Community members check in at the registration table as they arrive for Providence Village’s first Community Open House
Providence Village welcomed 115 community members to its first-ever Community Open House on Saturday, October 3, 2026.
The event invited members of the public to explore Providence Village, learn about the growing community of care taking shape on the 30-acre property, and meet some of the organizations that call the Village home.
Because Providence Motherhouse remains home to the Sisters of Providence of St. Vincent de Paul and construction continues across the property, Providence Village is not currently open to the general public on a daily basis. The Open House provided an opportunity to welcome the broader community into designated areas of the Village and share more about its continued growth.
More than 115 community members joined Providence Village for a community presentation in McKinley Hall
Welcoming the community
The morning began with a community presentation in McKinley Hall.
Providence Village President & CEO Laurie French welcomed guests before Sarah Brown Dunkley shared the Words Before All Else in Kanienʼkéha (Mohawk) and English to open the gathering in a good way and bring our minds together as one.
Guests also heard from Providence Village Board Chair Bhavana Varma; City Councillor Jeff McLaren, District Councillor for Meadowbrook-Strathcona; and Ining Chao, on behalf of MPP Ted Hsu.
During her presentation, Laurie shared the story of Providence Village, the progress underway today and the vision for its future.
Providence Village is a nonprofit hub and community of care that brings organizations together with a shared purpose: supporting the health, wellbeing and connection of people in our community.
The Village grew from the vision of the Sisters of Providence of St. Vincent de Paul, who imagined their home and surrounding property continuing their legacy of service by becoming a community hub where organizations could work together to serve others.
Today, Providence Village is home to 14 subtenant organizations providing care, support services, education and programming. As the Village continues to grow, additional spaces within the Motherhouse and across the property will gradually become available for mission-aligned organizations.
Laurie also shared updates on plans and work underway at the Village, including ecological planning, reconciliation, infrastructure improvements, parking and access, wayfinding, and the Providence Care’s Providence Manor long-term care home currently under construction.
Following the presentation, Christianne Wojcik, Board Chair of Kingston School of Art, shared about the organization’s experience as a Providence Village subtenant and reflected on the important connection between art, creativity and wellbeing.
Visitors connect with Kingston School of Art, one of the subtenant organizations that calls Providence Village home
Experiencing the Village
Following the presentation, guests explored designated areas of the Motherhouse and grounds and met participating subtenant organizations.
Information booths in the Auditorium gave visitors an opportunity to learn more about the programs, services and supports available through organizations at the Village, while participating subtenants also welcomed guests into their spaces.
We are grateful to everyone who joined us for our first Community Open House, to our subtenant partners for sharing their work, and to the Sisters, staff and volunteers who helped make the event possible.
Thank you for helping us celebrate this important milestone and for your continued interest in Providence Village.
Guests explore displays in the museum at Providence Village sharing the history and many ministries of the Sisters of Providence of St. Vincent de Paul