Quieter times: No historical wait time data is available for this location. Generally, early weekday mornings tend to be quieter at most emergency departments. If your condition is non-urgent, consider whether a walk-in clinic or your family physician may be more appropriate.
Busier times: No historical wait time data is available for this location. As with most urban ERs, evenings, weekends, and holidays typically see higher volumes. The ER is best reserved for acute and urgent conditions rather than chronic or non-emergency symptoms.
Hôpital Montfort Hospital's Emergency Department in Ottawa operates 24/7 and welcomes all patients regardless of age or place of residence, seeing over 50,000 visits each year. As Ottawa's only French-language academic hospital and a designated Group A teaching hospital, Montfort provides a high level of acute and urgent care including a dedicated Psychiatric Emergency Zone (PEZ) with round-the-clock crisis nursing. The hospital serves over 1.2 million residents across Eastern Ontario and the Gatineau region of Quebec, offering a broad range of specialist services on site.
Services & Specialties
24/7 Emergency Department, Psychiatric Emergency Zone (PEZ) with 24/7 crisis nursing, Intensive Care Unit (ICU), Surgery and surgical ward, Family Birthing Centre, Cardiopulmonary services and rehabilitation, Orthopedics, Mental health program and psychiatry, Nuclear medicine, Sleep laboratory, Diabetes Clinic, Pediatric ambulatory clinic, Breast health clinic, Specialist medicine, Canadian Forces dedicated treatment facility, Telehealth and virtual appointments.
The Emergency Department entrance is separate from the main hospital building — you cannot access the ER from inside the main building, so follow signage carefully upon arrival.
If you are a Quebec resident requiring specialist follow-up, note that Montfort's emergency physicians cannot coordinate follow-up care through Quebec's health insurance board; plan to see your family doctor or a Quebec walk-in clinic afterward.
For mental health crises, Montfort has a dedicated Psychiatric Emergency Zone (PEZ) with 24/7 crisis nursing — do not hesitate to present to the ER for urgent mental health needs.
The hospital is bilingual, offering full services in both French and English, though primarily a Francophone institution — English-speaking patients are welcome and served.
Use the HonkMobile app for convenient parking payment in lots I and J if you expect to stay under 2 hours, or purchase a day pass for longer visits.
What to Bring
Ontario health card (OHIP) or provincial health insurance card
Government-issued photo ID
List of current medications and dosages
List of known allergies
Any relevant medical records or recent test results
Insurance information if applicable
Emergency contact information
Comfort items for potential wait times (phone charger, snacks, water)
Parking
Visitor parking lots B, M, I, and J are open 24/7. Rates: ½ hour – $4.00; full day (single exit) – $15.00; 24-hour multi-visit pass – $19.00. Lots I and J accept the HonkMobile app at $1/10 minutes (max 2 hours, plus $0.35 transaction fee). Frequent visitors can purchase an HPASS for unlimited in-and-out privileges per 24-hour period. Accessible parking spaces are available on site. Parking revenues support the Montfort Foundation.
Getting There
OC Transpo routes 12, 15, 20, 25, and 27 stop near the hospital. The facility is also accessible by bicycle.
Frequently Asked Questions
Is Hôpital Montfort's Emergency Department open 24/7?
Yes, the Emergency Department at Hôpital Montfort is open 24 hours a day, 7 days a week, and accepts all patients regardless of age or place of residence.
Does Montfort Hospital offer services in English as well as French?
Yes. Hôpital Montfort is primarily a Francophone institution and is the only hospital in Ottawa that administers primarily in French, but bilingual services are available. Some English-speaking patients have noted occasional language-barrier challenges, so if this is a concern, it is worth informing staff of your language preference upon arrival.
Does the Emergency Department have mental health support?
Yes. Montfort's Emergency Department includes a dedicated Psychiatric Emergency Zone (PEZ) staffed by a 24/7 crisis nursing program, making it a strong option for patients experiencing acute mental health crises in Ottawa.
Can Quebec residents use the Emergency Department at Hôpital Montfort?
Yes, the Emergency Department is open to everyone regardless of where they live. However, emergency physicians at Montfort are unable to coordinate specialist follow-up care through Quebec's health insurance board (RAMQ). Quebec patients requiring specialist follow-up will be referred to their family doctor or a walk-in clinic in Quebec.
How do I access the Emergency Department — can I enter through the main hospital?
No. The Emergency Department entrance is separate and cannot be accessed from inside the main hospital building. Follow the on-site signage directing you to the dedicated ER entrance when you arrive at 713 Ch Montréal Rd.
What makes Hôpital Montfort different from other Ottawa hospitals?
Montfort is the only Francophone academic healthcare institution west of Quebec, a designated Group A teaching hospital, and is affiliated with the University of Ottawa's Faculty of Medicine and the Institut du Savoir Montfort research institute — ranked among Canada's top 40 research hospitals. It also houses a dedicated facility for members of the Canadian Forces and has a Family Birthing Centre with capacity for up to 2,800 births annually.
Emergency departments use triage. Patients with more serious conditions are seen first, regardless of arrival time.
Wait times are estimates based on Ontario health data. Actual wait times may vary.
This hospital does not publish a live wait, so the figure above comes from our model rather than from its own feed. We publish how that model performs where it can be checked, at the hospitals that do publish. See the accuracy scorecard, or how we work the number out.
If you are experiencing a medical emergency, call 911 immediately.
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