House of Providence

Photos by Alan L Brown - Posted May, 2008

Photo Source - Toronto Public Library

Here, just south of St. Paul's Basilica, which is located at the corner of Queen Street East and Power Street, are two 2007 Heritage Toronto plaques that tell us about a house of charity. Here's what they say:

Plaque coordinates: 43.655391 -79.362960

Once one of the city's largest centres of charity, the House of Providence stood nearby for over 100 years. It was initiated by Toronto's Roman Catholic Bishop, Armand-François-Marie de Charbonnel, in response to the plight of the desperately poor, including many Irish immigrants. To provide shelter and food for those most in need, de Charbonnel enlisted both the help of the Sisters of St. Joseph and the generosity of the surrounding community. Operated by the Sisters, the House of Providence opened in 1857.

Nearly always filled to capacity, the House of Providence would eventually quadruple in size to provide for about 700 residents, including the elderly, the unemployed, orphans, widows, and newcomers to Canada. Some stayed only a few days; others, for years. At its doors, daily meals were given out to the hungry, particularly during the Great Depression of the 1930s.

The House of Providence was demolished in 1962 to make way for the Richmond Street exit from the Don Valley Parkway. It was by then a home for the aged, and its residents moved with the sisters of St. Joseph to Providence Villa and Hospital, a new facility located at St. Clair and Warden Avenues, and known today as Providence Healthcare.

Related Ontario plaque
Wellington County House of Industry and Refuge

More
Institutional buildings

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Posted January 31, 2011
I'm wasn't even born when it was demolished. It shocks me that a building like that was torn down in favour of street! I'm truly shocked that people would go and do that.

Posted November 30, 2010
I used to go to the House of Providence with my grandmother Maud Whibbs & parents when I was a little girl in the 1950's. We would go to visit Sister St. Lucien who not only taught my mother, but also taught me in grade one at St. Paul's RC School. My grandfather who was deceased 3 years before I was born, was from Indian River down by Peterborough. His family had a blacksmith business there. His parents were from County Cork, Ireland & they came from Ireland to the Peterborough area around 1832. My grandfather George Whibbs owned his own barber shop at 160 King St. Toronto. I lived with my grandmother & parents at 35 Seaton St. I sure wish her house was still there, but it was demolished decades ago in favor or a big apartment building.
Mostly sincerely, Sue C.

Posted April 24, 2010
There used to be a Boys' Orphanage across the street from the Providence Villa. I know that houses now exist on the property. At one point, Providence Villa owned all the land from Eglinton down to the Danforth, From Warden to just where Heron Dr, and the Jewish Cemetery are. My mother lived at Presley Ave and St. Clair E, right on the corner, and she used to raid their apple trees. My mother used to go visit with the people at the house over the street, just in front of the Orphanage. The man that lived there with his wife and son, used to do the maintenance on the grounds of both Providence Villa and the orphanage. I wonder how many boys remember the place, or want to.
Old Scarborough Resident.

Posted April 10, 2009
I worked at Providence Healthcare that is now located at Warden and St.Clair Ave East in Scarborough On, It truly is a great place with friendly and caring staff

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