Relay Altar
12 juill. 2022
$2.3 million will be invested to give a second life to the Sainte-Marie de l’Isle-Maligne church in Alma. The investment is significant, as is the transformation project. In less than a year, the church will become a hotel ready to welcome tourists for the summer of 2023.
The project promoter, Mr. Vincent Lavoie, made the announcement today during a press conference in the presence of the Member of Parliament for Lac-Saint-Jean, Mr. Éric Girard, and the Mayor of the City of Alma and President of CIDAL, Ms. Sylvie Beaumont.
Vincent Lavoie likes to talk about a relay altar. His concept: 12 rooms in the upper part of the church, which allows the nave (the ground floor) to be completely freed up, which will become a bistro-style rest, discussion and dining area. One can easily imagine this vast lobby becoming a place for socializing, like the church steps used to be.
But there is even more to Vincent Lavoie's concept. This hotel will offer a range of services to meet the needs of tourists who frequent this area in both summer and winter. Remember that the church is located directly on the Véloroute des bleuets and snowmobile trails. Specific facilities for these customers such as secure lockers for bicycles and spaces to dry wet snowmobile clothing will be included in the concept.
Since this project will extend the life of this religious building, its promoter was able to benefit from government assistance. A contribution of $800,000 from the Requalification Program for Excess Heritage Places of Worship of the Ministry of Culture and Communications was granted on June 27.
"The support that our government is giving to this redevelopment project demonstrates the importance given to preserving religious heritage in Quebec. I congratulate Mr. Lavoie, who was able to put forward the ideas and resources needed to bring this major project to life, which will have a significant economic and tourism impact."
Éric Girard, Member of Parliament for Lac-Saint-Jean and Parliamentary Assistant to the Ministry of Energy and Natural Resources
Vincent Lavoie's project also received support from the Lac-Saint-Jean Est Economic Development Corporation. Ms. Beaumont, Mayor of the City of Alma and President of CIDAL, emphasizes that: "the project will increase the attractiveness and tourism benefits while contributing to the influence of the tourist destination in both the summer and winter seasons."
The developer of course intends to preserve the church's heritage elements such as the pews, the Stations of the Cross and, of course, the stained glass windows. "All these elements will be highlighted and integrated into the redevelopment of the building. They will become the signature of the reinvented church, like a link between the past and the future," explains Vincent Lavoie.
The rooms upstairs will be like an extension of the rood screen in a block covered with mirrors in order to maximize the brightness of the place and to reflect the architectural details. The windows of the rooms will give to the interior of the church and will be opposite the magnificent existing stained glass windows. Two universally accessible rooms will also be fitted out in the heart of the church.
The exterior appearance of the buildings will remain unchanged and will therefore remain faithful to its appearance in the heart of the heritage district of builders since 1938.
“I am proud to contribute to improving the tourist offer in my city by highlighting this magnificent heritage building with the addition of 12 hotel rooms particularly adapted to cyclists and snowmobilers directly in the Sainte-Marie church! We have a unique and very original concept for people who will try the experience of sleeping in our old church!”
Vincent Lavoie, President of the Relay Altar
Let us recall that the already very popular Saint-Crème Dairy Bar has been in operation in the church for a month.