Program targeting the repurposing of underutilized places of worship of heritage value

Call for projects in progress, deadline march 29 2024

See the recipients for 2023-2024

Section 1 – Incubator for Repurposing Projects

This section’s objective is to support organizations wishing to realize repurposing projects in the first steps of the planning process. In addition to providing ad hoc financial assistance for the completion of technical assessments, business plans, and other tools necessary for planning projects, it provides participating organizations with networking and training opportunities. 

More specifically, it pursues the following objectives:

• Encourage the development of high-quality repurposing projects;
• Providing ad hoc financial assistance for the completion of technical assessments, business plans, and other tools necessary for planning projects;
• Providing participating organizations with opportunities for networking and pooling of resources;
• Providing participants with expertise and personalized support;
• Contribute to the development of projects that respond to the needs of the community;
• Encourage a thorough plan for the project so as to reduce the associated risks; 

• Promote the preservation of the heritage characteristics of the building concerned.​

Section 2 – Repurposing of places of worship of heritage value

This section’s objective is to provide grants to the owners of places of worship of heritage value wishing to carry out restoration and upgrading to standards projects necessary for a change of use, while promoting the conservation and enhancement of their heritage characteristics.

Includes the following owners of an eligible building or their proxy (designated by resolution):

• Municipality or Regional County Municipality (MRC);
• Band Council or Cree, Inuit or Naskapi community;
• Non-profit organization;
• Cooperative;
• For profit entity

Excluding the following owners:

• Religious organisations;
• Affiliated with the education or health departement who provide financial help for the building;
• Listed on the Registry of businesses not eligible for public contracts (RENA);
• In a state of bankruptcy or insolvency under the Bankruptcy and Insolvency Act.

Section 1 – Incubator for Repurposing Projects

Eligible properties under Section 1 include places of worship of heritage value constructed before 1976 whose status corresponds to one of the following under the Cultural Heritage Act (RLRQ, chapitre P-9.002):

• Heritage building listed or located on an heritage site listed by the Ministry of Culture and Communications (MCC);
• Building located on a heritage site as declared by the MCC;
• Heritage building cited by a municipality, located on an heritage site cited, or building that the municipality commits to citing within the 12 months following its admission to the incubator;
• Building with a Superieur quote from a municipal or MRC inventory that is under the protection of the Land Use Planning and Development Act.

Section 2 – Repurposing of places of worship of heritage value

Properties eligible under section 2 include places of worship of heritage value constructed before 1976 whose status corresponds to one of the following under the Cultural Heritage Act (RLRQ, chapitre P-9.002):

• Heritage building listed or located on an heritage site listed by the Ministry of Culture and Communications (MCC);
• Building located on a heritage site as declared by the MCC;
• Heritage building cited or located on an heritage site cited by a municipality;
• Building with a Superieur quote from a municipal or MRC inventory that is under the protection of the Land Use Planning and Development Act.

Eligible expenses include professional fees surrounding the completion of assessments concerning the planning of a repurposing project for an eligible building, judged to be pertinent and authorized by the management committee.

The following are not eligible for reimbursement by the program:

• Expenses related to works/construction;
• Expenses related to the purchase of equipment;
• Expenses related to the exercise of a religious manifestation;
• Expenses realized before the confirmation of financial assistance;
• Expenses directly or indirectly financed through another program of the MCC or the CPRQ.

Other aspects of this section

Projects may remain in the incubator for a maximum of 24 months after the confirmation letter.

Studies completed through allocated financial assistance may be used by the Ministry of Culture and Communications and the CPRQ for purposed of dissemination, transmission and education, for the benefit of other repurposing projects.

The Ministry can award a certificate of quality to projects coming out of the incubator.

Section 2 – Repurposing of places of worship of heritage value

The following are eligible:

• Works on a building targeting its repurposing for non-religious ends judged pertinent by the management committee;
• Works related to upgrades to standards, consolidation and restauration judged pertinent by the management committee;
• Professional fees surrounding the preparation for and realisation of a project;
• Integrating the arts with architecture and the environment, where appropriate.

The following are not eligible for reimbursement by the program:

• Expenses connected to the purchase of specialized equipment or furnishings (integrated or otherwise);
• Expenses financed through another program of the MCC or the CPRQ;
• Expenses related to the exercise of a religious manifestation;
• Expenses having received financial assistance under Section 1 of this program;

Section 1 – Incubator for Repurposing Projects

The application for financial assistance must be completed through the form provided by the Québec Religious Heritage Council (CPRQ) and be accompanied by the following documents:

1. A presentation file for the building and the intended project;
2. A resolution by the applicant entity authorizing the submission of the application and authorizing a designated representative to sign all commitments concerning this application;
3. the service offers for the studies to be carried out or a detailed description of them;
4. A resolution by the municipality where the building targeted by the project is located articulating its support for the project;
5. Proof of ownership or offer of purchase.

Section 2 – Repurposing of places of worship of heritage value

The application for financial assistance must be submitted through the form provided by the Québec Religious Heritage Council (CPRQ) and must be accompanied by the following documents:

1. A presentation file including the business plan, schedule, and budget (Uniformat II, level 1 or more) for the realization of the project;
2. A resolution by the applicant entity authorizing the submission of the application and authorizing a designated representative to sign all commitments concerning this application;
3. A complete technical audit of the building;
4. A business plan or feasibility study;
5. A preliminary assessment of the compliance with standards assuring that the new use is compatible with the conservation of the building’s heritage values;
6. A resolution by the municipality where the building targeted by the project is located articulating its support for the project;
7. Proof of ownership or offer of purchase;

When a request involves a municipality, the Council will carry out a pre-analysis of the file based in particular on the guide/memory sheet that will be provided to them, in order to ensure that the provisions of the Law on secularism of the State are taken into account

A jury will be responsible for the analysis of the applications for financial assistance and formulate recommendations for the program’s management committee. This analysis will be conducted based on the evaluation criteria below, in addition to other factors.

Section 1 – Incubator for repurposing projects

Evaluation Criteria for Projects

• The project’s structuring effects: its contribution to the cultural vitality of the local and regional community, to cultural tourism, to the consolidation or revitalization of a downtown, of a town centre or a historic district, as well as to the attractiveness of the milieu and the improvement of local quality of life.
• The quality, clarity and precision of the documents presented;
• The importance of citizen involvement and mobilization within the repurposing project;
• The highlighting and maintenance of the building’s heritage elements.

Section 2 – Repurposing of places of worship of heritage value

Evaluation Criteria for Projects:

• The project’s structuring effects: its contribution to the cultural vitality of the local and regional community, to cultural tourism, to the consolidation or revitalization of a downtown, of a town centre or a historic district, as well as to the attractiveness of the milieu and the improvement of local quality of life.
• The quality, clarity and precision of the documents presented;
• The importance of citizen involvement and mobilization within the repurposing project;
• The highlighting and maintenance of the building’s heritage elements.
• The diversification and confirmation of sources of financing and the realism of the costs.

Section 1 - Incubator for repurposing projects

Maximum financial assistance is 75% of eligible expenses.

The total sum of costs of public financial assistance cannot surpass 100 % of expenses eligible to the program. Furthermore, a minimal contribution of 20 % of eligible expenses is required of applicants that qualify as for-profit entities.

The total sum of public financial assistance includes financial assistance from governmental ministries and organizations (federal or provincial), state-owned enterprises and municipal entities. The term municipal entities includes municipal bodies under Article 5 of the Act respecting Access to documents held by public bodies and the Protection of Personal information. This calculation excludes the contribution of the project’s beneficiaries, which can take the form of financial, material, or human resources.

Section 2 – Repurposing of places of worship of heritage value

Maximum financial assistance is from 50% to 70% of the cost of eligible expenses.

Consultez le site du MAMH pour connaître l'indice de la RFU par unité d'évaluation imposable et compensable

The total sum of costs of public financial assistance cannot surpass 100 % of expenses eligible to the program. Furthermore, a minimal contribution of 20 % of eligible expenses is required of applicants that qualify as for-profit entities.

The total sum of public financial assistance includes financial assistance from governmental ministries and organizations (federal or provincial), state-owned enterprises and municipal entities. The term municipal entities includes municipal bodies under Article 5 of the Act respecting Access to documents held by public bodies and the Protection of Personal information. This calculation excludes the contribution of the project’s beneficiaries, which can take the form of financial, material, or human resources.

In order to receive financial assistance, the beneficiary must sign a convention of financial assistance with the Council. This convention compels the beneficiary to respect all obligations expected of them as well as those expected of the program.