A fire consumed the Notre-Dame-des-Sept-Allégresses church in Trois-Rivières on Thursday afternoon, causing extensive damage to the century-old building. Firefighters were called to the scene around 3.40pm, and despite their swift efforts, the flames had already taken hold of the iconic Catholic church, built in 1914.
The church, which was closed in 2018 and officially deconsecrated in 2020, had been the focus of a major revitalisation project.Georges Mouradian, the real estate developer overseeing the work, told La Presse that the first stage of the project, involving the conversion of the church into residential homes, was due to finish the next day.
The blaze, which led to the collapse of one of the church’s two bell towers, marked the end of a building that had long stood as a symbol for the local community, the city said in a post on Facebook. Firefighters from Trois-Rivières, supported by reinforcements from nearby Bécancour, battled the fire, using a ladder truck to control the flames. Despite their efforts, the structural damage was extensive.
In a statement on its Facebook page, the City of Trois-Rivières expressed its sorrow over the loss, saying: “Yesterday, Notre-Dame-des-Sept-Allégresses church was ravaged by a fire. It took with it a precious part of our history. Built in 1913-1914, this neo-Romanesque church was not just a simple building. It was a true symbol for the people of Trois-Rivières.”
Surrounding businesses were not affected by the blaze, but the cause of the fire remains unknown as investigators continue their work. Mouradian confirmed that all ongoing real estate projects are currently on hold as the investigation proceeds.