Gravelbourg seeks options for former convent school
The Town of Gravelbourg is seeking proposals for the former Convent of Jesus & Mary. Constructed between 1917 and 1927, the building features a large four-storey Claybank brick and Tyndal stone central structure linked by rotundas to a three-story wing and a stunning chapel space.
The convent served as an educational institution until 2015 when the elementary and high schools amalgamated. After a series of assessments and extensive community consultation, the Town purchased the designated heritage building from the Prairie South School Division.
“The Convent never fails to impress,” says Town of Gravelbourg Economic Development Officer, Ariel Haug. “There are regional needs for housing, accommodations, education, and industry that could be well met by investment in a project of this scale. We need to find the right vision, so we are looking for credible proposals.”
Currently, the chapel serves as a unique event venue that hosts wedding receptions, annual markets, and community events. The Convent’s first floor is home to a music centre, an artisan co-operative, art and fitness studios, and several small businesses.
“The tenants are aware that the Town is seeking options for the Convent. Everyone just wants to make sure this beautiful place has a future,” Haug says. “A building like this incredibly rare in western Canada.”
Long a popular destination for day-trippers, Gravelbourg lives up to its slogan “a touch of Europe on the Prairies” with its French heritage, impressive cathedral, architectural inheritance, and lantern-lined Main Street. Visit gravelbourgconvent.com for more details.