable graduates
Pierre-Stanislas Bédard, lawyer, journalist, judge, member of the Legislative Assembly of Lower Canada
Amable Berthelot, member of the Legislative Assembly of Lower Canada and the Legislative Assembly of the Province of Canada
Michel-Amable Berthelot Dartigny, member of the Legislative Assembly of Lower Canada; lawyer and notary
Jean Blanchet (physician), member of the Legislative Assembly of Lower Canada and the Legislative Assembly of the Province of Canada; physician
René-Édouard Caron, lawyer, judge, politician, and second Lieutenant Governor of Quebec
Pierre-Joseph-Olivier Chauveau (1829–1837), first Premier of Quebec
Paul Fiset, microbiologist and developer of the Q fever vaccine
Jean-François Hubert, Bishop of Quebec, 1788–1797
Thomas Lee (notary), notary and member of the Legislative Assembly of Lower Canada
Jean-Marie Mondelet, notary and political figure in Lower Canada
Augustin-Norbert Morin, journalist, lawyer, politician, and Patriote in Lower Canada
Denis-Benjamin Papineau, Lower Canada politician, co-premier of the Province of Canada
Louis-Joseph Papineau, Lower Canada politician, lawyer, seigneur, and Patriote leader