Latest news with #SaintFrancoisdAssise
CBC
19-05-2025
- General
- CBC
Archdiocese praying that churches won't get heritage designations
'If Jesus were to be here right now, I don't think he'd be in support,' says CAO Media | Archdiocese wary of heritage designation for Hintonburg Catholic church Caption: The Saint-François-d'Assise Catholic Church is a landmark for the Hintonburg community, but the archdiocese is worried a heritage designation would be a burden on parishioners. Open Full Embed in New Tab Loading external pages may require significantly more data usage than loading CBC Lite story pages. The Archdiocese of Ottawa-Cornwall is concerned that heritage designations for two of its Ottawa churches would be more of a burden than a blessing. Last Tuesday, the city's built heritage committee recommended that Saint-François-d'Assise in Hintonburg and Saint-Joseph d'Orléans in Orléans be given heritage protections. But that would only bring unnecessary bureaucracy, according to Richard Pommainville, the archdiocese's chief administrative officer. Ottawa Mosque, ByTowne Cinema could get heritage designation "How does this assist the mission of the church, which is to bring the word of God?" he asked. "If Jesus were to be here right now, I don't think he'd be in support of a designation." But for some in Hintonburg, a designation for Saint-François-d'Assise would be a commitment to retain a beautiful building which looms large in their community and lives on as a piece of their history. Preservation proving costly Buildings that get heritage designations are granted special legal status under the Ontario Heritage Act, which recognizes their cultural value, ensures their preservation and protects them from demolition and inappropriate alteration. Saint-François-d'Assise was built by the Capuchin Fathers in 1914-15, according to the Hintonburg Community Association's (HCA) history and heritage committee. It replaced a smaller church as the population grew, and what was once a garden and orchard at the church, enclosed by a solid wall, is now Hintonburg Park. "There's a lot of beauty behind it, there's no doubt about that," said Pommainville. But maintaining that beauty is costly, he added. In addition to the church's regular operational costs, the stained glass had to be repaired last year — and while they got a "small grant" it didn't cover the full cost, Pommainville said. They also anticipate the church will eventually need a fulsome roof repair, which could cost $500,000. But heritage status in Ontario doesn't come with guaranteed funding, Pommainville said. If governments are interested in preservation efforts, Pommainville said they should follow the lead of countries like France, which sets aside funds to maintain historic buildings. "The [French] government has realized that if we want to protect our heritage, regardless of who the owner is, we basically have to invest." Saint-Joseph d'Orléans is in "the same type of situation," said Pommainville, adding that a heritage designation there might interfere with the cemeteries on site. Like its Hintonburg counterpart, Saint-Joseph d'Orléans is more than 100 years old. It was completed in 1922, also to replace an older, smaller building. Church 'at the centre' of Hintonburg history Saint-François-d'Assise has its own "internal process" when maintenance or repairs are needed, Pommainville said, and a heritage designation would force them to go through that again with the city, costing time and money. But for HCA president Brian Innes, the designation is about ensuring the church remains for future generations. The HCA wrote to the built heritage committee in favour of the designation, noting both the church's history and its unique architecture — which includes five bells cast in France in 1924 and statues of St. Francis of Assisi and St. Anthony. "Hintonburg's got a proud history of over 100 years, and this church is right at the centre of it," Innes said. "Everything else is being torn down because it's cheaper to build new than it is to fix it." But if Saint-François-d'Assise is important to the community, Pommainville said, there should be money set aside for it. "If we were to go in the community and [ask for funds to repair the roof], I'm not sure that many people would be willing to put in $100, $1,000 and so on," he said. "They want the building, but they don't want ... the responsibility that goes with it." The decision is ultimately up to city council, which will consider the built heritage committee's recommendations for both Saint-François-d'Assise and Saint-Joseph d'Orléans at its next meeting on May 28.
CTV News
13-05-2025
- Business
- CTV News
Ottawa Mosque, ByTowne Cinema and two churches receive heritage designations
The ByTowne Cinema and the Ottawa Mosque are among the City of Ottawa buildings being added to the city's list of heritage buildings, but the Archdiocese of Ottawa-Cornwall opposes heritage designations for two churches. The Built Heritage Committee approved granting heritage status to the église Saint-François-d'Assise on Wellington Street and église Saint-Joseph d'Orléans on St. Joseph Boulevard on Tuesday. 'It is adding an additional burden,' Richard Pommainville, Chief Administrative Officer of the Archdiocese of Ottawa-Cornwall, told the committee. Église Saint-François-d'Assise on Wellington Street was built between 1913 and 1915. Église Saint-Joseph d'Orléans at 2757 St. Joseph Boulevard was built between 1920 and 1922, while the rectory was constructed in 1891. Staff say the église Saint-François-d'Assise meets seven of nine criteria for heritage designation, while église Saint-Joseph d'Orléans meets seven of the nine criteria. However, the two congregations and the Roman Catholic Archdiocese of Ottawa-Cornwall are not supportive of the designations. Pommainville says the Archdiocese and the pastors at both parishes did not ask for the heritage designations. 'The reason why we're not supporting this designation is fundamentally the overall long-term impact it has. The whole aspect of future-type projects having to go through additional, specific work that has to be done with heritage staff,' Pommainville said. 'While we know that these buildings, we want to maintain them, there's an additional cost.' Pommainville says adding a heritage designation to a building without 'significant financial support' is adding 'a burden' to the owner. Councillors approved the new heritage status for the ByTowne Cinema on Rideau Street and the Ottawa Mosque on Northwestern Avenue. The Ottawa Mosque is one of the earliest purpose-built mosque buildings in Ottawa, built between 1973 and 1979. Staff say the building meets five of the nine criteria for designation. Ottawa Mosque The report says the Mosque is a 'unique and rare expression of a modernist place of worship' as the only 'modernist mosque in Ottawa.' Staff recommended designating the ByTowne Cinema a heritage building, saying it has cultural heritage value for its 'design, associative, and contextual values.' The two-storey building on Rideau Street that houses the ByTowne Cinema was originally constructed as the Nelson Theatre in 1947 and re-opened as the ByTowne Cinema in 1988. Other buildings to receive heritage designation on Tuesday include The Rothesay Apartments on O'Connor Street and the former Bell Telephone Exchange buildings on Besserer, First Avenue and Eccles Street.
