Parishioners of Coquitlam’s oldest church may soon see natural light return to the basement.
Tonight, Sept. 23, city council is expected to grant a heritage alteration permit to the Notre Dame de Lourdes Parish to reopen and replace the boarded windows for a lower level renovation that will see new features, including:
- windows
- elevator
- portable stage
- flooring
- lighting
- sound deadening ceiling panels
- kitchen and bar
First built in 1910 in Laval Square in Maillardville, then rebuilt in 1938 following a fire, Our Lady of Lourdes Church is listed in the Maillardville Heritage Inventory and is designated as a heritage site in Coquitlam.
According to a report from Chris Jarvie, Coquitlam’s director of development services, any exterior updates to a heritage-designated building or land need to have a heritage alteration permit.
Still, it’s not the first time the parish has asked for exterior changes to the church: In 2012, it received a heritage alteration permit to add a covered entrance vestibule at the northern site and, three years ago, council OK’d a permit for the parish to rebuild the main entry staircase and storage space below.
Under the new plan, the church’s sealed windows on the western and southern sides will be replaced, as well as the windows next to the proposed library/lounge on the northern elevation.
Jarvie said the church’s architect has prepared a heritage report to confirm the planned window replacement won’t impact the heritage value or character.
“It is likely that [the] original windows are severely damaged,” Jarvie wrote in his report. “Therefore, replacement is a viable alternative. There is sufficient historical evidence to replace the windows to match the original form and details.”
The upper hall won’t be affected by the renovation, according to a June 2024 report by Oberto Oberti Architecture and Urban Design Inc.
Notre Dame de Lourdes Church went up to be the focus and spiritual centre for the French-Canadian community in Maillardville — most of them Fraser Mills workers.
Designed by Father F.X. Teck, the parish priest at the time, it was built by W.J. Sloan Construction Company and blessed in November 1938.
📣 Got an opinion on this story or any others in the Tri-Cities? Send us a letter or email your thoughts or story tips to [email protected].
📲 Want to stay updated on Coquitlam, Port Coquitlam, Port Moody, Anmore and Belcarra news? Sign up for our free daily newsletter.
💬 Words missing in an article? Your adblocker might be preventing hyperlinked text from appearing.
