The New Hotel Dieu Hospital

Regiopolis College opened in 1842 offering classes in philosophy, theology, mathematics, modern languages, and business, eventually earning degree-granting status as a university in 1866. Throughout its early history, however, the school struggled financially.

The College closed following the graduation exercises on June 23, 1869. The building was used by the Sisters of Providence of St. Vincent de Paul in 1871 as a temporary monastery, orphanage, and home for the aged as the House of Providence was under construction and then it was used by the Provincial Department of Asylums who rented the building for a five-year term in the 1880s.

Archbishop James Cleary wished to sell or lease the property in order to finance the reopening of Regiopolis College at another location in late 1890 he was determined that the Religious Hospitallers of St. Joseph would use the building for their new hospital.

Lease between Regiopolis College and the Sisters of the Hotel Dieu, Kingston (1 September 1892).

The Archbishop first proposed the idea of the RHSJs taking over the College building in September 1890 but the Sisters were not keen on the idea as they had some vacant property near the water which they thought would be ideal to build a new hospital and monastery. The Archbishop was quite insistent, even offering to pay for the building of a new chapel on the College site.

When they were finally able to tour the property in February 1891, they were “agreeably surprised and more than pleased” with the building, stating “it was magnificent” and they began to make arrangements to take over the College and transform in into a modern hospital.

In February 1892 a preliminary agreement was drawn up between the College’s Board of Trustees and the Religious Hospitallers of St. Joseph and by April work had begun renovating the building. On September 1^st both parties signed a lease on the property.

Earliest known photograph of the "new" Hotel Dieu Hospital

Local architect William Newlands was contracted in March 1892 to oversee the renovations and contractors were engaged in April to begin the work. The entire building was altered, including the creation of a new entranceway in the western exterior wall facing Sydenham Street that featured a two-story portico.

The renovations were completed in December 1892, with the patients being transferred a few days before Christmas. A reporter with the Canadian Freeman described the new Hotel Dieu as “the most commodious and modernized hospitals that can be found on the continent.”

The new hospital could accommodate upwards of 150 patients, more than tripling the 40 who could have been tended in the Brock Street buildings, and the adjoining property allowed for future growth.

St. Joseph's Chapel, Hotel Dieu Hospital, Kingston

True to his word, the Archbishop paid for the construction of a chapel for the Sisters at the back of the college building, laying the cornerstone on May 30^th 1894. The first mass was celebrated by Archbishop Cleary on March 1^st, 1895.