This community was founded in Montreal on December 31^st, 1737, by Saint Mother Marguerite d’Youville.

As early as 1918, Father Gravel had envisioned seeing the Grey Nuns open a hospital in Gravelbourg. January 1927, dates the beginning of what is to become St. Joseph’s Hospital. Bishop Marois and Dr. Francis Martial Lavoie were delegated to meet with the General Council of the Grey Nuns, in Montréal, in the hope of obtaining Sisters for the future hospital. Before the meeting took place with the General Council, the two messengers paid a visit to St. Joseph’s Oratory in search of guidance as well as a blessing on their request. The meeting was a success and it was decided that the hospital bear the name of St. Joseph as a sign of gratitude towards the saint.

On July 21^st, 1927 Gravelbourg welcomed the arrivals of Sister Albertine Duckette (Pépin) and Sister Georgiana Beaudoin (Dèspins). Upon their arrival in Gravelbourg, the Grey Nuns resided with the Sisters of Jesus and Mary until they were able to take housing in the basement of the present Co-Cathedral. These Sisters had as their mission to commence the construction of the hospital. Later on, joining them were Sister Superior Eva Lapierre, Sister Mélanie Nault and Sister St. Élisée. In April of 1928, the Sisters relocated their living quarters in the newly built hospital. St. Joseph’s Hospital’s official opening ceremony was on April 29^th, 1928, St. Joseph’s feast day. To ensure that the hospital would have qualified personnel, the Grey Nuns offered a three year nursing program.

On January 1^st, 1930, the hospital staff consisted of eight Sisters, fifteen nurses and ten other employees. Day and night, these Sisters would devote complete attention to the spiritual and bodily needs of their patients. As the years passed by, the hospital found itself in a precarious state. The Sisters had no choice but to cut costs just to stay operational. There was therefore no money for food, fuel or supplies. The generosity of the people of Gravelbourg was unsurpassed as they donated eggs, milk, meat and vegetables to feed the patients. In 1933, a women’s auxiliary was founded and named “Les Dames Patronesses de l’Hôpital” (presently called, St. Joseph’s Hospital/Foyer d’Youville Auxiliaries), to help the Grey Nuns with whatever tasks needed to be accomplished. They were also very actively involved in raising funds for the hospital. It is thanks to their generosity among many others that the hospital has pulled through hard times.

October 4^th, 1961 was the official opening of the Foyer d’Youville retirement home with a capacity of fifty beds.

With the fundraising of the community of Gravelbourg and its district along with the aid of the Grey Nuns and of the Saskatchewan Government, St. Joseph’s Hospital/Foyer d’Youville Board and Grey Nuns were able to commence the construction of the new hospital in 1994. The official opening ceremony of the modern and fully accredited St. Joseph’s Hospital/Foyer d’Youville integrated health care facility was on November 13^th, 1996.

On October 29^th, 2000 the Grey Nuns (Sisters of Charity) officially turned over the sponsorship of the St.Joseph’s Hospital/Foyer d’Youville to the Saskatchewan Catholic Health Corporation. Today, the remaining Sisters faithfully continue to provide pastoral care to the sick and the elderly.