A Saturday morning walk in the neighbourhood revealed a shuttered church reflected in the condos that were developed around it. Having lived in the area for over ten years, I knew of the former heritage church, of course, but I never realized how it leaves a ghostly imprint on the upscale condos surrounding it on two sides. It took the sort of bright sunny day that casts the best shadows for that to become apparent. Saint-Charles Church was built in 1908 and served the local Franco-Ontarian community around Beechwood Avenue and what was then known as Eastview village — later the City of Vanier. The parish as both a liturgical and a community space was very much the reality at Saint-Charles. But in the second half of the twentieth century, a growing number of Francophones moved further out to the suburbs of Ottawa. By 2008, the dwindling number of French-speaking parishioners made it hard to justify two French-language Catholic parishes within 2 kilometres of each other.
Saint-Charles was shuttered and deconsecrated in 2013 — and then sold to developers in 2014. Many of the remaining parishioners joined Notre-Dame de Lourdes Parish 2 kilometres away. For years before the property was redeveloped, the church housed a vintage furniture store, as well as a farmers market in the summer months. As the church exterior has heritage status, the developers kept it in tact, with the aim to use the interior as a public and commercial space. Colourful stained glass birds were installed in the steeple, where the bells once tolled.
Born in Montreal, Christopher Adam has called Ottawa home for the past twenty years. He received his MA from Carleton University, with a thesis focusing on twentieth century European church history, and a PhD in History from the University of Ottawa. Over the years, he has published widely and works in the faith-based charitable sector in Ottawa.