by Mike Steinhauer
The future of St. Charles Church has been the focus of much discussion since the church held its last mass in September, 2010. The property, situated on Beechwood Avenue at the corner of St. Charles Street, sits on prime real estate—a large lot located along a winding main street where four neighbourhoods converge: Vanier, New Edinburgh, Lindenlea and Rockcliffe Park.
Misconceptions surround the heritage value of the property and ideas of what can be done with the property differ immensely. In the end, it is important to note that the church property (including the front lawn, building, bell tower, steeple and the interior) is not designated. As such, there are few restrictions on what can be done with the building and property—either by the current owner, the Ottawa Archdiocese, or a prospective owner, if the property is sold. The building could be demolished.
To add to the confusion, it is commonly believed that St. Charles Church has no heritage value because of the renovations performed in the 1960s. Some even believe that the church was completely rebuilt and that those elements that have landmark or historical value cannot be protected under the Ontario Heritage Act (conversely, some think that the church is already designated and thus further protection is not needed).
Over the past few weeks, I have followed community discussions surrounding the development (or redevelopment) of the site, discussed the property with local historians and conducted my own independent research. I also had the opportunity to visit the church to photograph some of the architectural elements.
To my surprise I discovered a pristine space with elegant columns and many beautiful architectural details. Even the painted Stations of the Cross, the neutral walls and the shortened chancel (alterations that angered some parishioners following the 1960s renovations) fit well and respect the overall neo-classical style of the interior. The quality of natural light permitted by the large rounded windows is soft and warm.
PLATE I: Interior of St. Charles Church, 2013: (l) church nave with elegant columns, (m) transept where altar used to stand, and (r) side aisle with Stations of the Cross (click on image to enlarge)
The views from the steeple are outstanding, as are the playful details of the 1915 bell and the imposing roofline that follows the church’s cruciform plan. Back in the sanctuary, I recognized the style of the benches, which can be seen in historical photographs from the 1950s, and discovered a large painting by G. S. Dorval that was first hung in the church in 1908.
PLATE II: (l) The roofline of St. Charles Church as seen today from steeple (facing east with Beechwood Avenue to the left, Barrette Street to the right and Beechwood Cemetery in the far background); (r) Playful details atop 1915 bell (click on image to enlarge)
In addition to these architectural details, the church holds great significance to the French-Canadian community (detailed below). “This church is much more than a brick structure,” stated Yanick Labossière during a recent presentation on the history of the church, “it represents the memory of a people that has long had to fight for its survival.”
So, why again does this church not have heritage designation?
The large church building, constructed in what was a forest outside of Ottawa’s borders, now stands in the heart of a winding main street where neighbourhoods converge. While the parish has merged with another parish, leaving the pews sitting empty, the building and church property stand as a testament to past stories of strength, pride and resilience—stories that need to be commemorated. These same walls then also offer an opportunity for a new generation. A preserved building could (once again) become the meeting place and focal point of a community—a community that, just like the first generation of parishioners, now spans both sides of Beechwood Avenue.
Following the visit to St. Charles, I contacted the City of Ottawa to enquire about the designation process. I learned that no resident or group had ever applied for heritage designation.
Until now. Prior to finalizing this post, I submitted a formal application to the City’s Heritage Planning office. I have included an abridged version of the formal application—with photographic documentation—below. I fully acknowledge that this may only be part of the story and thus encourage others to add to it.
Under Part IV of the Ontario Heritage Act, the City of Ottawa may recognize and protect an individual property if it satisfies one or more of three criteria: 1) Design or Physical Value, 2) Historical or Associative Value, and 3) Contextual Value.
1) Design or Physical Value
St. Charles Church, designed by leading Hull (Québec) architect Charles Brodeur, manifests a strong influence of early 20th century vernacular French-Canadian church architecture. Though similar in style to various rural churches along the Ontario/Quebec border, St. Charles Church is the only one that is today surrounded by an urban core. While the church went through a series of alterations starting in the late 1960s (Léo Paquette, p. 108-109), to accommodate accessibility improvements and liturgical changes brought about by the Second Vatican Council, many of its key design and physical elements remain intact.
Prominent features of the church include a symmetrical front façade, gable roof, projecting central tower flanked by shorter corner towers, round-arched windows and a cruciform plan. These, along with other character-defining elements should be respected. They include:
- the building’s original mass, form, scale, appearance and style;
- the building’s original fenestration pattern and style;
- the building’s original classical-inspired steeple and 1915 bell;
- the building’s roofline and type of cladding;
- the original barrel-vaulted ceiling with a quadripartite vault feature and decorative roundel;
- elements of the original foundation walls; and
- the original neo-classical architectural interior elements including the columns (Corinthian order), the scrolling console brackets and the horizontal lines of the moulding.
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So, why again does this church not have heritage designation?
The large church building, constructed in what was a forest outside of Ottawa’s borders, now stands in the heart of a winding main street where neighbourhoods converge. While the parish has merged with another parish, leaving the pews sitting empty, the building and church property stand as a testament to past stories of strength, pride and resilience—stories that need to be commemorated. These same walls then also offer an opportunity for a new generation. A preserved building could (once again) become the meeting place and focal point of a community—a community that, just like the first generation of parishioners, now spans both sides of Beechwood Avenue.
Following the visit to St. Charles, I contacted the City of Ottawa to enquire about the designation process. I learned that no resident or group had ever applied for heritage designation.
Until now. Prior to finalizing this post, I submitted a formal application to the City’s Heritage Planning office. I have included an abridged version of the formal application—with photographic documentation—below. I fully acknowledge that this may only be part of the story and thus encourage others to add to it.
Under Part IV of the Ontario Heritage Act, the City of Ottawa may recognize and protect an individual property if it satisfies one or more of three criteria: 1) Design or Physical Value, 2) Historical or Associative Value, and 3) Contextual Value.
1) Design or Physical Value
St. Charles Church, designed by leading Hull (Québec) architect Charles Brodeur, manifests a strong influence of early 20th century vernacular French-Canadian church architecture. Though similar in style to various rural churches along the Ontario/Quebec border, St. Charles Church is the only one that is today surrounded by an urban core. While the church went through a series of alterations starting in the late 1960s (Léo Paquette, p. 108-109), to accommodate accessibility improvements and liturgical changes brought about by the Second Vatican Council, many of its key design and physical elements remain intact.
Prominent features of the church include a symmetrical front façade, gable roof, projecting central tower flanked by shorter corner towers, round-arched windows and a cruciform plan. These, along with other character-defining elements should be respected. They include:
- the building’s original mass, form, scale, appearance and style;
- the building’s original fenestration pattern and style;
- the building’s original classical-inspired steeple and 1915 bell;
- the building’s roofline and type of cladding;
- the original barrel-vaulted ceiling with a quadripartite vault feature and decorative roundel;
- elements of the original foundation walls; and
- the original neo-classical architectural interior elements including the columns (Corinthian order), the scrolling console brackets and the horizontal lines of the moulding.
PLATE III: (l) St. Charles Church following the completion of the brick exterior, the rectory and the parish hall (1913) and (r) seen today along St. Charles Street near the corner of Barrette Street (click on image to enlarge)
2) Historical or Associative Value
The heritage value of St. Charles Church lies in its association with the French-Canadian community of Ottawa and its direct association with those who settled east of the Rideau River (an area known then as Clarkstown) following the completion of St. Patrick Bridge. The village, later known as Eastview (then Vanier) developed quickly and by the mid-20th century was known as Ottawa’s “French-speaking bastion” (Benali and Parent).
St. Charles was closely associated with the establishment of the secret society of the Commandeurs de l’Ordre de Jacques-Cartier (Order of Jacques-Cartier). Working to counter the influence of Anglo-Protestant societies such as the Free Masons, the Order of Jacques-Cartier’s influence was felt in all aspects of life in French Canada until its dissolution, in Ottawa, in February 1965. At its peak in 1960, the order spread across 1140 communities with an estimated membership of 11,000 (Labossière, p. 4).
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2) Historical or Associative Value
The heritage value of St. Charles Church lies in its association with the French-Canadian community of Ottawa and its direct association with those who settled east of the Rideau River (an area known then as Clarkstown) following the completion of St. Patrick Bridge. The village, later known as Eastview (then Vanier) developed quickly and by the mid-20th century was known as Ottawa’s “French-speaking bastion” (Benali and Parent).
St. Charles was closely associated with the establishment of the secret society of the Commandeurs de l’Ordre de Jacques-Cartier (Order of Jacques-Cartier). Working to counter the influence of Anglo-Protestant societies such as the Free Masons, the Order of Jacques-Cartier’s influence was felt in all aspects of life in French Canada until its dissolution, in Ottawa, in February 1965. At its peak in 1960, the order spread across 1140 communities with an estimated membership of 11,000 (Labossière, p. 4).
PLATE IV: (l) Founding members of the Order of Jacques-Cartier (1952); (r) Excerpt from Esdras Terrien’s notes regarding the first secret meeting of the Order of Jacques-Cartier (click on image to enlarge)
Lastly, the heritage value of St. Charles Church also lies in its association with Thomas Coltrin Keefer. A prominent engineer, author and businessman, Keefer was founding president of the Canadian Society of Civil Engineers (1887) and the first Canadian to become president of the American Society of Civil Engineers (1888). He administered the Thomas McKay estate and thus controlled land on both sides of Beechwood Avenue. In 1908, the year that Keefer “relinquished his role as sole trustee of the estate to his son, Charles Henry Keefer, and estate manager James D. Fraser,” (Edmond, p. 61) he donated a piece of land on which St. Charles Church was to be build.
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Lastly, the heritage value of St. Charles Church also lies in its association with Thomas Coltrin Keefer. A prominent engineer, author and businessman, Keefer was founding president of the Canadian Society of Civil Engineers (1887) and the first Canadian to become president of the American Society of Civil Engineers (1888). He administered the Thomas McKay estate and thus controlled land on both sides of Beechwood Avenue. In 1908, the year that Keefer “relinquished his role as sole trustee of the estate to his son, Charles Henry Keefer, and estate manager James D. Fraser,” (Edmond, p. 61) he donated a piece of land on which St. Charles Church was to be build.
PLATE V: (l) Thomas Coltrin Keefer photographed in 1904; (r) The outlines of the MacKay Estate, encompassing the present-day communities of New Edinburgh, Lindenlea and portions of Rockcliffe Park, Vanier and Manor Park (click on image to enlarge)
3 (a) Contextual Value (Functional Link)
St. Charles Church has played (and continues to play) a feature role in establishing the overall character of Beechwood Avenue—a winding main street forming the northern border of Vanier and the southern edges of New Edinburgh, Lindenlea and Rockcliffe Park. St. Charles Church has been the cornerstone of the area since its completion in 1908. The area known as Clarkstown grew around the church and the parish served the Francophone community on both sides of Beechwood. In many ways, the square in front of St. Charles Church served as the de facto town square for the community—for parishioners and the broader community.
In addition to the regular baptisms, weddings and funerals, numerous events and celebrations were held. The first child was baptized at the church on December 6, 1908. The first wedding and first funeral was performed the following year (Léo Paquette, p. 11-12). The church held its final service on September 26, 2010.
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3 (a) Contextual Value (Functional Link)
St. Charles Church has played (and continues to play) a feature role in establishing the overall character of Beechwood Avenue—a winding main street forming the northern border of Vanier and the southern edges of New Edinburgh, Lindenlea and Rockcliffe Park. St. Charles Church has been the cornerstone of the area since its completion in 1908. The area known as Clarkstown grew around the church and the parish served the Francophone community on both sides of Beechwood. In many ways, the square in front of St. Charles Church served as the de facto town square for the community—for parishioners and the broader community.
In addition to the regular baptisms, weddings and funerals, numerous events and celebrations were held. The first child was baptized at the church on December 6, 1908. The first wedding and first funeral was performed the following year (Léo Paquette, p. 11-12). The church held its final service on September 26, 2010.
PLATE VI: (l) Parishioners photographed on church grounds in 1909; (r) Horse drawn hearse on Beechwood Avenue (1929) (click on image to enlarge)
Between the 1930s and the 1950s, St. Charles Church, under Father Barrette, established and hosted a number of community and social clubs including the St. Charles Scouts (est. in 1932), the St. Charles Cubs (est. in 1939), the St. Charles Library (est. in 1944) and the Eastview Zouaves (est. in 1955). Many of the church clubs, including the Rod & Gun Club, were active well into the 1980s.
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Between the 1930s and the 1950s, St. Charles Church, under Father Barrette, established and hosted a number of community and social clubs including the St. Charles Scouts (est. in 1932), the St. Charles Cubs (est. in 1939), the St. Charles Library (est. in 1944) and the Eastview Zouaves (est. in 1955). Many of the church clubs, including the Rod & Gun Club, were active well into the 1980s.
PLATE VII: (l) St. Charles Scouts, 1930s; (m) Members of the St. Charles tennis club (1940s); (r) The interior of St. Charles Church Library (1940s) (click on image to enlarge)
In more recent years, St. Charles Church (both church building and site) was the location of many activities that fall outside of the more traditional church-related (or church-organized) events. The Stairwell Carollers performed at the St. Charles Church for a number of years and held their 30th anniversary concert in December of 2007 (watch video here: http://bit.ly/StairwellCarollers). Music and Beyond, the National Art Centre orchestra and the Cantata Singers of Ottawa also used the church as a performance space. Two recent festivals held several of their activities on the grounds of St. Charles Church: C’EST CHILL (held in December 2012) and Beechwood Solstice Stroll (held in June 2013).
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In more recent years, St. Charles Church (both church building and site) was the location of many activities that fall outside of the more traditional church-related (or church-organized) events. The Stairwell Carollers performed at the St. Charles Church for a number of years and held their 30th anniversary concert in December of 2007 (watch video here: http://bit.ly/StairwellCarollers). Music and Beyond, the National Art Centre orchestra and the Cantata Singers of Ottawa also used the church as a performance space. Two recent festivals held several of their activities on the grounds of St. Charles Church: C’EST CHILL (held in December 2012) and Beechwood Solstice Stroll (held in June 2013).
PLATE VIII: (l) The Stairwell Carollers performing their 30th anniversary concert at St. Charles Church in December, 2007; (m) C’EST CHILL festival held on grounds of St. Charles Church in December, 2012; (l) the Beechwood Solstice Stroll (June 2013) (click on image to enlarge)
3 (b) Contextual Value (Visual Link)
The visual link between St. Charles Church and the communities of Vanier, New Edinburgh, Lindenlea and Rockcliffe Park in undeniable. The photographs presented confirm the visual presence the church building holds within these communities.
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3 (b) Contextual Value (Visual Link)
The visual link between St. Charles Church and the communities of Vanier, New Edinburgh, Lindenlea and Rockcliffe Park in undeniable. The photographs presented confirm the visual presence the church building holds within these communities.
PLATE IX: St. Charles Church seen from (top l) the corner of Barrette Street and St. Charles Street (Vanier); (top m) Barrette Street, between Loyer and St. Charles Street (Vanier); (top r) Beechwood Avenue near Acacia Avenue, facing west (between Vanier and Rockcliffe Park); (bottom l) the corner of Langevin and Beechwood Avenue (Lindenlea); (bottom m) the Champlain Tower (Lindenlea); and (bottom r) Beechwood Avenue at the corner of Springfield Road, facing east (corner of New Edinburgh, Lindenlea and Vanier) (click on image to enlarge)
The viewscapes presented below, taken from Michel Circle in Vanier and the Beechwood Cemetery, depict the elegant steeple of St. Charles Church as an important element alongside many of Ottawa’s significant landmarks.
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The viewscapes presented below, taken from Michel Circle in Vanier and the Beechwood Cemetery, depict the elegant steeple of St. Charles Church as an important element alongside many of Ottawa’s significant landmarks.
PLATE X: Views of St. Charles Church and other landmarks from (l) Michel Circle (Vanier) and (r) Beechwood Cemetery: (1) Mackenzie Tower, (2) Peace Tower, (3) Library of Parliament, (4) Basilique-Cathédrale Notre-Dame, (5) National Gallery of Canada and (6) St. Charles Church (click on image to enlarge)
3 (c) Contextual Value (Historical Link)
A cornerstone of the area’s Francophone heritage and a dominant building on Beechwood Avenue, St-Charles Church is a living symbol of the Francophone presence in Vanier.
By the 1920’s, Eastview (later Vanier) developed the characteristics typical of a French-Canadian neighbourhood, “namely, the dominance of religion and the division of the urban area into parishes, with churches serving as centres of the French-speaking community’s social life” (Benali and Parent). St. Charles Church, along with Notre-Dame-de-Lourdes, laid at the heart of one of these areas.
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3 (c) Contextual Value (Historical Link)
A cornerstone of the area’s Francophone heritage and a dominant building on Beechwood Avenue, St-Charles Church is a living symbol of the Francophone presence in Vanier.
By the 1920’s, Eastview (later Vanier) developed the characteristics typical of a French-Canadian neighbourhood, “namely, the dominance of religion and the division of the urban area into parishes, with churches serving as centres of the French-speaking community’s social life” (Benali and Parent). St. Charles Church, along with Notre-Dame-de-Lourdes, laid at the heart of one of these areas.
PLATE XI: (l) Future site of St. Charles Church (1887); (m) Aerial photograph of Beechwood Avenue (1940); (r) Satellite images of Beechwood Avenue (2008) (click on image to enlarge)
By 1950, St. Charles Church was overflowing. “Reports point to a congregation of nearly 5000, with up to 10 masses on Sundays” (Bulthuis). The explosion of families and a broader housing boom led to the establishment of a new parish; Notre-Dame-du-Saint-Esprit, with its modern church building, opened on Carillon Street in 1958 (Notre-Dame-du-Saint-Esprit closed in 1995 and is now home to the Vanier Community Church).
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By 1950, St. Charles Church was overflowing. “Reports point to a congregation of nearly 5000, with up to 10 masses on Sundays” (Bulthuis). The explosion of families and a broader housing boom led to the establishment of a new parish; Notre-Dame-du-Saint-Esprit, with its modern church building, opened on Carillon Street in 1958 (Notre-Dame-du-Saint-Esprit closed in 1995 and is now home to the Vanier Community Church).
PLATE XII: (l) Ruins of Notre-Dame-de-Lourdes church following fire of 1973; (m) Demolition of White Fathers Scholasticate in 1977; (r) Final service at St. Charles Church (September 26, 2010) (click on image to enlarge)
Reflecting Vanier’s broader demographic shifts, by 1960, the number of baptisms at St. Charles Church declined while the number of funerals rose. Families started to leave Vanier for newer and more comfortable homes in the suburbs and broader societal changes started to have significant impacts on church life including St. Charles Church.
St. Charles Church has been referred to as a “véritable phare de la francophonie” (Benali and Parent). Along with the original Notre-Dame-de-Lourdes church building (destroyed by fire in 1973), the prestigious boarding school and novitiate of the Filles de la Sagesse (located just east of the former Vanier border, on Montreal Road, from 1893 to 1970) and the imposing scholasticate of the Société des missionnaires d’Afrique (demolished in 1977), St. Charles is one of Vanier’s most significant remaining landmarks related to religious life.
Concluding Note
With regards to the designation application, a property must meet “one or more criteria” of the three identified at the outset above. St. Charles Church satisfies the first criteria (design or physical value) and strongly fulfills the last two (historical or associative value, and contextual value).
Fingers crossed.
Sources
Benali, Kenza and Jean-François Parent. “Vanier : bastion francophone en Ontario.” Encyclopédie du patrimoine culturel de l'Amérique française, 2007. Accessed, June 29, 2013, http://www.ameriquefrancaise.org/fr/article-601/Vanier_:_bastion_francophone_en_Ontario.html.
Bourassa, Andrée, Lorraine L. Monette and Denis P. Régimbald. La petite histoire de Vanier. Vanier: O.V.U.L, 1975.
Bulthuis, Mike. “In the beginning, there was not enough space...” VanierNow, December 16, 2012. Accessed, June 29, 2013, http://vaniernow.blogspot.ca/2012/12/in-beginning-there-was-not-enough-space.html.
“Des sociétés : l’une secrète, les autre pas.” La collection des fonds d'archives du CRCCF : l'aventure du Canada français. Centre de recherche en civilisation canadienne-française, Université d'Ottawa , 2008. Accessed, June 29, 2013, http://www.crccf.uottawa.ca/exposition_virtuelle/collection_fonds_archives/.
Edmond, Martha. Rockcliffe Park, A History of the Village. Ottawa, The Friends of the Village of Rockcliffe Park Foundation, 2005.
“Gloucester Place Names Project.” Gloucester Historical Society, February 23, 2011, Accessed, June 29, 2013, http://www.gloucesterhistory.com/placenames.html.
Hill, Robert G. “Brodeur, Charles.” Biographical Dictionary of Architects in Canada 1800-1950. 2009-2013. Accessed, June 29, 2013, http://www.dictionaryofarchitectsincanada.org/architects/view/1205.
Labossière, Yanick. “L’histoire de St-Charles.” Unpublished. Ottawa, n.d.
Labossière, Yanick. “L’église St-Charles, Symbole de notre patrimoine / St-Charles Church, A cornerstone of our heritage.” Presentation. Ottawa, June, 26, 2013.
Laporte, Luc. Vanier. Ottawa: Centre franco-ontarien de resources pédagogiques, 1983.
Le vitrail à l’église St-Charles. Pamphlet. Ottawa, Diocèse d’Ottawa, [1993].
Nelles, H. V. “Keefer, Thomas Coltrin.” Dictionary of Canadian Biography, vol. 14, University of Toronto/Université Laval, 2003–. Accessed July 17, 2013, http://www.biographi.ca/en/bio/keefer_thomas_coltrin_14E.html.
Paquette, Léo. Paroisse Saint-Charles, 1908-1988. Vanier: Paroisse St-Charles, 1988.
Philippe, Céline. “Le devoir en heritage.” La Relève. Vol.1, n⁰2, Novembre 2008 – Janvier 2009, p. 20 to 21.
Plan de conception communautaire Beechwood Community Design Plan. Publication: 3-16. Ottawa, City of Ottawa, 2006.
Serré, Robert. Clarkstown (Eastview/Vanier), Pioneer Families/Familles pionnières. Ottawa: Gloucester Historical Society, 2012.
Trepanier, James. “From Church Basement to National Movement: the Ordre de Jacques Cartier and Vanier’s Saint-Charles Church.” VanierNow, March 26, 2012. Accessed, June 29, 2013, http://vaniernow.blogspot.ca/2012/03/guest-post-from-church-basement-to.html.
“Saint-Charles Church.” Circuit Vanier. Muséoparc Vanier Museopark (n.d). Accessed, June 29, 2013, http://www.museoparc.ca/circuitvanier/circuit-vanier-2/beechwood-avenue/saint-charles-church/.
Shea, Philip. History of Eastview (Ottawa). Unpublished. Compiled at Carleton 1965, under the direction of Historian, N.C.C. September 10, 1964.
Image Sources
PLATE I: (author), 2013
PLATE II: (author), 2013
PLATE III: (l) Léo Paquette (Mme Thérèse Marleau), p. 151; (r) (author), 2013
PLATE IV: (l) Champlain Marcil. University of Ottawa, CRCCF, Fonds Ordre de Jacques Cartier (C3), Ph3-3-12B (r) University of Ottawa, CRCCF, Fonds Ordre de Jacques Cartier (C3), C3-1-2p1.
PLATE V: (l) Martha Edmond (John Cape), p. 64.; (r) Park and Villa Lots on the MacKay Estate at Ottawa. Drawn by Thomas Coltrin Keefer. Library and Archives Canada, NMC-43167
PLATE VI: (l) Muséoparc Vanier Museopark; (r) Léo Paquette (Éva Major-Amyot), p. 157
PLATE VII: (l) Léo Paquette (Chanoine Alfred Boyer), p. 157; (m) Léo Paquette (Keith Thebarge), p. 160; (r) Léo Paquette (City of Ottawa Archives), p. 166
PLATE VIII: (l) stairwellcarollers.blogspot.ca; (m) (author), 2012; (l) Beechwood Village Alliance / Maggie Knaus, 2013
PLATE IX: (author), 2013
PLATE X: (author), 2013
PLATE XI: (l) Source: Library and Archives Canada, National Map Collection, NMC-11413-2; (m) City of Ottawa, Planning and Growth Management Department; (r) Google Earth, © 2013 DigitalGlobe
PLATE XII: Cent ans… avec toi! 1887 – 1987. Vanier: Paroisse Notre-Dame-de-Lourdes, 1987. P. 15; (m) Muséoparc Vanier Museopark; MVM.2010.P.0100.0007; (r) Kristina Brazeau/L’Express
Reflecting Vanier’s broader demographic shifts, by 1960, the number of baptisms at St. Charles Church declined while the number of funerals rose. Families started to leave Vanier for newer and more comfortable homes in the suburbs and broader societal changes started to have significant impacts on church life including St. Charles Church.
St. Charles Church has been referred to as a “véritable phare de la francophonie” (Benali and Parent). Along with the original Notre-Dame-de-Lourdes church building (destroyed by fire in 1973), the prestigious boarding school and novitiate of the Filles de la Sagesse (located just east of the former Vanier border, on Montreal Road, from 1893 to 1970) and the imposing scholasticate of the Société des missionnaires d’Afrique (demolished in 1977), St. Charles is one of Vanier’s most significant remaining landmarks related to religious life.
Concluding Note
With regards to the designation application, a property must meet “one or more criteria” of the three identified at the outset above. St. Charles Church satisfies the first criteria (design or physical value) and strongly fulfills the last two (historical or associative value, and contextual value).
Fingers crossed.
Sources
Benali, Kenza and Jean-François Parent. “Vanier : bastion francophone en Ontario.” Encyclopédie du patrimoine culturel de l'Amérique française, 2007. Accessed, June 29, 2013, http://www.ameriquefrancaise.org/fr/article-601/Vanier_:_bastion_francophone_en_Ontario.html.
Bourassa, Andrée, Lorraine L. Monette and Denis P. Régimbald. La petite histoire de Vanier. Vanier: O.V.U.L, 1975.
Bulthuis, Mike. “In the beginning, there was not enough space...” VanierNow, December 16, 2012. Accessed, June 29, 2013, http://vaniernow.blogspot.ca/2012/12/in-beginning-there-was-not-enough-space.html.
“Des sociétés : l’une secrète, les autre pas.” La collection des fonds d'archives du CRCCF : l'aventure du Canada français. Centre de recherche en civilisation canadienne-française, Université d'Ottawa , 2008. Accessed, June 29, 2013, http://www.crccf.uottawa.ca/exposition_virtuelle/collection_fonds_archives/.
Edmond, Martha. Rockcliffe Park, A History of the Village. Ottawa, The Friends of the Village of Rockcliffe Park Foundation, 2005.
“Gloucester Place Names Project.” Gloucester Historical Society, February 23, 2011, Accessed, June 29, 2013, http://www.gloucesterhistory.com/placenames.html.
Hill, Robert G. “Brodeur, Charles.” Biographical Dictionary of Architects in Canada 1800-1950. 2009-2013. Accessed, June 29, 2013, http://www.dictionaryofarchitectsincanada.org/architects/view/1205.
Labossière, Yanick. “L’histoire de St-Charles.” Unpublished. Ottawa, n.d.
Labossière, Yanick. “L’église St-Charles, Symbole de notre patrimoine / St-Charles Church, A cornerstone of our heritage.” Presentation. Ottawa, June, 26, 2013.
Laporte, Luc. Vanier. Ottawa: Centre franco-ontarien de resources pédagogiques, 1983.
Le vitrail à l’église St-Charles. Pamphlet. Ottawa, Diocèse d’Ottawa, [1993].
Nelles, H. V. “Keefer, Thomas Coltrin.” Dictionary of Canadian Biography, vol. 14, University of Toronto/Université Laval, 2003–. Accessed July 17, 2013, http://www.biographi.ca/en/bio/keefer_thomas_coltrin_14E.html.
Paquette, Léo. Paroisse Saint-Charles, 1908-1988. Vanier: Paroisse St-Charles, 1988.
Philippe, Céline. “Le devoir en heritage.” La Relève. Vol.1, n⁰2, Novembre 2008 – Janvier 2009, p. 20 to 21.
Plan de conception communautaire Beechwood Community Design Plan. Publication: 3-16. Ottawa, City of Ottawa, 2006.
Serré, Robert. Clarkstown (Eastview/Vanier), Pioneer Families/Familles pionnières. Ottawa: Gloucester Historical Society, 2012.
Trepanier, James. “From Church Basement to National Movement: the Ordre de Jacques Cartier and Vanier’s Saint-Charles Church.” VanierNow, March 26, 2012. Accessed, June 29, 2013, http://vaniernow.blogspot.ca/2012/03/guest-post-from-church-basement-to.html.
“Saint-Charles Church.” Circuit Vanier. Muséoparc Vanier Museopark (n.d). Accessed, June 29, 2013, http://www.museoparc.ca/circuitvanier/circuit-vanier-2/beechwood-avenue/saint-charles-church/.
Shea, Philip. History of Eastview (Ottawa). Unpublished. Compiled at Carleton 1965, under the direction of Historian, N.C.C. September 10, 1964.
Image Sources
PLATE I: (author), 2013
PLATE II: (author), 2013
PLATE III: (l) Léo Paquette (Mme Thérèse Marleau), p. 151; (r) (author), 2013
PLATE IV: (l) Champlain Marcil. University of Ottawa, CRCCF, Fonds Ordre de Jacques Cartier (C3), Ph3-3-12B (r) University of Ottawa, CRCCF, Fonds Ordre de Jacques Cartier (C3), C3-1-2p1.
PLATE V: (l) Martha Edmond (John Cape), p. 64.; (r) Park and Villa Lots on the MacKay Estate at Ottawa. Drawn by Thomas Coltrin Keefer. Library and Archives Canada, NMC-43167
PLATE VI: (l) Muséoparc Vanier Museopark; (r) Léo Paquette (Éva Major-Amyot), p. 157
PLATE VII: (l) Léo Paquette (Chanoine Alfred Boyer), p. 157; (m) Léo Paquette (Keith Thebarge), p. 160; (r) Léo Paquette (City of Ottawa Archives), p. 166
PLATE VIII: (l) stairwellcarollers.blogspot.ca; (m) (author), 2012; (l) Beechwood Village Alliance / Maggie Knaus, 2013
PLATE IX: (author), 2013
PLATE X: (author), 2013
PLATE XI: (l) Source: Library and Archives Canada, National Map Collection, NMC-11413-2; (m) City of Ottawa, Planning and Growth Management Department; (r) Google Earth, © 2013 DigitalGlobe
PLATE XII: Cent ans… avec toi! 1887 – 1987. Vanier: Paroisse Notre-Dame-de-Lourdes, 1987. P. 15; (m) Muséoparc Vanier Museopark; MVM.2010.P.0100.0007; (r) Kristina Brazeau/L’Express