William Crooks
Residents and housing advocates gathered outside the former Sainte-Famille church on May 20 to oppose its proposed sale and call for its transformation into social housing

By William Crooks

Local Journalism Initiative

A proposal to sell Sherbrooke’s former Sainte-Famille church building is facing strong opposition from local residents and housing advocates, who say the city-owned property should be used for social housing rather than private development.

During a press conference held outside the church on May 20, members of the Sherbrooke tenants’ association and local residents expressed their frustration with a motion introduced earlier this month by Councillor Hélène Dauphinais to put the building back on the market. They argue that the decision risks further privatization of public land and exacerbates an already critical housing crisis.

“It’s a public building. It should serve the public,” said Normand Couture, coordinator of the tenants’ association, during his speech. Couture reminded attendees that the city acquired the church in 2021 with the idea of creating either a public community space or social housing. “We hoped it wouldn’t be bought to join the real estate speculation market,” he said.

Couture explained that two possible projects were previously studied: one for a 30-unit social housing complex and another to establish a public library. Though both options were deemed too expensive, he said the association supported the library plan as a fallback, since it would have at least offered a community resource for low-income families. “Instead, the city rejected both, and now they’re talking about selling,” he said.

Also speaking at the event was a parent of four who described the difficulties of raising a family without access to safe and affordable housing. “We need social housing to feed our children and live with dignity,” she said, pointing out the church’s proximity to schools, a pharmacy, and grocery stores as ideal for family life.

Couture warned that putting the building on the open market would likely result in high-end housing priced well beyond the reach of the community. “What will be built there? Units renting at $1,200, $1,400, even $1,600 per month. That won’t solve the housing crisis—it’ll make it worse,” he said. “We’ve already seen the downtown gentrified. Now they’re coming for another working-class neighbourhood.”

He added that the district around Sainte-Famille is one of the most disadvantaged in the city, with many low- and modest-income residents. “We won’t let this happen quietly.”

The proposal is set to be discussed at a Sherbrooke council plenary meeting, where elected officials review and debate items before they go to a formal vote. Couture and his group have sent letters to all sitting councillors and candidates for the upcoming municipal election, urging them to vote against the sale and to delay any decision until after voters have their say.

“We’ve waited four years—what’s a few more months?” said Couture. “Let the population decide what happens to a building that belongs to us all.”

In the meantime, the group is calling for renewed public discussion and mobilization. They are organizing a march starting at 6 p.m. on Friday, May 30, from the Fleurimont borough office to the church site, with speeches, a symbolic action, and a meal served at the tenants’ association office. “Let’s protect our collective property,” Couture urged.