Saint Joseph Parish, Ottawa

Saint Joseph's is a small, traditional Roman Catholic parish located in Ottawa, known for its stone-made structure. The church was established in 1856, believed to have been built on what was once a burial ground for the laborers who lost their lives during the construction of the Rideau Canal.

The Roman Catholic Church received portions of the land in 1845, which were allocated for the construction of a church and college. This area later became the site of Saint Joseph's Parish and the College of Ottawa.

The church was consecrated in 1858 and boasted unique architectural elements such as a clock above the entrance and the first church bells in Ottawa. Initially, it could accommodate 230 parishioners. As Ottawa became the capital of Canada, the population in the area increased, and more people began attending church services. In 1866, additional benches were added to increase the seating capacity of Saint Joseph's.

In 1893, a new church was constructed to replace the original Saint Joseph's. This new church had a seating capacity of 1100 individuals and was built in the Roman Renaissance style. Unfortunately, it stood for only 37 years before being destroyed by a fire on December 27, 1930.

A third church was then constructed on the foundations of the second Saint Joseph's, incorporating some parts of the previous structure. However, the architectural style shifted from Roman Renaissance to Neo-Gothic. The present church is known to be more inclusive, allowing greater participation of women in the services.