After five years of sitting derelict, much to the dismay of its former residents, the destiny of Bishop’s University’s Divinity House took a dramatic turn away from demolition on Friday with the news that the building is to be repurposed as an indigenous gathering space. With the help of a $5.9 million investment from the government of Quebec and a commitment to raise $1 million in private donations, the school will be able to revive the building, rather than tear it down. The announcement made by Education Minister Jean-Francois Roberge on Friday comes after years of discussion about the fate of one of Bishop’s oldest buildings. Built in 1892, the building served in a variety of roles, from residence to classroom and office space, until 2014 when the building was closed due to serious structural decay. See full story in the Monday, Oct. 7 edition of The Record.
