Canmore is a destination on so many levels and soon it will have an even greater spiritual draw for visitors with development of a new Catholic church.
Our Lady of the Rockies Roman Catholic Church representatives were in front of Canmore council this week to provide the first look publicly at plans to develop a new church on Palliser Trail beginning this fall.
Vijay Domingo and Father Wilbert Chin Jon presented architectural drawings from Ron Bourk that showed a classic church design, with steeple and a sanctuary, with enough space to accommodate 500 worshipers.
Domingo said the $9.2 million project has been in the works for over a decade and the church has analyzed its needs in the community and the new structure will provide a lasting legacy.
“We looked at the need and we require 500 to 800 in seating capacity to really have a church that can stand in the long term,” he said. “The challenge of every town is to create a sense of belonging for both locals and visitors. Our community is a destination, but for more than physical, environmental or artistic beauty – people also come here for spiritual needs.”
The church will indeed welcome visitors to the community, as it sits on Palliser Trail at the bottom of Silvertip Trail on the corner opposite the Holiday Inn. The land was donated by Silvertip developer Guy Turcotte, noted Jon.
Jon told council when the church was being conceptualized, it was not just designed to function, but to also create a sense of awe and wonder. It has a European design that “in the setting of the Rockies reflects the grandeur of the environment and supports the nature of the town as a world destination.”
That is something church officials hope will also attract weddings as well. Jon said many couples looking for a place to hold their ceremony choose not to use the current Catholic church because it is “not that beautiful.
“Our current church is not really as attractive as it could be. In the future with this building we expect to become a destination for Catholic weddings in the future.”
While the new church can hold a wedding ceremony, Domingo added it would not offer reception services, as it is not a commercial operation, so it will not compete with the private sector, but continue to grow Canmore’s wedding sector with another location for ceremonies.
“This is not just a Catholic project, it is a community project and that is what today’s message is about – it will impact the whole community,” Domingo said.
Jon said the construction plan is to finish the building’s exterior shell and main floor first and in the future complete the second floor. The main floor layout, added Jon, will have enough worship space for 500 people, which can be opened up for overflow seating to add at maximum another 500 seats. The church will also have a small kitchenette to serve coffee after mass and a much larger kitchen is expected to be developed with phase two.
There is also the possibility, said Jon, to work with In From The Cold to offer shelter in winter for those having a hard time making ends meet.
“We want to make sure we as a Catholic church are able to offer that service to those in need,” he said.
Domingo said construction of the church is expected to begin this fall and so far the efforts have raised 70 per cent of the capital fundraising goal of $9.2 million. He said the $6.5 million raised not only reflects the dedication of local parishioners, but the Calgary Catholic community as well.
