After two years of working in office space in the basement and upper floor of Christ Church Cathedral, staff were able to move back into the Diocesan Synod offices in the newly renovated J.C. Roper House during the summer.
The former mansion at 71 Bronson Ave., named after the second bishop of Ottawa John Charles Roper, has been home to the diocesan offices since the 1950s, but the late Victorian heritage building built in 1893 was in need of major repair and restoration. The roof began to develop leaks. Sloping floors suggested structural problems. In the winter, Jane Scanlon, director of Stewardship and Communications, said her third-floor office was so cold she had to sit almost directly over a small space heater.
Conventional wisdom predicted that it would be too expensive to restore the building, adding essentials such as an elevator to make all four floors accessible; the Diocese would do better to cut its losses and move to a modern building.
An article by archivist Glenn J Lockwood in the May 2021 Friends of the Anglican Diocese of Ottawa Archives newsletter captures some of the history of Roper House and tells the story of how it came to be saved and restored to its place and function serving the people of the Diocese:
“One factor that led to the restoration of 71 Bronson was the accessibility compromise and the funding surprise uncovered by the Real Estate Working Group of the Diocese as it pondered what to do. The funding surprise was that it actually would be less expensive to restore 71 Bronson Avenue than to find alternate quarters for the Diocese, provided that the main floor of the building where most meetings would take place could be made fully accessible. Accessibility for the main floor without disrupting the heritage look of the exterior could be accomplished by placing an access ramp under cover of a restored, rebuilt wrap-around verandah leading to the front door.
“This led to the contract for refurbishing, restoring and rebuilding 71 Bronson being given to Barry Padolsky Associates Inc., a firm with distinguished credentials in the field of heritage restoration…”
The work required was extensive — a new roof, windows, ventilation system, electrical system and plumbing. The basement was sealed to create useable storage space. New accessible washrooms and a small utility kitchen were added. Wood floors were refinished. A meeting room was created on the main floor from what was previously a mail room and washroom. The meeting room has been named the Akikodjiwan Room (phonetically A-kee-ko-gee-wan) which means ‘fast moving waters’, referring to the rapids known as Chaudiere Falls.
On the exterior of the building, the fire escape was fixed, the access ramp was added under the verandah, and the stone and brick were repointed.
Barry Padolsky Associates was hired to make the building safe, energy efficient and to restore its beauty in keeping with its history.
Sanjay Grover, director of financial ministry for the Diocese, described the work as “a major renovation for the purpose of good stewardship of this building, making it safe, energy efficient, and bringing it up to code, ensuring it will last for generations.”
The cost of these substantial repairs and renovation will be covered by revenues from the successful development of Cathedral Hill and will not affect Parish Fair Share costs.
With special thanks to the Friends of the Anglican Diocese of Ottawa Newsletter and Executive Archdeacon Linda Hill
St. Leonard, Rockingham — Deanery of the Northwest