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Monastère du Bon-Pasteur Bon-Pasteur Monastery
The church building's exterior, 2017
Religion
Affiliation	Roman Catholicism
District	Sainte-Marie neighbourhood
Leadership	Sœurs du Bon Pasteur
Location
Location	52–104 Sherbrooke Street (East) Montreal, Quebec, Canada H2X 1C3
Geographic coordinates	45°30′48″N 73°34′8″W
Architecture
Architect(s)	Victor Bourgeau John Ostell Félix Martin
Style	Neoclassical architecture
Completed	1896
Materials	Limestone ashlar, stone, brick

The Monastère du Bon-Pasteur is a multifunctional site in Montreal, Québec. It houses offices, a long-term care home, private apartments, and a historic chapel: the Chapelle historique du Bon-Pasteur. Located at 100 Sherbrooke Street East, the former monastery is part of the Sainte-Marie neighbourhood.

The Monastère du Bon-Pasteur was classified as a historical monument by the Minister of Culture and Communications on 11 July 1979.

History

The Sœurs du Bon Pasteur (Nuns of the Bon Pasteur) came to Montreal from France in 1844. They sought to provide care for delinquent young girls, orphans, and otherwise disadvantaged youth. In 1846, they were granted a parcel of land outside the then-limits of the City of Montreal, in a hamlet established in the 18th century named Côte-à-Baron. Construction of the monastery began that same year, making it one of the first public buildings to be raised on Sherbrooke Street, along with McGill University.

During the typhus epidemic of 1847, the cholera pandemic of 1849, and the Great Fire of 1852, the new monastery served as a place of refuge for the local population.

In 1861, the north-east wing of the main building was erected to house a Young Ladies' Academy. The public chapel, designed by the architect Victor Bourgeau, was built in 1878; it stands out by its position at the centre of the building. Neoclassical architectural elements were added by the architect John Ostell and the Jesuit Félix Martin. A new wing was annexed in 1884 to include a trade school. This wing was extended again towards rue Sherbrooke in 1893. A presbytery (chancel) was constructed in 1896 at the intersection between Sherbrooke Street and Cadieux Street (modern-day De Bullion).

Between 1888 and 1903, a laundromat, studios, and outbuildings were erected behind the monastery. These buildings allowed for the interior courtyard to be closed off.

In the 1970s, the building began to become neglected. It was finally sold to the Société d'habitation du Québec in 1979, the same year it was classed as a historical monument by the Quebec government. It was further classified as a protected area in 1981. Nonetheless, it was not until 1987 that a restoration took place, after the Société immobilière du patrimoine architectural de Montréal acquired the monastery and transformed it into the multifunctional building it is today.

Historic Chapel of the Bon-Pasteur

The chapel, which can accomodate 160 people, is managed by the cultural service of the City of Montreal and is associated with the network of cultural houses of Montreal.

Restored in 1987, the Chapelle historique du Bon-Pasteur was converted into a concert hall. Today, it is considered to be one of the best concert halls dedicated to chamber music in Montreal due to its acoustics. The chapel has a Fazioli piano, known for its clarity and richness of sound, and a Kirckman harpsichord from 1772.

Every season, the chapel hosts classical music, contemporary, and jazz concerts, as well as public hearings, interpretation workshops, and conferences. It also has a space dedicated to visual arts expositions.

May 25, 2023 fire

Photo of the Monastère du Bon-Pasteur on May 26, 2023, one day after the fire.

Extent of the smoke on rue Sherbrooke five hours after the start of the fire.

At 4:30 p.m. on 25 May 2023, the Chapel underwent a major fire that took more than 24 hours for firefighters to extinguish. Two days later, about 15 firefighters were still on site to ensure that the fire did not restart. The inspection of the structural damage started the same day, and evacuees were able to return and collect their personal belongings. The 250-year-old harpsichord and other musical instruments were also retrieved. There were no casualties or people reported missing.