In Jeff Leiper We Trust

Published 09/13/2025 · Updated 09/13/2025

Praise the Lord and pass the votes.

There’s Kitchissippi Councillor Jeff Leiper photographed in front of Eglise Saint Francois-d’Assise in Hintonburg.

The city is moving forward with giving a heritage designation to that church and the east end Eglise Saint-Joseph d’Orleans. Leiper is pictured and quoted extensively in the Ottawa Citizen story, it appears, because he is the councillor for the church. Leiper is also running for mayor.

The good news is that he is not throwing a traffic safety cone like Beacon Hill Cyrville Councillor Tim Tierney did recently in a posed Citizen photo. Things are looking up.

Except … well … oops, there’s another very important religious structure, already with a heritage designation, that is being allowed to molder in his ward. Leiper has had 12 years to stop the crumbling of Les Soeurs de la Visitation in Westboro. There’s also land behind the convent that could make a good park for all those nearby high-rise dwellers crammed in his ward courtesy of his chairmanship of the city planning committee.

Lard leapin’ Leiper, where’s the justice in that?

Before voters get all sweaty about Leiper’s religious bona fides, spare a thought and maybe a little prayer for Les Soeurs de la Visitation. Perhaps even a pause for convent’s stewardship.

And Leiper? He should be forgiven for his sins.

Ken Gray