138, rue Saint-Pierre

In Old Montreal, you’ll find Place d’Youville and the historic Maison Mère d’Youville (House of Mother Youville). Born Marie-Marguerite Dufrost de Lajemmerais, she became a widow at a young age, having already endured the loss of her father, husband, and four of her six children. These early hardships shaped her deep faith and compassion for others, ultimately driving her to dedicate her life to charitable work.

With the support of a group of women, Marguerite founded the Sisters of Charity of Montreal, more commonly known as the Grey Nuns—a nickname they embraced even after gaining recognition. In 1747, the order took over the General Hospital, which had been operated by the Charron Brothers since 1693. At the time, the hospital was in poor condition, and under the Brothers’ management, only men were allowed entry. Mother d’Youville changed that, opening the doors to all in need, which earned the site the affectionate name Maison Mère d’Youville.

Part of the hospital grounds was eventually used to build the Ste-Anne Market, giving the surrounding area its current name, Place d’Youville. In 1765, a major fire destroyed the hospital, but it was promptly rebuilt on its original foundations. The hospital continued to operate under the Grey Nuns until 1871, well after Marguerite d’Youville’s death in 1771.

Today, the former hospital on Saint-Pierre Street is preserved as Maison Mère d’Youville, a reminder of the strength and compassion that defined the space. The building hosted an exhibition on Marguerite d’Youville and her legacy of welcoming those in distress. Her extraordinary service to the poor earned her lasting recognition—she became the first Canadian-born woman to be canonized, and both her surviving sons became priests. The standing walls also include remnants of the original chapel built in the early 1700s, once integral to the hospital’s spiritual life.

Since 2010, Sainte Marguerite d’Youville has been laid to rest at the Basilica of Sainte-Anne in Varennes, her birthplace. Across the street from the Maison, land once owned by the Grey Nuns was leased to the Bouthillier family, who constructed warehouses between 1827 and 1861. These buildings, later known as the Bouthillier Warehouse or Youville Stables, remained under the Sisters’ ownership until 1967. Today, the restored U-shaped structure houses offices and the well-known Gibby’s steakhouse, offering guests a unique experience in a historic setting.

Currently, the Maison Mère d’Youville is closed to the public for conservation work. However, visitors can still enjoy a self-guided outdoor tour with the help of a brochure available near the entrance.

Note: Across the street, the land was also owned by the Grey Nuns but rented to Bouthillier for a while. Bouthillier built infrastructures for warehousing which were used from 1827 to 1861.  The place was also used by a few tenants and was owned by the Sisters until 1967.  The U-shaped building, with an interior courtyard, is known as the Bouthillier Warehouse or the Youville Stables. However, now, the three warehouses have been converted into business offices and a restaurant. It is the respectable steakhouse restaurant, Gibby’s, that welcomes guests to this historical building.

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