Corktown in Toronto, Ontario — Central Canada (North America)

House of Providence

Photographed by Tim Boyd, May 3, 2025

1. House of Providence Marker

Inscription. Click to hear the inscription.

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.

Jadis un des plus grands centres de bienfaisance de la ville, la «House of Providence» (Maison de la Providence) a eu son emplacement près de ce site pendant plus de 100 ans. Elle fut créée par l'évêque catholique de Toronto, Armand-François-Marie de Charbonnel, pour venir en aide aux personnes extrêmement pauvres, dont de nombreux immigrants irlandais. Afin d'offrir toit et nourriture aux personnes les plus défavorisées, Mgr de Charbonnel obtint l'aide des Sisters of St. Joseph et fit appel à la générosité de la communauté avoisinante. La House of Providence, administrée par les religieuses, ouvrit ses

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portes en 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 largely 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.

Presque toujours pleine à craquer, la Maison finit par quadrupler sa taille afin d'accueillir 700 pensionnaires environ, dont des personnes âgées, des chômeurs, des orphelins, des veuves et de nouveaux arrivants au Canada. Certains y séjournaient quelques jours, d'autres des années. A sa porte, des repas quotidiens étaient offerts aux personnes affamées, particulièrement durant la Grande Crise des années 1930.

La House of Providence fut démolie en 1962 pour faire place à la sortie de la rue Richmond pour l'autoroute Don Valley. Elle était alors devenue un foyer pour personnes âgées surtout.

House of Providence Marker (2nd panel) image. Click for full size.

Photographed by Tim Boyd, May 3, 2025

2. House of Providence Marker (2nd panel)

Ses pensionnaires furent transférés au Providence Villa and Hospital, de nouvelles installations des Sisters of St. Joseph situées à l'angle des avenues St. Clair et Warden, connues aujourd'hui sous le nom de Providence Healthcare.

Erected 2007 by Heritage Toronto.

Topics and series. This historical marker is listed in these topic lists: Charity & Public Work • Immigration • Religion & Religious Structures. In addition, it is included in the Canada, Toronto Heritage series list. A significant historical year for this entry is 1857.

Location. 43° 39.329′ N, 79° 21.781′ W. Marker is in Toronto, Ontario. It is in Corktown. It is at the intersection of Power Street and Queen Street East, on the right when traveling north on Power Street. Touch for map. Marker is at or near this postal address: 83 Power St, Toronto ON M5A 3A8, Canada. Touch for directions.

Regionally, this marker is in Greater Toronto

and on the Golden Horseshoe.

It is also in Central Canada.

Globally, it is in North America,

the Western Hemisphere,

the Western World,

and the Anglosphere.

Historically, it finds itself in what was once a British colony,

the Viceroyalty of New France,

the Haudenosaunee (Iroquois) Confederacy,

and Rupert’s Land.

Other nearby markers. At least 8 other markers are within walking distance of this marker: St. Paul’s Basilica (a few steps from this marker); 461 King Street East (about 240 meters away, measured in a direct line); Little Trinity Church (approx. 0.3 kilometers away); 403 King Street E. (approx. 0.3 kilometers away); Enoch Turner Schoolhouse / École Enoch Turner (approx. 0.3 kilometers away); 55-79 Berkeley Street

House of Providence Markers image. Click for full size.

Photographed by Tim Boyd, May 3, 2025

3. House of Providence Markers

(approx. 0.3 kilometers away); Dominion Square (approx. 0.3 kilometers away); Berkeley Street Firehall No. 4 (approx. 0.3 kilometers away). Touch for a list and map of all markers in Toronto.

More about this marker. This marker consists of two adjacent panels

House of Providence marker (left) photos and captions detail image. Click for full size.

Photographed by Tim Boyd, May 3, 2025

4. House of Providence marker (left) photos and captions detail

House of Providence marker (2nd panel) photos and captions detail image. Click for full size.

Photographed by Tim Boyd, May 3, 2025

5. House of Providence marker (2nd panel) photos and captions detail

St. Paul’s Basilica, 2025 image. Click for full size.

Photographed by Tim Boyd, May 3, 2025

6. St. Paul’s Basilica, 2025

The House of Providence had been located just to the right of the church

Credits. This page was last revised on May 18, 2025. It was originally submitted on May 6, 2025, by Tim Boyd of Hamilton, Ontario. This page has been viewed 179 times since then and 50 times this year. Photos: 1, 2, 3, 4, 5, 6. submitted on May 6, 2025, by Tim Boyd of Hamilton, Ontario. • Devry Becker Jones was the editor who published this page.