Repairs planned for La Salle Academy 

By Curtis Wolfe

Public Services and Procurement Canada (PSPC) is planning to begin work shortly to address a number of health, safety, and operational needs at the former La Salle Academy at 373 Sussex Drive. 

According to PSPC, work will begin on exterior repairs with substantial completion expected by October 2026. The repairs will stabilize and protect key exterior elements of the building, including joint repointing and some stone replacement. 

Restoration of heritage windows is planned to be completed by March 2028. Sidewalk scaffolding currently installed for the protection of pedestrians and building users will remain in place for the duration of this project. 

Looking ahead, Public Services is also planning a heritage assessment study of the site. The study will evaluate the condition of each heritage element and recommend a long-term maintenance program aimed at ensuring proper stewardship of the building. Officials say the current projects and proposed assessment represent incremental steps toward preserving La Salle Academy’s heritage character over the long term.

The La Salle Academy property was designated by the federal government as a classified heritage building in 1988, the highest federal classification, due to its important historic role in education. The restoration work includes the adjacent building, a home originally leased to Father Joseph-Bruno Guigues, first bishop of the diocese of Bytown.

Built in 1847, the La Salle Academy is among the oldest buildings on Sussex Drive. It previously housed a hotel, military barracks, and the College of Bytown founded by Father Guigues as Ottawa’s first bilingual and first secondary school. In 1866, the College was granted university status, eventually evolving into the University of Ottawa. Subsequently, the building became the La Salle Academy, a Catholic boy’s school operating until 1971. 

During the Second World War part of the academy was also used for signals intelligence and code breaking, and from 1948 to 1956, its auditorium was home to Ottawa’s first professional theatre company, the Canadian Repertory Theatre, where actors like William Shatner and Christopher Plummer performed early in their careers. 

The federal government purchased the complex in 1973, and undertook its restoration in 1975 for use as offices and the Canada School of Public Service.