Vision and chronology

2014

• Concordia continues to develop plan for conversion of site for long-term academic use.
• In April, an expanded student resdence will offer 597 beds.

2013

• Sisters vacate the site (March).
• Conversion of much of site to a temporary student residence.
• Creation of up to 600 individual and group study spaces on site.
• Together with UQAM and the Montreal Museum of Fine Arts Concordia organizes public program on “Religious Heritage at Risk”.

2012

• Property designated by Historic Sites and Monuments Board of Canada.
• Planning exercise completed for temporary usage of site as a student residence.

2011

• Visit to site by Mme Christine St. Pierre, Minister of Culture, Communications and the Status of Women.
• Publication of proceedings of 2009 international conference.

2010

• Drafting of documents for architecture and site planning competition begins.

2009

• Presentations made to community, heritage and cultural groups.
• Community Open House visit of site.
• Formalization of institutional use with the borough of Ville Marie.
• Public participation process commences.
• Concordia hosts international conference on the future use of convents.

2008

• Feasibility studies for academic use completed.
• Discussions with the Ministry of Culture, Communications and the Status of Women and the City of Montreal regarding use of the site.
• Concordia announces plans to dedicate the site for the use of the Faculty of Fine Arts.
• Concordia applies to designate the property to the Historic Sites and Monuments Board of Canada.

2007

• Concordia formally purchases the site.
• Sisters start to gradually phase out their occupancy.
• West wing of the complex is temporarily converted into student residence.

2006

• Concordia performs a due diligence investigation of the site.

2004

• In the presence of Cardinal Jean-Claude Turcotte, the Sisters of Charity (the Grey Nuns) announce their intentions of selling their Mother House site to Concordia.