Building for the Future

The“Building for the Future” project is based on the 2021 Options Report that approved a plan to renew the Saint Peter site at Our Lady of Guadalupe Parish.

For inquiries or more information on the building renewal project, please contact our Director of Projects, Denise Trim, at denise@olgdartmouth.ca

Background
Our buildings are not the church. We are.

Our buildings must serve our church’s mission of making disciples, which is inherently outward focused. Our goal is not to merely renew a version of what we have now. This project is not for ourselves, this project is for others and for the next sixty years and beyond. In other words, we’re “building for the future”.

Saint Peter Church is our primary location. It houses our office location, many ministries operate at this location, and main worship site. The buildings are in need of re-investment and updates due to age and condition of the buildings, and the amenities that are lacking.

Update, October 2026

Over the last two years our weekend attendance has grown from close to 600 to more than 850 on average. Dartmouth is seeing increased density from housing projects around the parish, as well as new people coming into the church.

Why are we renewing the buildings?
We are a two site parish with buildings at the St. Peter and St. Anthony sites. St. Peter church, our weekend worship location, is in need of modernization and maintenance. There’s a need for a gathering space to welcome newcomers, host Alpha, and other ministries. The parish centre is small and also in need of investment. Our current Alpha evening offering is full… the space won’t hold more than 50ish participants.

We have been working at this since 2020, with many steps leading to hiring a design consultant for St Peter’s renewal in September 2025. Since that time we have worked closely with the design team as they created a new concept design, and then refined it. We are now at the point of bringing the outcome of that work to parishioners.

The new St. Peter concept includes an expanded front entrance/foyer, a simplistic bell tower replacement as well as a gathering hall addition.

Proposed Building Layout

On the site plans below you can see the expanded foyer at the main entrance, a gathering hall addition, and a connecting walkway. The parish centre has been removed and replaced with a parking lot; the grade of this part of the site will be brought down to reduce the hill between the parking and the back of the church building. There are two drop off loops where accessible entrances will be provided.

The ground floor shows the foyer expansion, connecting walkway, gathering hall, kitchen, new washrooms and an elevator to the upper and lower floors. Below the gathering hall addition there will be flexible meeting rooms suitable for Children’s Liturgy, Knights of Columbus, and other ministry groups. Access will be via elevator or stairs. Behind the worship space, in the current office and lower level of the rectory, renovations will create additional meeting rooms, a relocated AV studio, Food pantry, and reception area; this space will be linked to and accessible from the gathering hall. Above these spaces will be staff office space and additional meeting rooms.

How much will all this cost?

With increases to construction costs over the last five years, we have worked diligently to reduce the scope without losing the intent, and to remain at the budget figure. The new concept design considers the site conditions, hazardous materials study findings, and outstanding maintenance work at St. Peter church. The project costs have been brought down from approximately $25 million to $20 million. Project costs are more than just construction work; it also includes permits, support during construction, HST, etc.

Project funding is comprised of four main components:

Deposit from the previous sales of property
Future sales of lots at St. Peter’s
A modest mortgage
Funds raised through a capital campaign

There will also be a rebate on the HST paid on services for the project. We are committed to the fundamental principle that this renewal will proceed as funding permits, without impeding spiritual life at OLG parish.

Project Schedule

The project team will be ready to apply for the required Building Permit in November 2026. A decision on full or phased implementation will be required for the application. If we go with a phased approach:

Phase 1 – Renovation of the rectory into office and meeting spaces.
- This work could go ahead with minimal disruption to parishioners, as early as spring 2027.
Phase 2 – Removal of the bell tower and expansion of the foyer.
- As this work is in close proximity to the neighbouring construction project, it would not commence until the use of our property to enable that project is completed. This phase would likely require that all weekday masses be held at St. Anthony’s site while the work is underway.
Phase 3 – Demolition of the parish centre
- Programs and ministries would be relocated to the newly created space from Phase 1, St. Anthony’s, or space at Churchill Academy as required.
Phase 4 – Gathering hall & final construction work
- The most complex and costly work. Proceeds when funding permits, which could be after the sale of St. Peter lots, and funds have been gathered through the capital campaign. If a full implementation were to be the plan then its likely construction would start mid to late 2028.

Please take time to review the drawings that show this information in more detail. Contact our Director of Projects, Denise Trim, at denise@olgdartmouth.ca for more information, or to share your thoughts. Your questions and feedback are appreciated.

Front of church concept

Overhead church grounds

Gathering hall concept

Front of church concept

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Update, February 2025

Subdivision of Property – In November 2024 we received approval from the Archdiocese to subdivide the property at the St. Peter site into three lots instead of two. Survey work has been completed, and an application to Halifax Regional Municipality will be submitted.
Demolition of Crichton Centre – We are working on a tender for demolition of Crichton Centre; there is some preliminary work that needs to be done before the building comes down. This includes remediation of hazardous material and water line work. Our contract will require that the actual demolition work is schedules to minimize impact on Churchill Academy. The finished site will be graded suitably for use as parking.
Approval to Proceed – In January 2025, we received approval from the archdiocese to proceed to the design phase of the project to renew St. Peter church, based on the proposal as presented below, with a requirement to address living arrangements for a parish priest as we move forward.
- A 'Lessons Learned' meeting was arranged by the Archdiocesan Building Manager so that we could meet with those who led the project recently completed at St. Thomas Aquinas church.
- The request for Proposal document used in that project has been provided to OLG and we are working on modifying it and incorporating what was learned from the St. Thomas Aquinas project for our purposes. We hope to be ready to go out to invited architectural/engineering firms in spring 2025.
Bell Tower – A consultant has been hired (John G Cooke & Associates) to investigate and report on the condition of the bell tower. This work will ensure that we are managing risks associated with the structure, particularly the potential for vibration from work at the corner property. Their recommendations will address immediate conditions and future modifications to the tower.

Update, July 2024

It is important to bear in mind that this proposal is preliminary and subject to approval. Many details are still to be worked out.

Your feedback on these plans is most welcome.

The site currently consists of two individual lots. The proposed renewal work focuses on the church and rectory without impacting the lot with Churchill Academy and Crichton Centre on it.

Proposed Work at a Glance

Our vision is to modernize Saint Peter Church to serve our purpose in one building (rather than the parish centre and church).

Event hall addition – supported by a modern kitchen and servery, to welcome people and host Alpha and other events.
Blessed Sacrament chapel – to facilitate 24/7 access to adoration. This space and others will incorporate windows and statues from Saint Paul and Immaculate Conception churches.
Convert rectory into offices and meeting space – currently a major need. This will provide breakout space for Alpha, Children’s liturgy, and other ministries.
Re-orient the worship space and create a new entry – that is accessible and convenient, improving traffic flow and parking.
Accessibility and efficiency upgrades – to improve accessibility throughout the building, upgrades to heating/ventilation and technology/electrical for better energy efficiency.
Enhance visibility – particularly needed with development adjacent to our site. The current bell tower is condemned and must come down.

Building for the Future

Our Lady of Guadalupe Catholic Parish OLG Dartmouth

Our Lady of Guadalupe
Catholic Parish OLG Dartmouth