Church of Our Lady of Good Hope

The Church of Our Lady of Good Hope is a wooden structure with a steeply pitched roof, pointed arch windows, and a bell tower that overlooks the Mackenzie River. It follows the Gothic Revival style with simple but distinctive architectural features on the outside.

Construction of the building took place between 1865 and 1885 under the direction of the Oblate Fathers, a Catholic missionary organization. During this period, the church became a spiritual and community center for the people of the region.

The walls and ceiling inside display hand-painted decorations made by missionaries, reflecting the religious life of the local community. These works show how European church traditions took root in this northern settlement.

The church is an active place of worship with regular religious services and ceremonies that are part of the local community life. Visitors should remember that it is a functioning sanctuary and respectful behavior is expected.

A missionary named Father Émile Petitot worked at the mission station from 1864 to 1878 and contributed to the interior decoration of the church. At the same time, he conducted scholarly research on the language and culture of the local population.