Previously located at Woodroffe and Carling (Woodroffe Temple Corps) for over 40 years, and before that on Parkdale Avenue (Parkdale Citadel Corps) from 1952-1969, in May 2009, The Salvation Army made the decision to move into the dynamic and growing south-Ottawa community of Barrhaven.

We currently offer community assistance and programming out of our ministry centre at 2201 Jockvale Road, and worship on Sundays at St. Andrew Catholic School. A new building is being constructed at 102 Bill Leathem Drive. Phase one of this building project is due to be completed by fall 2023. We continue to move forward with our Catch the Vision campaign to raise the final funds required to complete phases 2 and 3 of this facility.

History of The Salvation Army (Barrhaven/Woodroffe/Parkdale)

Divisional Commander Brigadier Rawling officially opened the Corps (church) on April 15, 1915. The Corps started as the Wellington Street Corps, although people sometimes referred to it as the Ottawa Number 3 Corps. The first building purchased and used for worship was an old movie theater known as the “Nickel Theater”, located at 127 Stirling Avenue just off Wellington Street.

The first officers were Captain Pace and Lieutenant Kitt. Lieutenant Kitt left soon after the Corps opened. Lieutenant Ransuff came to assist Captain Pace. Although many people became friends of the Army, some people remained hostile to it and as a result set fire to the old theater. While repairs to the building took place, the Army moved to an old store on Wellington Street.

Services returned to the old theater upon completion of the repairs. Some time later the Army moved the services back to the store on Wellington Street. The Salvation Army then secured another building on Wellington Street, which Divisional Commander Col. W. Bettridge officially dedicated on April 13, 1935.

In 1952, The Salvation Army bought a building on Parkdale Avenue and Chief Secretary Colonel Harewood officially opened the building on February 2, 1952. The Corps then became known as the Parkdale Citadel Corps.

In the spring of 1969, construction commenced on a new building at the corner of Fox Crescent and Woodroffe Avenue. While the construction took place, the Army held morning services at Woodroffe Public School and evening services at Woodroffe United Church. During the summer months, the Army held evening services outdoors at Carlingwood Mall. The cost of the building was $250,000. Territorial Commander Commissioner Wiseman officially opened and dedicated Woodroffe Temple.

In 1982, plans were underway for the expansion of Woodroffe Temple. The Corps had received $34,366 for the expansion. While construction took place, the Army held morning services at Woodroffe High School and evening services in the Y.P. Hall in Woodroffe Temple. In the summer months, the Army held services at Andrew Haydon Park. The expansion added the following areas to the church: the balcony in the sanctuary, a multi-purpose room on the first and second floors, a small lounge (later dedicated in memory of Shona Scott-Douglas), small kitchen, washrooms, and YPSM Office (Youth Pastor). Lt. Col. and Mrs. Edwin Brown officially re-opened and dedicated the renovated church on October 15, 1983.

A decision to relocate/plant a new church in 2009 to Barrhaven was made wanting the church to move to a fast and growing community. The planning and construction stages of the project took longer than expected, but Barrhaven Church has been a faithful part of the community for many years. The church operated out of an office space on Jockvale road and used St. Andrew School in Barrhaven as a worship space on Sundays. The new building was completed in the winter of 2024, and Barrhaven Church was expanded to Barrhaven Church and Community Centre. Although the soft opening was an exciting milestone, we look forward to the future as we continue to grow in this space and anticipate a formal Grand-Opening of our new building.