In collaboration with municipal, provincial and patrimonial partners, the Archdiocese of Montreal intends to restore the 312-year-old windmill in Pointe-Claire, rendering the historical landmark functional and unique among the remaining windmills in North America. In a major step forward, the City of Pointe-Claire has pledged $ 967,761 toward the restoration project.

The Pointe-Claire windmill was classified as a heritage building in 1983 by the Quebec Ministry of Culture and Communications. The Archdiocese is also applying for a grant under the ministry’s VOLET 1 program Restauration d’un bien patrimonial immobilier.

“The collaboration of the City of Pointe-Claire and the Society for the Preservation of the Heritage of Pointe-Claire has been invaluable in moving this project forward over the past year,” says Stefano Marrone, Head of Real Estate for the Archdiocese. “It has been a true community effort, and we are happy that the process has instilled confidence and garnered the support of all parties involved,” he underlined. Mr. Marrone will oversee the project.

"Over the past year, we have worked with various professionals and the local community to establish what would be the most optimal and viable solution to preserve the windmill,” said Archbishop Christian Lépine. “We deeply appreciate the commitment of the City of Pointe-Claire for their contribution toward this signature asset, which previous generations have preserved and whose legacy we will uphold."

“I am very pleased with the upcoming signing of an agreement between the Archdiocese and the City to restore and preserve the Pointe-Claire Windmill, our emblem. This heritage building must be restored and preserved so that our history will live on for all future generations. Since the land and building are private property, we are also pleased that with this agreement, public access to the site will be ensured so that everyone can appreciate our history as well as the magnificent view this site offers of la pointe Claire,” said Pointe-Claire Mayor Tim Thomas.

“The Pointe-Claire Windmill is both the emblem of our City and a unique heritage building. Its restoration will bring over 300 years of history to life for current and future generations of Pointe-Claire residents,” said Pointe-Claire Heritage Preservation Society President, Andrew Swidzinski. “For the past year our Society has been involved in the discussions with the Archdiocese and the City leading up to this announcement and we look forward to continuing to collaborate and fundraise privately in support of this exciting project.”

Point-Claire Windmill In Brief

The Seigneurs of the Island of Montreal – the Priests of Saint-Sulpice – began construction of the windmill on the point in 1709. It is one of 10 remaining windmills in Quebec built during the French regime.

When the Village of Pointe-Claire incorporated in 1911, the city adopted the windmill as its emblem and, in 2013, recognized a large area where the windmill is located as a heritage site.

The church of Saint-Joachim is located across from the point of land on which the windmill stands. In 1866, the Fabrique of Saint-Joachim Parish purchased the land and its buildings. The parish then transferred ownership to the Congregation of Notre-Dame for the purpose of building a new convent school, which is located next to the windmill.

In 2014, the Congregation decided to move from the convent and transferred ownership of the property back to the Fabrique. Six years later, the Fabrique transferred ownership of the property and its buildings to the Archdiocese of Montreal.