Overview & facts at a glance

Providence Health Care, located in Vancouver, Canada, is one of the country’s largest Catholic health care organizations. We were founded in 1894 when the Sisters of Providence came to Vancouver and opened St. Paul’s Hospital in Vancouver’s West End.

We have undergone many changes in our history, but we continue to be driven by compassion and social justice, remaining at the forefront of exceptional care and innovation. Throughout our journey, we have been deeply committed to the process of Truth and Reconciliation with Indigenous Peoples, striving to embed this commitment in everything we do. This means we prioritize the needs and cultural safety of Indigenous patients and residents above all else.

To gain a deeper understanding of our transformative journey and milestones over the past 130 years, we invite you to explore our comprehensive timeline. Download our PDF timeline and witness firsthand how our dedication to social justice and innovation has evolved, reflecting our unwavering commitment to the communities we serve.

Our guiding principle continues to be: How you want to be treated. It’s a double-entendre that means both health care treatment and also treatment, as in positive human interactions including interactions with patients, families and residents, and also daily interactions with each other in the workplace. It of course refers to the “golden rule” which is a moral principle across cultures and religions that means that you should treat others the way you want to be treated yourself. Specifically, given our faith-based roots, “How you want to be treated” is a reference to the words expressed by Christ during his Sermon on the Mount "So always treat others as you would like them to treat you; that is the meaning of the Law and the Prophets." (Matthew 7:12).

While often challenging, this principle serves two purposes. The first is that it sets the bar high for everything we do. It’s a statement that challenges us every day to treat people in the way we would all want to be treated — in a health care setting and in the workplace. The second purpose is that it provides an opening for our co-workers as well as patients, residents and their families when we don’t meet that bar. It can start conversations that lead to meaningful improvement and learning opportunities. Which is also the circle of knowledge and growth that is the hallmark of Providence.

In our visual brand, a shaded blue area joins the lotus to form a circle. The circle is a universal symbol of inclusion and belonging for all people regardless of identity, race, religion, social or health status.

The circle is also a fitting metaphor for the patient and family-centred care we prioritize as well as the 360 degree innovation environment we nurture.

With respect, we also acknowledge the importance of the circle in the cultural and healing traditions of the Host Nations on whose land we work, live, learn and heal. This logo serves as a daily prompt to all of us at Providence Health Care to act on our commitment to Truth and Reconciliation with Indigenous Peoples.

Finally, the blue sky and the flower below it, remind us that we must respect the environment and of our commitment to stewardship that protects and conserves our planet.

We are guided by our seven year strategic plan, Mission Forward. We are also planning and developing the new St. Paul’s Hospital which will offer people living in B.C. the best possible place for treatment and healing.