This fall, our project manager Hélène and our communications agent Virginie toured churches undergoing renovation in the Coaticook region with Sylvie Masse, cultural development agent for the Coaticook RCM, and Claudia Pâquet from the Coaticook RCM Community Development Corporation (CDC). They left on a Friday morning in October by bus, along with not only these two local stakeholders, but also Isabelle Lortie from the Conseil du Patrimoine religieux du Québec (CPRQ)
Among the participants were Alicia Lemieux, president of Patrimoine Saint-Malo, Nathalie Dupuis, mayor of Waterville, Odette Demers, and Lucie Goyette-Grenier from FADOQ Baldwin.
Context
In response to the growing number of church redevelopment projects in the region, there was a perceived need for co-development and networking among the various initiatives. This tour of churches undergoing transformation provided an opportunity for discussion and discovery of inspiring examples.
First stop: Waterville
Just a few weeks before the end of her mandate, Nathalie Dupuis presented the process behind the transformation of the Assomption-de-la-Bienheureuse-Vierge-Marie church in Waterville. The group was able to take a quick tour of the construction site and ask questions to the mayor.
Second stop: Martinville
Michel-Henri Goyette, mayor of Martinville, welcomed the group to the Saint-Martin Community Center (formerly Saint-Martin Church) for a tour of the building. The former church is being converted to accommodate a community center (now open) and a library (coming soon).
With a lounge area set up in the choir loft, the Saint-Martin Center was the perfect venue for Isabelle Lortie of the CPRQ to give a presentation to the group on the redevelopment of churches in Quebec, while showing concrete examples.
Third stop: Saint-Malo
It was Alicia Lemieux’s turn, who had been following the group since the beginning of the day, to welcome the visitors on her territory. When the group arrived, Patrimoine Saint-Malo was decorating the nave and choir of Saint-Malo Church in preparation for a Canadian evening for the residents of the municipality. Alicia gave a tour of the sacristy and showed the various models of the church’s renovation projects.
Last stop: Coaticook
The Sisco Memorial Church is now the Pavillon des arts et de la culture de Coaticook (PACC). Daphnée Lebrun, Executive Director, welcomed the group for a behind-the-scenes visit of the building. Wrapping up the tour with a visit to the PACC was particularly rewarding, as the group was able to see the results of the church’s transformation, ending the event on an inspiring note.