The last time Ontario had a total solar eclipse, like the one we are expecting this year on April 8th, was on January 24th, 1925. In 1925 Kingston was not on the path of totality, but was expecting to see a 97% partial eclipse. Excitement was high across Ontario, as...
February 29th only occurs once every 4 years, which makes it feel like a special day. Let’s look back at what the Sisters of Providence were doing on a few past Leap Days via excerpts from the Congregational Annals: 1888, February 29On February 29th two large gongs...
You may have noticed the display of full size cut-out Sisters in habits in the Display window that faces the auditorium hallway, beside the Heritage Room. These three photographs were picked because the quality was good enough to be scaled up to a large degree, and...
Sr. Mary Electa in the original Heritage Room in the 1970s, in the basement of the 1932 wing.Sister Mary Electa established and set up the Heritage Room, a congregational museum, in 1971, as part of her role as General Secretary. This museum was located on the ground...
BY VERONICA STIENBURG, ARCHIVIST The Sisters of Providence of St. Vincent de Paul held their final Chapter recently. What is Chapter? Chapter is a collegial body representing the entire congregation and when in session constitutes the highest authority within the...
Garage in June 2023. BY VERONICA STIENBURG, ARCHIVIST The garage was demolished in September, but it served the Motherhouse well for almost 60 years. A large garage, including living quarters for employees, had been built on the Motherhouse property in 1951;...
BY VERONICA STIENBURG, ARCHIVIST The Barn on Providence Motherhouse property has more of a history than you might think. We aren’t sure how old it is, but it was on the property when the Sisters purchased Heathfield in 1930; although, it was in a slightly different...
BY VERONICA STIENBURG, ARCHIVIST The Labyrinth in the back field of Providence Motherhouse has returned to nature, but for a time it was an important prayer space used by sisters and retreatants at Providence Spirituality Centre. It was planned by a committee of...
BY VERONICA STIENBURG, ARCHIVIST The original wing of the building, known as the 1932 wing, was designed by Architect Colin Drever and the contractor was Angus Robertson of Montreal. This is a photograph of the workmen, hired by Angus Robertson, who actually built the...
BY VERONICA STIENBURG, ARCHIVIST In June 1930 the Sisters of Providence purchased Heathfield, an approximately 30 acre property just outside the western limits of the city of Kingston, from Mr. H. Jennings. The property was surveyed on September 25th, 1930 and the...
