Third Bishop and first Archbishop of Montreal
Édouard-Charles Fabre

Archbishop Fabre exhibited, very early during his tenure, a bright mind, gifts as a speaker, and self-composure. Without an auxiliary, he ordained 210 priests from his diocese and 820 more from Canadian or American dioceses, all trained in the Grand Seminary of Montreal. In times of economic crisis, he first came to the assistance of poor parishes, then to the unemployed by organizing a collection through the whole diocese and, with Father Labelle, by promoting land settlement. In 1889, he obtained from Rome the almost total independence of the University of Montreal from Université Laval.

Arrival of religious communities

1889

The University of Montreal becomes practically independent from Université Laval.