Kingston Health Sciences Centre (KHSC) recently hosted a special celebration to mark the 180th anniversary of its Hotel Dieu Hospital (HDH) site.
KHSC staff, physicians and special guests - including the Religious Hospitallers of St. Joseph (RHSJ) - gathered for a commemorative mass in the HDH chapel to honour the milestone.
The event paid tribute to the founding of Hotel Dieu in 1845, when the Religious Hospitallers of St. Joseph opened Kingston’s first Catholic hospital. Guided by values of compassion, service and dignity, the Sisters established a legacy of care that continues to shape KHSC today.
The anniversary highlighted the deep personal and professional connections many members of the community have with the HDH site, recognizing it as a place of vision, compassion and commitment to the community. The anniversary is not only a time to reflect on HDH’s history, but also a living reminder of the founder’s original mission. Values such as respect, care for the vulnerable, and commitment to human dignity remain as relevant today as they were 180 years ago.
Looking ahead, KHSC continues to carry forward the legacy of Hotel Dieu while building upon its foundation as an academic health sciences centre. Compassionate, community-focused care is now complemented by education, research and innovation, ensuring that future generations will benefit from the same spirit of service that inspired the hospital’s founders.
