Hundreds of students and parents from Villa Maria College gathered in a powerful show of solidarity on Friday, November 21, 2025, demanding that the religious order owning their campus extend the school's lease and secure its long-term future.
Religious Order Remains Firm on Sale Plans
The Sisters of Notre Dame, who own the Villa Maria Estate on Mount Royal's southern slope, have declined to renew the school's lease in a dispute dating back to 2023. The current lease runs until 2030, but the congregation announced in February that the entire estate will be put up for sale in 2031.
Catherine Maheu, chairwoman of the school's board of directors, revealed that Villa Maria submitted what she called a "fair and significant" offer to purchase the portion of the estate it currently occupies. While she declined to specify the exact amount, Maheu confirmed it was modeled on the price the Sisters accepted in 2024 for the nearby Marianopolis College property.
Growing Tensions and Legal Action
The standoff has escalated to the courts, with Villa Maria launching legal action this past April. The school is asking a judge to compel the Sisters to either accept their purchase offer or initiate an immediate call for tenders, allowing the school to exercise its right of first refusal.
However, a Superior Court judge expressed doubts about the strength of this argument in a September procedural decision. The judge noted that while delaying a sale might make it impossible for Villa Maria to exercise its right, it doesn't obligate the congregation to sell. The judge also pointed out that the college renewed its lease in 2020 without including a right-to-renew clause, leaving the school "addressing a problem created by the inaction of Villa Maria."
The Sisters have previously stated they feel bullied by the school and question whether Villa Maria's finances are strong enough to support a purchase, though they've expressed hope that any future buyer would keep the college operating. School officials maintain their financial position is stable.
Community Rallies Amid Uncertainty
The uncertainty has deeply affected families connected to the school. Despite concerns, turnout at Friday's rally was strong, featuring speeches from Maheu, teachers, students, and local politicians.
Sophie, a student who joined Villa Maria during the pandemic at age 12, expressed her distress about the situation. "I'm quite upset," she commented. "I want to come back to my school and let my kids go here and say: 'I went to Villa.'"
The student described mixed reactions on campus, with some people very worried and others unaware of the severity of the situation. She emphasized the need for more information but expressed confidence in school leadership, hoping the rally would "send a really good message to the nuns."
The dispute is already having tangible consequences. According to La Presse, the college anticipates a 46 percent decrease in enrollment for the September 2026 cohort as prospective families seek more certainty.
Maheu acknowledged the anxiety facing families, noting that "parents want their child to start somewhere and finish somewhere." She stressed the urgency of resuming negotiations quickly.
Political Support and Future Prospects
Local politicians joined the rally, including Sonny Moroz, the city councillor for Côte-des-Neiges–Notre-Dame-de-Grâce and member of Ensemble Montréal. Moroz highlighted the school's unique position as an affordable private institution, stating, "There are not many affordable private schools here. And we want to be part of those people that do everything possible to keep it here alive and well for another 171 years."
When asked if the previous municipal administration could have done more to prevent the crisis, Moroz deflected, saying, "It's a great question, you should ask them."
Despite the tensions, Maheu emphasized the long history of cooperation between the school and the Sisters, including the order's decision to grant Villa Maria use of a newer building that the college says it upgraded at a cost of up to $3 million.
"We were in the mindset that this school would continue on," Maheu reflected. "We absolutely think there is a win-win solution to this."
The Sisters of Notre Dame have pledged that proceeds from the eventual estate sale will help support vulnerable students at public elementary and high schools across Quebec, adding another layer of complexity to the emotional dispute over Villa Maria's future.
