'Back in business': restoration resumes at Assumption Church
Restoration at Our Lady of Assumption Church has resumed following a six-month pause due to lack of funding.
“Thanks to a very generous retired teacher, a 90-year-old that lives in Riverside, he donated over $100,000 in shares,” says local lawyer and project lead, Paul Mullins. “That put us back in business.”
Lori LeMare, a historic artist, is restoring the Sacred Heart of Jesus painting on the south wall in the St. Joseph Chapel. Last year, she discovered the painting was originally created by Guido Nincheri, a world famous artist.
Nincheri emigrated from Italy after trained at the Academy of Fine Arts in Florence. He later established a studio in Montreal and went on to decorate over 200 churches across Canada in the United States.
“It’s just astounding,” says Mullins. “We knew we had incredible artwork in the church and that the church itself was an iconic piece of history. But to actually find out that it was a world famous artist, who was the primary decorator of the church, who created over between 20 and 30 original pieces of art raises this project to a whole new level.”
Mullins says $5.65 million has been fundraised over 10 years to help in the restoration of the church. Another $1.5 million is needed to complete the interior, which he hopes will wrap up next year.
“2025 is the 100th anniversary since Nincheri decoration of Assumption Church,” Mullins adds. “I always live in hope that that million and a half dollars will come forward to complete this interior restoration on time to celebrate the centenary.”
CTVNews.ca Top Stories
Netanyahu says Iran 'made a big mistake,' vows retaliation following attack on Israel
Iran launched at least 180 missiles into Israel on Tuesday, the latest in a series of escalating attacks in a yearslong conflict between Israel and Iran and its Arab allies that threatens to push the Middle East closer toward a regionwide war.
Walz and Vance go in depth on policy while attacking each other's running mates in VP debate
Tim Walz and JD Vance on Tuesday each pointed to the crises of the day as reasons for voters to choose their respective running mates for president, opening their vice presidential debate by addressing the growing fears of a regional war in the Middle East and a natural disaster that has ravaged the southeastern U.S.
Fact-checking the CBS News U.S. vice-presidential debate between Vance and Walz
Democratic Minnesota Gov. Tim Walz and Republican Sen. JD Vance of Ohio are facing off Tuesday night in New York City for their first – and only – U.S. vice-presidential debate. Here is a live fact check of everything being said between the two.
Alberta Premier Danielle Smith comes under fire for comments about chemtrails
Alberta Premier Danielle Smith's office says her recent comment about chemtrails doesn't mean she believes the United States government is spraying them in the province.
'It's ridiculous': Kelowna father furious after violent attack on his 13-year-old daughter
A father in Kelowna is furious after his 13-year-old daughter was brutally beaten on Gyro Beach. He is calling for criminal charges in the devastating attack, which was caught on video by multiple bystanders.
Lack of ambition in Canada creating '600-pound beaver in the room': Shopify president
The president of e-commerce giant Shopify Inc. wants Canada to address a problem he calls "the 600-pound beaver in the room."
Heiltsuk Nation family alleges racial profiling after incident at B.C. Canadian Tire
An Indigenous family has filed a human rights complaint against retail giant Canadian Tire over a pair of incidents that happened on the same day at the company’s Coquitlam, B.C., location.
13-year-old girl charged in deadly stabbing of 7-year-old sister after argument
A 13-year-old girl has been charged with allegedly murdering her s-year-old sister in Taylor over the weekend.
Trudeau government survives another Conservative-led non-confidence vote
Prime Minister Justin Trudeau's Liberal government survived another Conservative-led non-confidence vote on Tuesday, the second in less than a week. This, the same day the Bloc Quebecois had an opportunity to table a non-confidence motion of its own, opting instead to push the Liberals to support one of its key demands.