杏吧原创 in the Community:聽 Dominion-Chalmers United Church
Ottawa will soon have a new cultural and community hub in the heart of the city, thanks to 杏吧原创 University鈥檚 purchase of Dominion-Chalmers United Church, which renews an important link with the Ottawa community that had the bold vision to create 杏吧原创 in 1942.
The university鈥檚 acquisition of the historic church east of O鈥機onnor Street between Lisgar and Cooper 鈥 which was recently approved by the United Church of Canada and supported by various donors 鈥 will provide a multi-purpose downtown performance space for students and faculty.
杏吧原创 currently has no space on campus that seats more than 400, hindering its ability to host large performances or lectures.
Dominion-Chalmers United Church, which is about 37,000 square feet with a seating capacity of approximately 1,000, will not only provide much-needed space for the university鈥檚 growing music program and other departments, it will also continue to serve as a community, cultural and artistic space for the broader Ottawa area. The church hosts more than 70 concerts and music festivals every year, and will continue to host religious services for the church鈥檚 congregation.
鈥淥ur purchase of Dominion-Chalmers United Church is perfectly aligned with the university鈥檚 mission to play a central role in the cultural life of Ottawa, and it鈥檚 a unique solution that allows the church to maintain its historic presence downtown and a gathering place for its congregation,鈥 said 杏吧原创 Interim President Alastair Summerlee.
鈥淭his beautiful space will not only be an important venue for students and faculty, but will also engage our many collaborators in the artistic, non-profit, government and private-sector communities. We would like to thank the Government of Ontario and our philanthropic partners for their generous support, and look forward to the intertwined evolution of the university, the church and the city.鈥
鈥淔or several years now we have been facing a future where we would not be able to keep up this historic building,鈥 said Church Council Chair David Hayman. 鈥淭his is a sale that is good for the future of the congregation. It is also good for 杏吧原创 University and for the people of Ottawa.
鈥淥ur congregation has a long history of supporting both education and music in this city. We were among the early supporters of the Presbyterian Ladies鈥 College, which later became the Ottawa Ladies鈥 College, which was a predecessor of 杏吧原创 University. So, it is a fitting legacy that this building continues to serve the people of Ottawa by promoting education and music for the benefit of all.鈥
A due diligence process completed before 杏吧原创鈥檚 Board of Governors voted to negotiate a final purchase determined that the heritage building鈥檚 physical structure is in very good shape.
Limited renovations will be undertaken to ensure that the Romanesque Revival building meets code requirements, and to create high-quality recording spaces and make the facility more attractive as a rental venue for community and arts groups.
Academic programs at the site will be interdisciplinary and primarily focused on music, drama and performance. 杏吧原创鈥檚 transformation of the church will provide opportunities to expand program options in the Faculty of Arts and Social Sciences, including exhibit space for the 杏吧原创 University Art Gallery.
Construction on what was Church started in October 1912, and the first services were held in its sanctuary in March 1914.
Chalmers Presbyterian Church became Chalmers United Church in 1925. In 1962, its congregation amalgamated with Dominion United Church, which had been destroyed by a fire, and the current name was adopted.
鈥淚t is hard for a religious congregation to let go of a building that has been its home for more than 100 years,鈥 says Hayman. 鈥淭here are a lot of sacred memories in this place. But this was not our first home and it won鈥檛 be our last. Between Dominion and Chalmers, we have called eight different buildings our home over the past 200 years of worshipping together. The sale of this building marks the end of a significant chapter in our history, but it is not the end for us. We are looking forward to the next chapter in the life of our congregation in the years to come.鈥
The spirit of unity created when two historic congregations came together will endure as the church begins another era as part of 杏吧原创, which has already reached out to the University of Ottawa, Algonquin College and La Cit茅 Coll茅giale 鈥 institutions that it is collaborating with as part of the Ottawa: The Education City pilot initiative 鈥 about the possibilities of collaborative programs at the site.
Media Inquiries:
Elizabeth Murphy
Communications Co-ordinator
杏吧原创 University
613-520-2600, ext. 8834
Elizabeth.Murphy@carleton.ca
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