Hundreds of people showed up to the planned protest at Villa Maria College on a cold, wet Friday afternoon in an effort to keep the 171-year-old institution open. For months, parents, students and staff have been concerned about the future of the private Notre-Dame-de-Grâce (NDG) high school after the Sisters of the Congrégation de Notre-Dame announced the land where the school sits will go up for sale in 2031. The congregation leases the buildings on the Villa Maria estate, west of Mount Royal, to the high school. The current lease ends in 2030. Catherine Maheu, chair of the school’s board of directors, said Villa Maria is important to the “vibrancy” of NDG. “First and foremost, we have to be able to sit with the sisters. To have a discussion with them. To hash out the solutions,” Maheu said in an interview. “That is the only way we are going to do this, with them at the table. They have to speak to us. They have to come and have this conversation. It is so important that we be able to meet with them.” The congregation previously told CTV News it had informed the school of its intention to sell seven years before the lease ends. “We do want to make an offer to purchase the land. In fact, we have made an offer for the land on which the school is located, and we would like them to consider it,” Maheu added, noting that losing the school would be devastating. “We want them to come to the table and talk to us about this offer and about the solutions to keep the school running for another 100 years.” Côte-des-Neiges–Notre-Dame-de-Grâce city councillor Sonny Moroz said the City of Montreal has a responsibility to bring the parties back to the negotiating table. “[To] re-establish clear dialogue with all of the people involved in this decision and find out what the options are, exploring every single one in detail,” Moroz said. “Specifically, with the intention of finding out how we can keep Villa here long term, continuing to serve the community.”
