Nestled in southwest Saskatchewan is the Town of Gravelbourg, a bilingual community with a rich cultural history and home to a pair of massive, ecclesiastical buildings that are each more than a century old.
An immense cathedral and a looming convent, both crafted from Claybank brick and Tyndall Stone, are a part of a series of national treasures considered a slice of Europe in the heart of the prairies.
Our Lady of the Assumption Co-Cathedral was constructed in 1918, changing names multiple times since its inception, including being called the Saint Philomena Cathedral for a number of years.
The cathedral was first blessed by Archbishop Mathieu in November 1919 and is still in operation today.
The inside of the building is filled with detailed murals and exquisite paintings by a former local priest, Monsignor Charles Maillard, and tours are available all year long.
Only a stone's throw away to the west is the Convent of Jesus and Mary, a 90,000 square foot structure with four stories that was designed by French-Canadian architect Joseph Fortin.
According to the National Trust for Canada, the Convent of Jesus and Mary was listed among Canada's top 10 endangered places in 2024.
The main building opened in 1918, the same year the cathedral was built, while additional wings to the north and south were added in 1926.
The convent operated as a convent and boarding school until Gravelbourg Elementary School moved into the building in 1971 and occupied the space until 2015, when the ownership was transferred to the town.
From 2016 to 2023, the structure was used as a community space, housing local organizations, groups, and more.
Despite efforts to restore the building to be used as an assisted living complex, momentum tapered off during the COVID-19 pandemic, followed by substantial vandalism in 2022.
The convent's final tenants were evicted in 2023, the project was set on the back burner, and no proposals to restore the building have been put forth yet.
Anyone interested in tours of the cathedral can contact (306) 650 - 8228, visit the National Trust for Canada's website for more information, head to www.gravelbourgcocathedral.com/fresume.html, or check out the town's website.
Those looking for more information about the Convent of Jesus and Mary can call the Gravelbourg and District Museum at (306) 648 - 2332, reach out to the Town of Gravelbourg's Economic Development Office at (306) 648 - 3301, extension 4, or visit the Town of Gravelbourg's website.