The Ivanhoé Cambridge Award of Excellence for 2011 is presented to the Congregation of Sisters of Saint Anne for having built and beautifully maintained the magnificent convent complex along boulevard Saint-Joseph, in Lachine, for the past 150 years. The convent is a gem and truly a part of Montréal’s history and architectural heritage. .
In 1850, Mother Marie Anne was named Blessed Marie Anne Blondin by Pope John Paul II, on April 29, 2001. She founded, in Vaudreuil, the Sisters of Saint Anne, a small order of teaching sisters. She had a dream… to make school accessible to boys and girls in rural areas.
On February 20, 1861, Superior General, Sister Marie-Jeanne-de-Chantal, signed a purchase deed in Montréal, according to which the Hudson’s Bay Company would transfer to the religious order the Simpson Manor and accessory buildings along Boulevard Saint-Joseph, in Lachine, for the sum of 2,000 louis ($8,000). Devoid of financial resources, the order took out a loan for the first payment.
Convent complex of the Sisters of Saint Anne
Convent complexes are usually made up of several buildings and multipurpose accessory buildings. Over the years, new buildings are added to the original constructions to meet the growing needs of the sisters. They often include a boarding school, mother house, novitiate and administrative headquarters.
The Sisters of Saint Anne convent complex is shaped like a capital E and opens onto boulevard Saint-Joseph. The sanctuary, which is topped with a magnificent neoclassical dome and cross rising 120 feet above the street, is part of the convent’s median branch. The complex is made up of six buildings, which were built between 1862 and 1961, and form great architectural unit. The Montréal Architectural Heritage Campaign jury was taken by way the buildings were maintained.
The oldest building, the Villa-Anna boarding school, was built between 1862 and 1864 by an architect whose name is unknown. This neoclassical building, which is identifiable by its simplicity, symmetry and arrangement of architectural elements, sets the tone for the five other buildings. The stone walls, which replaced the wood palisades in 1889, are a testament to the region’s history, when the Lachine Canal was developed.
These century-old buildings bear witness to the sisters’ presence and dedication in the borough, as well as to the self-abnegation of these pioneers and the community’s commitment toward the congregation. More than once, parishioners were called upon to help build sections of the site through voluntary work or donations.
The sale of the Convent of the Sisters of Saint Anne, on June 22, 2010, to the adjacent college, was in agreement with Congregation of the Sisters of Saint Anne’s mission to educate children.
The Commercial Heritage Award is presented to Gestion Georges Coulombe and Manufacture Raymond for restoring the La Sauvegarde Building located at 150-152, rue Notre-Dame Est, in the Old Montréal historic district.
In 1913, La Sauvegarde, a life insurance company, opened its head office in a ten-storey building, which it occupied until 1974. The firm Saxe & Archibald Architect, designed this building to reflect the success of the French-Canadian business founded by Guillaume-Narcisse Ducharme in 1901.
La Sauvegarde Building rises like a skyscraper next to the surrounding low buildings. The freestone building is topped by an impressive cornice. The windows stand out with a series of bays under a centered arch emphasizing the building’s vertical lines.
Gestion Georges Coulombe had historical and heritage studies carried out on the building, as well as a report on its overall condition, to assess the type of repairs required for each element of the building. Architect Gilbert Sauvé was responsible for the drawings and specifications. Masonry restoration, including pointing of the carved granite and yellow sandstone features, is the work of Restauration DYC. Manufacture Raymond took on the job of restoring the superb cornice highlighted by impressive carved brackets, as well as repairing the decorative metal elements, which were severely damaged over time.
This award pays tribute to Gestion Georges Coulombe for exemplary care for a remarkable building. It also recognizes the outstanding work of professionals and artisans who painstakingly restored the building to its original glamour. Georges Coulombe won the SITQ Award of Excellence in 2008, on an individual basis, as part of the Montréal Architectural Heritage Campaign.
The Heritage Enhancement Award is presented to AEdifica architecture + design and the Groupe de resources techniques Bâtir son quartier for masterfully recycling an old industrial building in the heart of Mercier–Hochelaga-Maisonneuve into a housing co-op, the Coopérative d’habitation Station No 1.
The Coopérative d’habitation Station No 1 stands on the site of the former Shawinigan Water and Power Company. The project, which houses 74 affordable environment friendly apartments, was built as part of a program managed by the Société d’habitation du Québec. This co-op proves that it is possible to increase the density, revitalize and enhance a neighbourhood like Hochelaga-Maisonneuve by promoting a site’s historical, cultural and social continuity.
A freestanding structure was grafted to the original building constructed in 1903. The apartments are part of the existing shell. Two carriage gates open onto an inner court with central nave. Access balconies lead to the apartment units set on four levels. The exposed travelling bridge crane, in the yard, is reminiscent of the building’s industrial past.
Two extensions were built on either side of the building’s central section. They complete the project nicely and highlight a clever blend of new and recycled materials. Some 96,000 bricks were salvaged from demolition projects and re-used on the wings, which blend well with the built environment. This recycling project will be awarded the LEED-NC certification.
The jury acknowledges the talent of the contracting firm Groupe Dargis, and Génius consulting engineers for the structural work. This is a superb example of an industrial heritage building’s new life as a residential complex.
The Artisan Award is presented to Atelier de ferblanterie MBR for remarkable work in restoring detailed architectural and ornamental elements. Pascal Grenier started the Atelier de ferblanterie MBR in 2004 after working at several roofing companies for over ten years.
The Atelier specializes in the restoration of crowns, cornices and roofs of heritage houses. The company can count on the know-how of experienced and meticulous workers who are also experts at working with fine materials, including wood, slate and copper.
Atelier MBR workers employ the traditional work methods used by yesteryear craftsmen. Because moulds are no longer available, metal is shaped by hand and cornice parts hammered into shape using wood pieces. The results are outstanding and the finished parts duplicate the original architectural elements.
The Atelier’s contribution to preserve Montréal’s rich heritage is noteworthy, and for this reason it was given the Artisan Award 2011.
The Award for Architectural Integration goes to the Centre communautaire de la Petite Italie and Atelier d’Architecture Saroli Palumbo for the extension of Casa d’Italia, the famous building located at 505, rue Jean-Talon Est, in the Villeray–Saint-Michel-Parc-Extension borough, near Little Italy.
The Casa d’Italia Art Deco style building was designed by a Montréal Italian architect, Patsy (Pasquale) Colangelo (1907-1984) in collaboration with the well-known Château Dufresne decorator, Guido Nincheri. Casa d’Italia was built in 1936 on land that was offered by the Ville de Montréal, an initiative of then-Mayor Camillien Houde.
For many years, the Casa was used as a meeting place and resource centre for newly arrived Italian immigrants. Recently, the Casa needed to be extended in order to meet its new cultural and historical mission. The work was carried out by Groupe de Gestion et de Construction Loffredo.
The project includes the building of an addition along Jean-Talon, Lajeunesse and Berri streets as well as on the site of the former alley. The scale and volume of this extension combined to the use of clay brick make for a seamless transition between the original building and its new section. In addition, the stone fascia at the basement level encircles the entire building and contributes to the visual unity between the two parts of the building.
The new windows along Jean-Talon and the wall adjacent to the alley replicate the vertical arrangement of the existing openings. The façade on Lajeunesse blends well with the new section of the building along Jean-Talon. The masonry inscription, MAISON D’Italie, was removed from the existing building and reinstalled on the new façade. The window arrangement of the rotunda on Berri has remained unchanged from the original.
The extension project enabled the restoration of the masonry on the façades. The damaged bricks were replaced with bricks that were removed from the rear wall, and the artificial stone inserts were cleaned and repaired to their original shape and appearance.
The new construction along Berri is punctuated by numerous windows and crowned by a projecting marquee that follows the curves of the rotunda. The use of metal cladding and a curtain wall add a modern touch to the building.
The new Casa d’Italia will be inaugurated on November 1, 2011, to mark its 75th anniversary as well as the 150th anniversary of the unification of Italy.
The jury representing the Montréal Architectural Heritage Campaign wishes to pay tribute to Claude Belzil for his exceptional work with the Atelier d’histoire de la Pointe-aux-Trembles and his huge contribution to the promotion of history and heritage in that part of the Island.
In 1998, Claude Belzil, who retired from the Ville de Montréal after 32 years, took over the Atelier d’histoire, which started operations in 1992, with a mission to continue the work of the Société historique de la Pointe-aux-Trembles between 1974 and 1985. The Atelier worked to prepare the celebrations surrounding the 325th anniversary of the foundation of the Saint-Jean-Baptiste parish, the oldest rural parish in Montréal (1674). To mark the occasion, the non-profit organization published a booklet on the 325 years of history of Pointe-aux-Trembles. The publication was distributed to neighbourhood residents and students.
In September 2000, the Atelier d’histoire convinced the Ville de Montréal to acquire the old windmill, which was built in 1719. It then became involved in its restoration as well as in the transformation of the adjacent land into a theme park, in association with the City and the ministère de la Culture, des Communications et de la Condition féminine. Claude Belzil became President of the Association des moulins du Québec. The official opening took place in spring 2009. The following year, the Atelier published a brochure about the windmill.
The Atelier, together with 12 volunteer Pointe-aux-Trembles residents and active members, and 400 member friends, has been involved in the Montréal Architectural Heritage Campaign program of activities for many years and is still involved in research, referencing, archiving, publishing and developing new activities. As to Claude Belzil, he is actively looking for a successor to take up the torch.
The Montréal Architectural Heritage Campaign jury wants to pay special tribute to Parks Canada for enhancing several historical and heritage sites in Montréal. Parks Canada is celebrating its 100th anniversary this year.
Parks Canada has been a key player in rehabilitating the banks of the Lachine Canal, which it manages since 1978. The Lachine Canal, the cradle of Montréal’s industrialization and urbanization, helped develop the country as it bypassed the St. Lawrence rapids and provided safe access to the river. Today, the canal area is being completely revitalized.
In addition, the federal parks department is responsible for The Fur Trade at Lachine National Historic Site, a fieldstone warehouse dating back to 1803 that features a colourful exhibition recounting the story of the explorers and coureurs des bois who first travelled the country in their search for furs.
It is also administers the Sir George-Étienne Cartier National Historic Site in Old Montréal. The family home of this Father of Confederation has been carefully restored to recreate the interior of a middle-class Montréal household in 1860. The site is the only Victorian restored interior open to the public in the city.
Parks Canada has also provided financial support to restore or enhance sites in Montréal, including Saint Joseph’s Oratory, the Atwater Library and boulevard Saint-Laurent.
The world’s first national parks department was created in 1911 by the Parks Department. Since then, Canada’s parks network has grown to include 42 natural parks, 949 historic sites–of which 167 are managed by the agency–and four marine conservation areas, with a mission to protect the country’s natural and cultural heritage.
