Montreal Heritage Advocates Plead for Preservation of Historic Sisters of Mercy Site Amid Redevelopment
Montreal – Concerns are mounting over the potential loss of historical memory at the former Sisters of Mercy hospital adn convent complex as redevelopment plans proceed. Advocates are urging Hydro-Québec, the state-owned utility considering the site, to prioritize the preservation of the location’s meaningful heritage, notably its role in the lives of women and children.
The site, steeped in Quebec history, once served as a maternity hospital and a refuge for vulnerable populations. While acknowledging the need to revitalize the dilapidated buildings and the surrounding sector, preservationists fear that prioritizing immediate needs will irrevocably erase a crucial part of Montreal’s past. The debate centers on balancing progress with the responsibility to future generations to remember the stories embedded within the walls of the former hospital.
A collective duty exists, advocates say, to preserve the memory of this historically crucial place. Jean Laberge’s 2019 Statement of the heritage interest of the old hospitals and convents of the Sisters of Mercy (Patrimoine Montréal, pp. 4, 8) details the site’s rich meaning and stories. The hope is that Hydro-Québec will heed this call and ensure this heritage is not lost.
Readers can learn more about the history of the site by reading “remember the women and children of mercy” https://www.lapresse.ca/dialogue/chroniques/2025-10-01/se-souvenir-des-femmes-et-des-enfants-de-la-misericorde.php and by visiting the Mouvement Retrouvailles website https://www.mouvement-retrouvailles.qc.ca/.
Those wishing to participate in the dialogue can submit feedback via https://aide.lapresse.ca/hc/fr-ca/requests/new?ticket_form_id=10389435197207&tf_10389597715607=redac_opinion&tf_16491764350743=dialogue_r%C3%A9agir&tf_subject=51e369a+Les+tr%C3%A9sors+de+la+Mis%C3%A9ricorde.
