When Ottawa closed its Lowertown cemeteries (Barracks Hill Cemetery: 1788-1844, and Sandy Hill Cemetery: 1844-1872), His Excellency Joseph Eugène Guigues, 1st Bishop of Ottawa (1848), purchased 50 acres of land from Mr. Bradley for the interment of Catholics. This land became known as Notre-Dame Cemetery. It is Ottawa's oldest and largest Catholic Cemetery. Under the direction of Canon Georges Bouillon, a notable diocesan priest-architect, the plans for the new cemetery began to take shape on October 2, 1870. Work continued in 1871, and on May 1st, 1872, the grounds were consecrated by Bishop Guigues in the presence of 8,000 faithful, and the cemetery was officially opened.
