CDC Smdi de l'Armée du Salut

Best Times to Visit

Quieter times: As a specialized social and health services centre rather than a walk-in emergency room, access to services is best coordinated through a referral from a social worker, community health worker, or by contacting the CIUSSS de la Capitale-Nationale. The ground floor community access point is open to help connect individuals with the right services.

Busier times: This centre is not designed for drop-in acute medical emergencies at any time of day. Individuals experiencing a medical emergency should always call 911 or go directly to the Hôtel-Dieu de Québec emergency department across the street, regardless of the time.

About CDC SMDI DE L'ARMÉE DU SALUT

Located at 14 Côte du Palais in Vieux-Québec, the CDC SMDI de l'Armée du Salut is a specialized multiservice centre operated under the CIUSSS de la Capitale-Nationale network, designed to serve individuals experiencing homelessness, addiction, and social marginalization. The facility offers integrated health and social services including addiction detoxification (alcohol and drugs), social work support, and reintegration programming — all under one roof across four floors. This is not a hospital emergency department; members of the public requiring urgent or emergency medical care should proceed directly to the Hôtel-Dieu de Québec, located directly across the street.

Services & Specialties

Alcohol and drug detoxification (désintoxication), Addiction and dependency medicine (SMDI), Social work consultations, Social reintegration support, Community meal services, Homelessness and itinerance support services, Partnership services with Maison de Job (addiction support), Partnership services with Croissance Travail (reintegration activities).

Amenities

• Community kitchen and dining area (ground floor)
• Residential floor meal services
• Ground-floor community access point open to the public
• Vocational kitchen training activities (planned)

Other Care Options

Not every health issue needs an ER visit. Find out where to go for care →

Pharmacists in Quebec can assess and prescribe for dozens of common conditions. See what they can treat →

Compare hospital wait times across Canada. View all wait times →

Tips Before You Go

• This facility is not a hospital emergency room — if you are experiencing a medical emergency, call 911 or go to the Hôtel-Dieu de Québec directly across the street on Côte du Palais.
• Services at this centre are specifically designed for individuals experiencing homelessness, addiction, or severe social marginalization — the welcoming environment is intentionally adapted for these populations.
• If you or someone you know needs addiction detoxification services in Québec City, this SMDI centre is part of the CIUSSS de la Capitale-Nationale network and can connect you with appropriate care.
• The ground floor is designed as an open community access point — it serves as the entry point to all services offered across the building's four floors.
• For general urgent care needs not requiring emergency services, consider contacting Info-Santé by dialing 811 for guidance on the most appropriate care setting in Québec City.

What to Bring

• Government-issued photo identification (health card, ID card, or passport if available)
• Québec health insurance card (carte d'assurance maladie / RAMQ) if you have one
• List of any current medications or substances
• Emergency contact information for a trusted person
• Any relevant medical documents or prior treatment records
• Comfortable clothing if residential or detoxification stay is anticipated
• Provincial or federal benefit information if applicable to your social services intake

Parking

Street parking on Côte du Palais and in the surrounding Vieux-Québec area is very limited due to the historic neighbourhood layout. The nearby Hôtel-Dieu de Québec has its own parking facilities. Visitors are encouraged to use public transit or arrive on foot when possible.

Getting There

The facility is located in the heart of Vieux-Québec, a walkable area served by Réseau de transport de la Capitale (RTC) bus routes in the Old Quebec / Haute-Ville sector. Consult the RTC trip planner at rtcquebec.ca for current routes and schedules serving this area.

Frequently Asked Questions

About ER Wait Times

Emergency departments use triage. Patients with more serious conditions are seen first, regardless of arrival time.

Wait times are ERstat’s estimates, built from what hospitals publish, or from our model where a hospital publishes no wait. They are not the hospital’s own figures. Actual waits 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.