Sacred Spaces, Civic Value: Making the Case for the Future of Faith-Built Assets

Faith spaces across Canada are disappearing at an alarming rate. With congregations shrinking and maintenance costs soaring, nearly one-third of the country’s 27,000 churches and faith-built spaces could close within the next decade. These buildings—often vital hubs for childcare, food banks, cultural events, and essential social services—face existential threats due to inaction, unclear mandates, and jurisdictional grey zones.

Sacred Places, Civic Value highlights the urgent need for collaboration between religious and secular leaders to preserve these spaces as critical community infrastructure.

The report outlines practical solutions for reinvestment, shared governance, and adaptive reuse that could transform these buildings into affordable housing, educational centers, and mixed-use spaces that serve the broader public.