Construction to begin this fall on new Salvation Army 'Centre of Hope' on Montreal Road

The Salvation Army hopes to begin construction on its new community hub in Vanier this fall, as the area councillor and residents continue to raise concerns about the proposed plan.

The Salvation Army hopes to begin construction on its new community hub in Vanier this fall, as the area councillor and residents continue to raise concerns about the proposed plan.

Ottawa's planning committee approved the site plan for the new "Centre of Hope" at 333 Montreal Road last June, which will include 32 supportive housing units and 99 beds in the emergency shelter

Now, almost six years after first unveiling plans for the new facility to replace the Booth Centre, the Salvation Army hopes to break ground later this year.

"Looking at mobilizing and construction beginning later this fall, and then we're hoping to open those doors – 2025, 2026 is sort of where our target is," Salvation Army spokesperson Glenn van Gulik told CTV News Ottawa on Sunday.

"But, of course, we know that as we come out of these past years there are some challenges with timing of materials and all of those things, so our team is looking at that making sure that were going to be on track, on course to be able to open those doors just as quickly as possible.

"We know that the need is great; we know that we've got to get there as quickly as possible."

Newly elected Rideau-Vanier Coun. Stephanie Plante and Mayor Mark Sutcliffe met with the Ottawa Salvation Army Booth Centre staff last week to discuss the project. Plante says she does not support another emergency shelter on Montreal Road or in Rideau-Vanier, and is pushing for more supportive housing in Ottawa