Le Collège catholique de Gravelbourg was founded by His Excellency Archbishop Olivier-Elzéar Mathieu, Father Pierre Gravel and Msgr. Charles Maillard in hopes of providing a bilingual education, with a Catholic and French basis, to the young students of the Province of Saskatchewan. Gravelbourg was selected due to its French speaking population.

With the loyal support of Father Pierre Gravel, priest-colonizer and founder of Gravelbourg, and of Father Charles Maillard, parish priest of Gravelbourg, Archbishop Olivier-Elzéar Mathieu, Archbishop of Regina, was granted legal authorization from the Provincial Goverment to build two colleges (Campion College was founded for the English community in Regina). A legal charter from the Provincial Legislature was approved on December 15^th, 1917. This charter established the “Collège catholique de Gravelbourg” under the authority of the Catholic Church, and gave the Collège corporation the power: to establish, maintain and direct a Collège as well as schools in Gravelbourg by which a higher level of education in Arts and Sciences would be promoted, the power to establish courses and regulations, to advance the cause of general education, professional education and technical education, the power to confer diplomas and certificates upon students deemed competent and the power to affiliate with other schools and colleges.

A grand assembly, with the parishonners of Gravelbourg, was held on December 21^st, 1917 by Father Maillard at the Saint Jean-Baptiste Hall. Father Maillard suggested to his parishonners to donate the “basement”, that was built for the future cathedral, in 1914, to Archbishop Mathieu for the foundations of the new Collège. The proposition was accepted unanimously. On December 14^th, 1918 le Collège catholique de Gravelbourg opened its door to seventy-two students, the youngest boy was only eight years old. In the early years, the Collège offered courses at the elementary and secondary level, courses in Commerce, Letters and Theology, as well as Seminary classes. The first Collège, which was called “Le Petit Collège”, (former boys’ residence “le Pavillon”) became a Kindergarten “Jardin d`Enfance”, in 1920-1929, for the younger students. It was not until 1920, that the construction of the main building began (destroyed by fire on May 14^th, 1988).

Between 1918 and 1920, the Corporation of the Collège was originally under the direction of the diocesan clergy. Upon realising that his clergy would never fulfill the required amount of teachers, Archbishop Mathieu confided the direction of the Collège to the Oblate Fathers of Mary Immaculate, in 1920. The affiliation of the Collège with the University of Laval, from 1919-1924 and with the University of Ottawa, from 1924-1968, enabled the students to achieve a Bachelor of Arts. At the end of the decade, a three year Commerce and Agriculture course was offered at the Collège.

In 1929, the Oblate Sisters of the Sacred Heart and of Mary Immaculate transferred the Kindergarten to the newly constructed building near the present church. “Le Petit Collège” was transformed into a Grand Seminary, in 1931. From 1930-1940, during the time of the Great Depression and of the World Economic Crisis, the Collège could no longer maintain the Commerce and the Agriculture programs. In order to keep the Collège open, the personnel had to spend their summer vacations travelling to Québec and even to France in search of funds.

Renovations came to the Collège during the years of 1940-1950, the period of World War II and of the post-war. The student enrollement of ninety-three increased to two hundred and thirty-two students. This was due to the corps of military cadets and to the R.O.T.C unit that was established at the Collège. In 1953, the school of Vocational Arts was opened in the “Petit Collège”. In 1968, Collège Mathieu no longer offered university level courses. Finally, the Collège accepted female students in 1970.

In 1976, the Oblate Fathers left Collège in the charge of the laity and of the members of the clergy.

Since 1927, one hundred and thirty vocations have excelled out of Collège Mathieu. Some enterred priesthood, while others became members of various religious orders.

In 1986, the Collège became a Francophone Community College. On May 14^th, 1988, a tragic fire struck Collège Mathieu that completely destroyed the gym and the main school building.

With the financial support of the Provincial and Federal Goverment, the Francophone community, and also due to the Mathieuton telethon with Radio-Canada, the new and distinguished Collège Mathieu officially reopened on February 25^th, 1990. The French private Catholic school continues to live though its motto: “Schola discere vitam” (School teaches life).