Quand les clochers se réinventent / Spires Reinvented – 2026 International Colloquium on the future of religious heritage
From 7 May 2026 to 9 May 2026
Reserve your places
Join us on May 7, 8, and 9, 2026, in Montreal at Saint-Pierre-Apôtre Church and Centre St-Pierre.
Saint-Pierre-Apôtre Church : 1155, de la Visitation Street, Montréal, QC H2L 2L8
Centre St-Pierre : 1212, Panet Street, Montréal, QC H2L 2Y7
Preliminary program
The Quebec Religious Heritage Council is organizing an international symposium alongside the Canada Research Chair in Urban Heritage at the School of Management Sciences of the University of Quebec at Montreal (UQAM) and the Chair in Cultural and Religious Diversity at the Institute of Religious Studies of the Faculty of Arts and Sciences of the University of Montreal.
Recognizing that the future of religious heritage presents challenges shared by other territories in North America and Europe, this event offers an in-depth reflection on the transformations necessary for the management, enhancement and adaptation of religious heritage in a context of social, climatic and regulatory change.
Through a series of conferences, panels, and case studies, the event will bring together national and international experts to examine the levers of governance, financing, regulation, and innovative uses. This initiative aims to equip heritage stakeholders, local authorities, and civil society to collectively envision the future of religious heritage from a perspective of sustainability, innovation, and social cohesion.
Program
Thursday, May 7, will be dedicated to thematic visits and the opening of the symposium. On Friday, May 8, the conferences will focus on ownership and financing issues, highlighting the role of municipalities, as well as questions related to the principle of secularism. On Saturday, May 9, speakers will emphasize the need to rethink the regulatory framework for the repurposing of religious buildings, to share innovative solutions for achieving sustainable development goals, and to explore mixed-use development from a social and community perspective.
Plenary sessions and smaller panels will alternate throughout the days, with the aim of fostering exchanges and dialogue between speakers and the public.
Our event will be hosted by Mr. Denis Boucher, historian and president of the Montreal Heritage Council.
Partners
This event is made possible with the financial support of the CRSH and the Fonds québécois de la recherche.
Sponsors
