NCC seeking public input on century-old Gatineau convent

The National Capital Commission is asking for the public to weigh in on the future of a 107-year-old Gatineau, Que., conventnear the Ottawa River shoreline.

The lands belonging to theCongrgationdesServantesdeJsus-Mariewerepurchased by the NCC in November 2017 from the community of nuns, whose numbers have shrunk over the decades.

The cloistered religious communityhas become too small to make full use of the main 82-room building, the NCC said. The nuns are nowin the midst of relocating to a new home in the city's Mont-Bleu neighbourhood.

The NCC is planning to blend the conventand surrounding lands into Jacques-Cartier Park after March 2020, when the current lease runs out.

Founded in 19th century

The community was founded in Masson, Que., in 1894 before establishingthe rue Laurier convent in 1902. The convent was built in 1911, with the chapeladded in 1926.

The nuns comprisethe last remaining cloistered religious community in the Outoauais.

The NCC said it wants to preserve the nine-hectare site's historical importance, while also creating a space that allows park visitors to wander through the main building.

People who want to weigh in on the convent'sfuture have until Oct. 24 to fill out an online survey.

The public consultation will be used to set guidelines for a future request for proposals for the site, the NCC said.

With files from Radio-Canada