On September 2, 1845, Mother Amable Bourbonnière along with Sisters Huguette Claire Latour, Emilie Barbarie, and Louise Davignon, accompanied by their benefactress, Miss Joséphine Perras and Mr. Laframboise, a friend of the community, arrived in Kingston.

They stayed with the Kingston Notre Dame Sisters for two days, and then moved into their hospital, located in a small limestone building, now 229 Brock Street, on September 4, 1845.

In addition to ill and dying patients, Hotel Dieu cared for 100 orphaned children who had lost their parents.

[citation needed] The hospital's Urgent Care Centre is meant for people with injuries or illnesses that are non-life-threatening.

All patients who are ambulatory and who are experiencing minor illness or injuries that cannot wait for a family doctor are directed to attend this clinic.

Training, which was initially provided by nursing Sisters and doctors at the hospital, ended with the graduate earning a three-year diploma.