It was built in 1948 as the Beit Knesset Israel (in Hebrew) or Kneseth Israel Congregation (in English) by the Rouyn-Noranda Hebrew Congregation.

A first wooden synagogue was built in 1932 before the same place.

The synagogue closed as a place of Jewish worship in 1972 and was sold in 1973.

[1] The first Jew to live in Rouyn-Noranda was Louis Scott, who stood on the edge of Osisko Lake.

[2] However, Mr. and Mrs. D. Caplan are actually the first to be cited at the opening of the second synagogue in 1949.