They are a contemplative community of women who live the charism of Saint Clare of Assisi and form the Second Order in the movement started by Saint Francis of Assisi.
They established on December 8, 1912 the first English-speaking monastery of the Primitive Observance of St. Clare in Canada.
Three of the nuns decided to remain and struggled for years establishing their way of life in the remoteness of Vancouver Island.
Eventually they began to receive applicants who preserved in their way of life, and the community took root.
Due to the growing urbanization of the city of Victoria, and the difficulty of maintaining the large monastery which they had built, the community relocated in 1973 to Duncan.