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DIVINE T R A N S F O R M AT I O N BY HOLLIE GRACE JAMES PHOTOGRAPHY BY JORDANN BROWN
“Fools rush in where angels fear to tread…” was Lynda’s explanation as to why she opted for the purchase of a centuriesold church that required extensive renovations rather than settling for downsizing in a run-of-the-mill condominium that is so often sought in retirement. Lynda’s son, who lives in Masham, north-west of Gatineau, knew she was in the market for a project and thus alerted her to the sale of a dormant Presbyterian church, located directly on the main street in the eclectic Quebec village of Wakefield, about 45 minutes from Ottawa. The buying process wasn’t exactly smooth sailing. It took nine months, along with multiple other failed offers, for her to finally take ownership. Although this was certainly a cause for celebration, it also paralleled the beginning of an extremely time-consuming, stressful, and extensive renovation, which Lynda credits the survival of to her project managers, Denis and Richard Villeneuve, of Villeneuve Interiors. “It was a steep learning curve,” she explains. “I didn’t know anything from anything! I’ll be the first to admit that. Which is probably just as well, because I might not have gone ahead with it,” she says, laughing good-naturedly.
24 ottawaathome.ca SPRING 2022
