Amanda Viger

Amanda Viger
Born	(1845-07-27)July 27, 1845
Died	May 8, 1906(1906-05-08) (aged 60)
Other names	Saint-Jean-de-Goto

Amanda Viger was a Canadian nun known for her work in helping people with leprosy.

Amanda Viger, known as Saint-Jean-de-Goto, was born on July 27, 1845 in Boucherville, Quebec to her parents Bonaventure Viger and Eudoxie Trudel.^[1] She completed her secondary studies at the Congregation of Notre-Dame in Boucherville’s boarding school.^{[citation needed]} She was 15 years old when she joined the Religious Hospitallers of Saint Joseph of Montreal and she took her vows on February 2, 1863.^[2]

Viger was one of six sisters who moved to Tracadie, New Brunswick in 1868 to help people suffering from leprosy, with Viger's focus first on establishing a pharmacy to provide medicines for people in need.^[1] She ultimately remained at the facility for 34 years.

She also established a school in 1873 where she and other nuns helped to educate children until 1885. From 1888 the children were lodged near the lazaretto, and Viger helped raise funds for a new school that was completed in 1898.^[2]

In 1875 she was elected as superior of her community, and she was elected mother superior seven more times.^[1] Then, in 1902, she was elected superior of the Hôtel-Dieu of Arthabaskaville which she had a larger building constructed and helped with the financial issues facing the institution.^[1]

Viger died from cancer on 8 May 1906.^[2]

• Losier, Mary Jane (1999-01-01). Amanda Viger. Halifax, NS: Halifax, N.S. : Nimbus. ISBN 1-55109-299-9.
• Bourque, Charles L. (2009). Des aboiteaux à la génomique et au-delà : histoire de la Faculté des sciences de l'Université de Moncton. Internet Archive. Moncton, N.-B. : Université de Moncton, Institut d'études acadiennes. ISBN 978-0-9810041-1-2.