lady of Perpetual Help Parish who volunteered for active service with Canada's fighting forces during World War II. The Church was elevated to Basilica status on St. Patrick's Day, 1995. Architecture The building is made of local stone in the Gothic Revival style and features a carved and stencilled ceiling, marble altars, stained glass windows, and oak pews dating to 1954. The base of the current Altar of Sacrifice was originally the site of the raised marble pulpit. This latter was originally installed in 1930 and relocated slightly in an interior renovation of 2003. The Altar of Reservation was built in 1902. To the right of the altar is a beautiful replica of Murillo's Assumption of the Virgin Mary, hand painted by Québec nuns in 1929. The ceiling, most of the murals, and some of the stained glass windows are the work of Guido Nincheri from the 1920s and 1930s. The Stations of the Cross are bas-reliefs from 1876. The church seats about 1,000. At the main entrance to the church are the World War I and World War II memorials listing the names of parishioners who died in those wars. In 1998 the basement of the church was excavated to form a basement (called the Scavi) containing a kitchen, meeting rooms, the Book Shop, and a Lourdes Grotto. The large area around the Lourdes Grotto is about two-thirds the size of the main church, and is used for Mass on occasions when the main church is unavailable. Restoration In 2009, the Basilica won the North American Copper in Architecture Awards (NACIA) in the Historical Restoration division. Engineering consultant John G. Cooke of John G. Cooke & Associates collaborated with building contracting firm Lari Construction to repair, replace and repoint stones, install anchors, and install a new copper roof. Heather & Little furnished the structure with a new copper steeple, copper cornice and dentil bands, belfry louvers, ornaments, and the stunning 20-oz copper ceiling of the spire. Work was done following the Canadian Federal Government publication Standards and Guidelines for the Conservation of Historic Places in Canada. Parish life St. Patrick's Basilica has a number of social and devotional groups for parishioners: Knights of Columbus Legion of Mary Christian Meditation Group Traditional Franciscan Third Order Women of Grace Anti-abortion Group Regular devotional events include: Parish Missions Monthly all-night Vigils of Eucharistic Adoration The Basilica offers masses, confessions, daily holy hours