The Sisters of Providence of St. Vincent de Paul established the Justice and Peace office in September 1991, to advocate for justice and raise awareness of the root causes of injustice and poverty embedded in our social structures. In 2009, the Justice and Peace office was renamed the Justice, Peace and Integrity of Creation (JPIC) office and the focus expanded to include environmental and climate change issues.

The JPIC office worked on numerous social justice campaigns including campaigns for safe and affordable housing, for a higher minimum wage and safer working conditions in Ontario, for a living wage, for a basic income guarantee, ending poverty, and advocating for resilient food systems, including supporting Community Harvest Kingston and the Food Policy Council for Kingston, Frontenac, Lennox & Addington. The JPIC office worked collaboratively with many local organizations.

The JPIC office and other Kingstonians, held a Silent Vigil every Friday noon for twenty years in front of Kingston City Hall as an act of solidarity with people who live in poverty. The Silent Vigils were originally organized in response to Ontario Premier Mike Harris’ cuts to social services, and were held faithfully every Friday from 1995 to 2015.

When the Canadian Federal Government closed the prison farms in 2009, the JPIC office joined other Kingstonians to protest the closure, and were involved in the push for the reinstatement of the prison farms. The prison farms reopened in 2019.

The JPIC office actively promoted peacemaking by developing collaborative relationships with others.  The office worked to foster understanding amongst religions and build bridges in the Kingston community, including active engagement in the Kingston Interfaith Community.

The JPIC office initiated PeaceQuest in 2012 to start conversations about peace and war during the centenary of WWI. PeaceQuest, an independent organization, developed a national network and strove to shift how Canadians commemorate war to focus on peace. PeaceQuest continues with a focus on the PeaceQuest Leadership and Education initiative.

The JPIC office worked for climate justice at the community, municipal, provincial and federal levels. Activities and events, such as 350 Climate on the Line, were held in Kingston to raise awareness about conserving energy and lowering carbon emissions. The office focused on advocating for emissions reductions, transitioning away from a fossil fuel economy, advancing a green transition, supporting adaptations to a changing climate, engaging with Kingston’s citizens to collectively respond to the climate crisis with courage and dignity. The JPIC office worked collaboratively to advance these goals with local climate groups.

The Sisters of Providence of St. Vincent de Paul have been planning for the future of their ministries and in so doing worked with the Catholic Health Sponsors of Ontario to establish a new entity to carry on the work. The Sisters of Providence’s JPIC office closed in December 2021 and the work passed onto the new Providence Centre for Justice, Peace and Integrity of Creation of the Catholic Health Sponsors of Ontario (CHSO). 

Justice & Peace

Silent Vigil

From 1995 to 2015, the Sisters of Providence and other Kingstonians, held a silent vigil every Friday noon in front of Kingston City Hall as an act of solidarity with people who live in poverty.

Prison Farms

When the Canadian Federal Government closing the prison farms in 2009, the JPIC office joined other Kingstonians to protest the closure, and were involved in the push for the reinstatement of the prison farms. The prison farms reopened in 2019.

Community Harvest Market

Co-sponsored by the Sisters of Providence of St. Vincent de Paul from 2009 to 2020 the Community Harvest Market, situated in the north end of Kingston, was dedicated to making local healthy food more accessible, educating about healthy diets and building community.

General Justice & Peace Initiatives

The JPIC office has advocated for a fair minimum wage, a living wage, basic Income, ending poverty, food security, resilient food systems and engaged in activities promoting peace.

Integrity of Creation & Climate Change

350 (CO2 parts per million)

350 is the number that leading scientists say is the safe upper limit for carbon dioxide, measured in parts per million in our atmosphere. It’s the number humanity needs to avoid runaway climate change. The JPIC office organized and participated in events to raise awareness about this issue.

General Integrity of Creation Initiatives

The JPIC office worked for climate justice at the community, municipal, provincial and federal levels.