Gravelbourg Hopes to Preserve Historic Convent

Quick Smiles:

• Gravelbourg’s beautiful convent stands as a symbol of European heritage on the Canadian prairie.
• The town is offering the century-old building for free to anyone with a preservation plan.
• Community members are committed to finding a meaningful new purpose for the landmark.

Gravelbourg, a charming Canadian town known for its European flair, is home to a grand convent that has stood vacant for over ten years. Local leaders are determined to safeguard this historic gem until the right plan for its future emerges.

Various ideas, from housing to unique developments, have been considered for the convent. Hopes are high that a visionary proposal will help integrate it into the community once again.

Constructed in 1917 alongside other notable buildings, the convent is one of three national historic landmarks founded by French settlers aiming to nurture French culture in the region. The architectural style and materials reflect classic European influences, visible in many of the town’s historic sites.

The convent once cared for 600 students at its school, but after changes, maintaining the property became challenging. Now, the town seeks someone who will nurture and restore the building’s legacy.

“Something of this size you’ll never see again. It’s an original,”

said Ariel Haug, the town’s economic development officer.

Toos Giesen-Stefiuk, who moved to Gravelbourg from the Netherlands in 1981, feels a deep connection to its history. She and others are passionate about transforming the convent into a 42-unit housing complex, believing the project’s time will come again.

Ownership of the convent will be handed over for free to anyone with a thoughtful development and preservation plan. Giesen-Stefiuk drew inspiration from her homeland’s windmills, recalling their preservation as historical treasures:

“When I grew up in Holland as a child, there were windmills and they were not in use anymore and they were tearing them down till somebody said, ‘We should keep some,’” she said. “And who doesn’t know about the windmills in Holland?”

This dedicated town is eager to see a new chapter unfold for the convent, blending heritage with hope for the future. Will you be the visionary to shape its next story?

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