Grey Nuns Motherhouse

In 1861 the Sisters of Charity of Montreal (Grey Nuns/Soeurs grises) bought from the Sulpician Order the famous Mont Sainte-Croix or “Croix Rouge” -- the land between Guy, Ste-Catherine, St-Mathieu and Dorchester (now René-Lévesque). The Grey Nuns moved uptown from their Old Montreal facilities that regularly flooded. Renowned architect Victor Bourgeau, designer of many religious buildings in Montreal, designed the landmark limestone buildings. The Hôpital Général and the community spaces portion of the complex opened in October 1871; the chapel was consecrated in 1879. Other parts of the complex, including the orphanage and the Motherhouse, were completed by October 1901.

The property included cultivated fields and orchards. The Faubourg complex now sits on a part of this land, some of which was originally leased from the Grey Nuns in 1925 to build the older part of the building in which the food court is today.

Grey Nuns chapel

The chapel was designated a cultural property in 1974 and the whole site was classified as a historic site in 1976.

There are several Concordia connections to the site. In the 1840s the Jesuits considered many locations for their new school that would become Collège Ste-Marie/St. Mary’s College, out of which grew Loyola College. One potential site was Mont Sainte-Croix or the “Croix Rouge” which was purchased by the Grey Nuns twenty years later in 1861. More than a hundred years later, in 1975, there was speculation that Concordia might purchase the property and renovate it for the new downtown library building and Commerce, Fine Arts and Athletics facilities. But the land remained in the hands of the Grey Nuns until a surprise announcement in 2004 that Concordia would purchase the Grey Nuns property. The occupation of the complex and land will be in phases, beginning in 2007 through to 2022. However, Concordia rented classroom space in the buildings earlier and in October 2005 the Installation ceremony of the newly-appointed President took place in the Motherhouse Chapel.

The first part of the complex was turned over to Concordia in May 2007 and construction began immediately for 227 interim residence beds.  Students moved into these residence facilities in August 2007, in time for classes.  There is a mixture of single and double rooms and some barrier-free access. Facilities also include kitchenettes and lounges, a games room, a common room on the ground floor, a small fridge in each room, and access to a lovely garden.

The Jesuit Residence and the Grey Nuns Residence are available for summer rentals to students, individual travelers and conference groups.

Discussions and feasibility studies are currently underway to determine how Concordia will adapt and use the Grey Nuns property, while maintaining the architectural integrity of this important Montreal landmark. Over the course of 2011 Concordia took possession of the chapel and the balance of the central wing.  The chapel is a protected site and the interior cannot be modified but it will likely be used for performances and special events.

More about the Grey Nuns Motherhouse on-going project.