Metcalfe Community Center

This building is a magnificent example of mid-century architecture! Within its walls, the building that now houses the Metcalfe Community Centre preserves a remarkable history of education in Rawdon. 

Source: BAnQ numérique

Can you hear the orchestra at work? Like many educational institutions at the time, Rawdon Consolidated School offered musical programs to enrich students’ educational experience.

Schools of the period often emphasized the arts, including music, to foster students’ cultural and social development. School orchestras were commonly formed, allowing students to learn various instruments and to take part in performances at community events.

Source: BAnQ numérique

This building dating back to 1862 houses Christ Church Anglican church’s parish hall. This space is used for activities such as auctions, bazaars and other community events. The church hall plays a central role in the social life of the Protestant community, providing a space for cultural activities, meetings and celebrations. It is also available to rent for private events, providing residents of Rawdon and the surrounding area with a suitable venue for a variety of occasions.

In addition to its social functions, the parish hall is a venue for activities related to the church's mission, such as workshops, (musical events), conferences and educational purposes, as well as the English Community Organization of Lanaudiere’s Senior Wellness programmes. In this way, it helps to strengthen ties within the community and support local initiatives.

This building is a magnificent example of mid-century architecture! Within its walls, the building that now houses the Metcalfe Community Centre preserves a remarkable history of education in Rawdon. It served as a Protestant school, welcoming English-speaking pupils of various denominations, reflecting the community’s cultural and religious diversity. Built in 1951 on land donated by Christ Church and part of the Glebe, Rawdon Consolidated School housed classes from grades 1 to 10. Five years later, the school was enlarged, and two prefabricated annexes were added. The result of these efforts is a wonderful example of school planning and construction in the middle of the last century.

Unlike in other surrounding municipalities, Rawdon’s early schools were influenced by the linguistic and religious diversity of its inhabitants, which included Americans, Irish, English, Scots and French-Canadians, both Catholic and Protestant. In the early 1800s, education was often provided in private homes or makeshift classrooms, due to limited resources and the lack of formal school infrastructure and transportation.

As the population grew, range schools were established in rural areas, while more structured schools sprang up in the village. Children aged 7 to 17 attended school every day of the school year, from August to April, except on Sundays and a few public holidays set by the Commissioners.

The Metcalfe Centre is now a municipal building that is host to several community organisations, including the Maison du transfert du savoir, the FADOQ, the Maison des jeunes and the Scouts. The Centre offers a wide range of activities for residents.