Editor’s note: I hope to continue to share my writing, though most of my time/energy is spent at Kingstonist. As such, I will be publishing some of my articles here after some time has elapsed from the original publication date. This piece was published on Kingstonist in June 2025.
Anyone who has spent significant time in the Kingston area will likely be familiar with the word “providence.” From the health-care organization Providence Care to the growing Providence Village in the city centre, the word is seen and used repeatedly in the Limestone City.
To help readers understand the interconnectedness of these organizations, we must go back to 1861, when the Sisters of Providence of St. Vincent de Paul were founded in Kingston to care for the needs of the poor.
Merriam-Webster defines providence as “divine guidance or care,” which aptly describes the local order.
“We are called to be channels of God’s Providence in the world through compassionate service in response to the needs of the times. In accordance with our mission statement, we seek to empower others, especially the poor and oppressed, to achieve a quality of life in keeping with their human dignity,” the Sisters state on their website.
The Sisters of Providence of St. Vincent de Paul originally resided in what is now known as Providence Manor, the limestone building in the block bordered by Montreal, Sydenham, Ordnance and Bay Streets. According to the Sisters, by 1910, the building was reportedly “crowded with Sisters and their charges” and consequently, the St. Mary’s of the Lake property on Union Street was purchased to house an orphanage and a novitiate, where the novice Sisters would reside.
On its website, the Sisters explain that, by 1930, the congregation had outgrown both sites and needed new quarters for their novitiate and administration. The Sisters purchased Heathfield, a 30-acre property just outside the then western limits of the city. At the time, the only building on the property was a two-storey cottage-style villa, previously owned by Charles Heath.
Construction of the building known as the Providence Motherhouse on the Heathfield property was completed in 1932. Built of limestone quarried in the Kingston area, it was officially opened on July 6, 1932, and housed the novitiate and general administration of the congregation, according to the Sisters of Providence website. At that time, there was no sign of the beautiful landscaping now associated with the building; the “1932 wing,” as it is now called, stood in the middle of a hayfield.
A Motherhouse is the central residence and administrative home of a religious congregation. It’s where Sisters live, gather, worship, and carry out their communal and spiritual life. Not all Sisters in an order live in the Motherhouse — Sisters of Providence members live in the community in the Kingston area, as well as in Toronto, Edmonton, and Peru.
At its height in 1961, the Sisters of Providence had close to 400 members in the congregation, though most did not reside in the Motherhouse.
“The most Sisters ever living in the Motherhouse at one time was just over 100, during the early 1970s. Like many religious communities, their numbers have declined in recent decades, prompting long-term planning to ensure their mission continues in new ways — most notably through the creation of Providence Village,” Veronica Stienburg, Archivist for the Sisters of Providence, shared with Kingstonist.
Of the 42 Sisters of Providence of St. Vincent de Paul who remain in the congregation, 29 reside at Heathfield, which is located at 1200 Princess Street.
“In addition to the Sisters of Providence, the Motherhouse is also home to 20 members of two other religious orders: 10 from the Religious Hospitallers of St. Joseph and 10 from the Congregation of Notre Dame. In total, 49 Sisters from these three congregations currently live at the Motherhouse,” Stienburg detailed.
Recognizing that their numbers were declining and their members aging — and knowing they could not carry on their work as they had before — the Sisters began in 2011 to discern a legacy plan.
“While many congregations in similar situations chose to sell their assets and donate the proceeds, the Sisters of Providence of St. Vincent de Paul envisioned something more enduring, a way to continue their mission of serving the community,” Cory Angeletti-Szasz, Communications Consultant for Providence Village, told Kingstonist in an email.
“That vision became Providence Village. To bring it to life, they transferred ownership of the Providence Motherhouse and surrounding 30-acre property to the Catholic Congregational Legacy Charity (CCLC) in 2019, with the ultimate goal of creating a vibrant hub for mission-aligned organizations serving community needs.”
Angeletti-Szasz explained that Providence Village was incorporated in 2017 as a not-for-profit charitable organization, and, in 2024, operational responsibility for the Providence Motherhouse officially transferred to Providence Village, including care for the Sisters who live there.
“Two dedicated infirmary units — similar to a private long-term care home — are operated within the Motherhouse to support the Sisters in their aging journey,” she stated.
Laurie French, President and Chief Executive Officer (CEO) of Providence Village, shared that bringing this project to life is unlike anything she has ever worked on.
“It’s part community hub, part legacy project, and part startup. There’s no existing blueprint for what we’re building here,” she said.
“We’re constantly adapting — whether it’s navigating the complexities of a historic site, a unique sublease model, or ensuring alignment with our Catholic sponsorship. That challenge pushes us to be more creative, more collaborative, and more responsive to the needs of our subtenants and the community. Everything we do is grounded in the Sisters’ vision for the Village: a place of hope, belonging and well-being. Their legacy of compassionate care and service in our community is what drives us every day.”
French detailed that her role as President and CEO is to work closely with the staff and Board of Directors as they help translate the vision of Providence Village into reality.
“That means everything from supporting our subtenants and building partnerships, to overseeing day-to-day operations and long-term planning. I also have the privilege of overseeing the care and needs of the Sisters of Providence who still live in the Motherhouse. It’s an honour to support them in this next chapter, while continuing to build a Village that reflects their values and legacy. At the end of the day, my focus is on creating the conditions that allow mission-aligned organizations to thrive — whether through space, support, or connection — and ensuring the Village serves the community in meaningful ways.”
The Providence Motherhouse spans over 165,000 square feet. Approximately 90,000 square feet of that space is currently available for Village use, and the Village is populating that space with local health and wellness organizations that fit their vision of compassionate service and care. Current subtenants include the Alzheimer’s Society, H’art Centre, the Arthritis Society, Bereaved Families of Ontario – Kingston, and Girls Inc. Limestone.
“As the Sisters’ space needs change, portions of the building are formally ‘surrendered’ to Providence Village for repurposing. These spaces are used for Village operations and are also subleased to mission-aligned partner organizations,” said Steacy Oliver, Director of Facilities Management & Strategic Projects for Providence Village.
“In addition to subtenant spaces, select areas within the Motherhouse are available for public use through a Community Use Room Booking program. These include McKinley Hall, the Auditorium, and meeting rooms — creating new opportunities for community groups, service providers, and local events to be hosted within the Village.”
Angeletti-Szasz added that, at its core, Providence Village is a campus of care and community.
“We’re a landlord — but with a mission. We bring together organizations whose work supports individuals and families across the lifespan, creating a collaborative environment where people can access multiple supports in one place,” she explained.
“We’re strategic in how we’re building the Village. Partners must be mission-driven and values-aligned, ideally working in health, wellness, community or social services. The goal is to build an ecosystem of support that reflects the diversity of community needs and continues to serve people in our region, just as the Sisters have always done.”
The Village prioritizes not-for-profit partners, but “we are open to considering for-profit services that align with our goals (e.g., a community pharmacy or wellness clinic),” Angeletti-Szasz detailed.
“All partners must operate in a way that aligns with our Catholic sponsorship and the Health Ethics Guide of the Catholic Health Alliance of Canada.”
According to Oliver, tenants who move into the Providence Motherhouse gain “much more than physical space.” She outlined that the environment is supportive and designed to foster connection among like-minded organizations.
“Located centrally with parking and green space, the site offers access to shared amenities like meeting rooms, event spaces, and common areas that encourage partnership and integrated care. Subtenants also benefit from below-market rents through our cost-recovery model, allowing them to direct more of their resources toward programs and services,” Oliver noted.
“It’s a unique setting that enables organizations to thrive while contributing to a larger vision of community wellness.”
She also shared that some areas of the Motherhouse remain reserved exclusively for the Sisters, ensuring they continue to have a safe and supportive home as long as needed.
The previously naturalized property at 1200 Princess Street is now the site of a massive construction project. A new Providence Manor long-term care home run by Providence Care is being built there to replace the aging downtown Providence Manor.
Providence Care was founded by the Sisters of Providence of St. Vincent de Paul more than 160 years ago.
“Their legacy continues to shape who we are today,” said Krista Wells-Pearce, Providence Care’s Vice President, Corporate Services and Executive Director, Hospice.
“The Sisters arrived in Kingston… with a mission to care for the city’s most vulnerable populations. They established a long tradition of compassionate service, which led to the creation of health-care institutions that would evolve into Providence Care as we know it today.”
Providence Care continues to illustrate that tradition and legacy by using the word Providence throughout their organization.
“We are proud to carry forward the values of our Founders through our services at Providence Care Hospital, Providence Transitional Care Centre, Providence Manor long-term care home, Providence Care Hospice, and more than 20 community-based programs that serve aging adults, mental health recovery, addiction, brain injury, etc.,” Wells-Pearce said.
The new Providence Manor will be considered a tenant at Providence Village. As Wells-Pearce explained, Providence Care was invited to take part in the “visioning process” for what would eventually become Providence Village.
“At the time, redeveloping Providence Manor was already a key priority for Providence Care, and the new site proved to be a suitable fit for relocation. The Sisters later generously offered the land for the project. While we have a formal lease agreement, Providence Village considers us their ‘anchor tenant’ — much like a key store in a shopping mall — playing a vital role in bringing the broader vision of the Village to life.”
A land lease agreement is in place for the new Providence Manor building.
“Providence Care pays what’s known as a nominal rent for the land Providence Manor sits on. It’s a symbolic amount, often just a dollar a year. It’s really a legal formality to establish the lease agreement,” said Wells-Pearce.
“In practical terms, Providence Manor operates rent-free, thanks to the generosity of the Sisters of Providence of St. Vincent de Paul, who made the land available for the redevelopment.”
Providence Care also operates the newly opened AB Smith Homestead House, a hospice facility located behind the Motherhouse on the Heathfield property. For that space, Providence Care pays an annual rent of approximately $15,000.
“It’s a modest amount, but it does represent a real cost that must be covered through fundraising efforts. So, while both buildings are part of Providence Village, the financial arrangements are unique,” Wells-Pearce noted.
As for those inside the Motherhouse, Oliver said that while there are currently seven subtenants in the building, the Village expects to welcome four more over the summer of 2025.
“As Providence Village continues to expand and evolve, we will increase the number of partners and subtenants — both as more space within the Motherhouse is surrendered for Village use (as the Sisters’ space needs change), and as we pursue new partnerships for land leases and future capital developments. With two additional lots available for development, there is strong potential for more mission-aligned organizations to join the Village and help grow this community of care,” Oliver stated.
The list of current partners is available here: providencevillage.ca/partners.
When asked what long-term goals or visions are in place for the Village, Angeletti-Szasz said they envision a vibrant, multi-generational campus of care that truly belongs to the community — a place where individuals and families come not just for services, but to find hope, connection, belonging and well-being.
“In 10–20 years, we hope Providence Village will be known across the region as a welcoming community that carries forward the legacy of the Sisters of Providence, rooted in compassionate care, inclusion and collaboration,” she said.
Considering the rapid changes reshaping the landscape of the Heathfield property, I inquired about how much green space will be conserved or redeveloped as the Village continues to grow.
“In keeping with the Sisters’ longstanding commitment to environmental stewardship, Providence Village is preserving that legacy as the campus grows,” Oliver said.
With undeveloped lots in the south and east areas of the property, Providence Village confirmed that housing is an area they are “actively exploring.”
“Approximately 30 per cent of the property will remain as dedicated green space, and we are actively investing in reforestation and regreening efforts. While development continues, our goal is to ensure that the Village not only grows in service to people — but does so sustainably, with nature in mind.”
“We see strong potential for a capital housing project on the property — whether that be low-income, transitional, or supportive housing. We are in the early stages of seeking partners and exploring opportunities,” Angeletti-Szasz shared.
“Over time, there may also be the potential to repurpose areas within the Motherhouse — such as former bedroom wings used by the Sisters — for housing.”
To learn more about Providence Village, visit their website. The Construction page of the site also provides updates on the construction projects taking place on the Heathfield property.
