Site Description by Lynne Jaworski (translated into English):

Perhaps out of naïveté, I still find myself astonished—especially in this era where communication can be faster than lightning—that small groups of individuals manage to bypass the many layers of our social, institutional, and governmental structures to gain control over assets that would otherwise seem out of reach.

How can a gem—not only of rare environmental beauty in the heart of an urban setting, but also located within a heritage protection zone—become the target of real estate interests without those very institutions raising concern? At this point, I fear that the developer involved may also manage to push through and obtain approval for the demolition of a building officially recognized as a heritage asset. I am deeply grateful for the presence of the Société d’histoire d’Ahuntsic-Cartierville (SHAC) in this matter, as it has become the catalyst for a growing citizen opposition movement seeking to return the rightful ownership of the building and land at 12375 Fort-Lorette back to the community.

The land, previously owned by the Sisters of Mercy, was sold to a developer in March 2017. In July of that same year, the City of Montreal imposed a land reserve on the site. Later in 2017, the Ministry of Culture and Communications commissioned the firm Keos to carry out archaeological excavations. These revealed trenches aligned with the original palisades, masonry structures, and artifacts potentially associated with the fortified mission of Fort Lorette, which was occupied by the Sulpicians until the early 18th century. The preliminary report highlighted the site’s high heritage value due to its age, rarity, and the integrity of its remains.

In 2018, the land was acquired by the City of Montreal, and the site was officially designated as a heritage property. A public park project of heritage interest is currently underway. A series of public consultations took place in 2019, 2020, and 2021 to collaboratively develop a planning vision with local citizens and organizations. Archaeological work began in 2021, and the findings will be integrated into the site’s final layout.