The land that Villa Maria College sits on in Montreal is up for sale. The congregation that owns the land said on Thursday that the lot is being put up for sale after two conditions were met for proceeding. Les Soeurs de la Congrégation de Notre-Dame said that any buyer will need to honour the school’s lease, which expires in 2030, as well as negotiate a new lease for a minimum of two years after that. In addition, the approximately 100 nuns living at the Bon-Secours residence will be relocated to suitable seniors residences over the next two years. “It is our sincere hope that Villa Maria College will continue its mission for as long as possible,” said congregation superior general Sister Ona Bessette in a news release. “Recognizing the importance of providing predictability for families, staff and the community, we made sure that the terms of sale included specific commitments: respect for the current lease through 2030 and the buyer’s obligation to negotiate a new lease with the College for a minimum term of two years.” The future of the school was somewhat uncertain in recent years. The congregation adds that bids will be evaluated on the following additional criteria: The congregation is intent on preserving the Villa Maria Domain’s future “with respect for its heritage, its natural environment and its urban landscape,” in the release. The Vatican must approve the sale, and any net proceeds from the sale will go towards an endowment to support vulnerable students in Quebec public schools, the sisters say. The over 500,000 square metre (1,669,320 square feet) domain in the Côte-des-Neiges–Notre-Dame-de-Grâce borough is home to Bon-Secours Residence, Sacré-Coeur Residence, Notre-Dame-de-Grâce Residence, and the Congregation’s administrative offices, in addition to the school that was founded 170 years ago. Seventeenth-century nun Marguerite Bourgeoys founded the congregation, committed to female education institutions around the world.
