One of the most prominent features of Hawkesbury’s skyline and the downtown area will soon be a municipally designated heritage building.
On Monday, June 22, Hawkesbury Council agreed to a request from Paroisse Saint-Pierre-Apôtre to have its home, Église Saint-Alphonse-Ligouri, to give the landmark church the heritage designation.
In 2026, the current church building on Main Street is turning 100 years old. It was rebuilt following a fire in 1926 which destroyed the original church from 1873.
Representatives of the parish and its 100th anniversary committee attended the May 22 council meeting. Documents requesting the designation highlighted several reasons for the church to be recognized as a heritage building. The main reasons are its presence as a strong visual landmark, the quality of construction from the past, its role as a site of major religious events, the role of previous clergy in contributing to local education and healthcare, its impressive acoustics, and its symbolism as a centre of religious and civic identity.
Hundreds of celebrations, including baptisms, first communion, confirmation, weddings, and funerals in the lives of Hawkesbury residents have taken place at the church, which can seat 600 people at a time. In 1942, it was the site of a Eucharistic Congress which attracted about 100,000 people during five days.
The anniversary committee has carefully followed the requirements to have the church building designated as a municipal heritage property. This includes respecting the original location of the church from 1873, ensuring that during repairs and renovations, the replacement of original materials has been preserved to the extent possible, ensuring that no restorations are carried at the expense of another historical period, and that alterations may allow for the preservation of the building’s original state.
Representing the anniversary committee, Pierre-Yves Séguin told council that municipal heritage designation and preservation of Église St-Alphonse-Ligouri is a duty.
“For a century, this monument, standing proudly with its majestic steeple, and cross overlooking our town, has been an iconic landmark, a profound and authentic symbol of our community,” he said.
Séguin said the centennial celebrations are an opportunity to ensure the building is protected and preserved.
“We all have memories connected to this church. Let us preserve them. It is up to all of us to ensure its preservation for future generations. St. Alphonsus Liguori Church is more than a building. It is, and always will be, the beating heart of our community,” Séguin said.
Paroisse St-Pierre-Apôtre Pastor Abbé Éric Robichaud described Église St-Alphonse-Ligouri as a prominent place of Catholic observance in the town. He said the parish has been seeking support from the community to ensure the building is preserved for future generations.
Councillors Jeanne Charlebois and Julie Séguin both spoke in support of heritage designation for the church building, and so did Mayor Robert Lefebvre.
“We are all very unanimously in agreement with the designation,” he said.
Lefebvre added that bylaw will still need to be adopted by council to officially list the church as a municipal heritage building.
Throughout 2026, Paroisse Saint-Pierre-Apôtre has organized a series of events to celebrate the 100th anniversary of Église Saint-Alphonse-Ligouri, and to raise funds for the preservation of the building. These include concerts, a series of articles in The Review, and a golf tournament on July 28.
