YWCA Montreal

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Home » About us » History

History

logo-y-histoire

1845
First YMCA opens in England
1855
First YWCA opens in England
1875
YWCA Montreal

Since its creation, the YWCA Montreal has offered housing services and basic courses in reading, writing and arithmetic

1879
Beginning of our hotel services
1880
Diet Dispensary
1884
Training in dictaphone, stenography, typing
1885
Job placement service
1893
First free nursery in Montreal
1895
Domestic science and culinary arts school
1900
Traveller’s Aid Society
1907
First Major Fundraising Campaign $50,000
1909
First Fitness Centre for women in Montreal
1913
The pool opens
1917
Camp Oolahwan opens

Discover Camp Oolahwan in pictures

1920
Both Protestants and Catholics are now welcome at the YWCA
1921
Auxiliary nursing course
1930
Soup kitchens and housing for the needy
1930
Support and assistance during the depression
1931
Job re-orientation program
1932
Course and skills certification for domestic workers
1940
The Adventure of Being a Woman

First leadership activities in high schools

1940
Wartime auxiliary services
1949
$1.5M Major Fundraising Campaign
1952
Moving into the current building

1355 René-Lévesque Blvd. West

1954
Wellness Clinic
1954
Emergency housing services
1956
First study on the needs of adolescents
1960
The YWCA Montreal opens up to all women

No matter their religion, age or background

1962
Extensive action-research on women and their diverse social roles
1964
Promotion of bilingualism; internally and in Quebec society
1966
Career orientation services for women
1968
Collaboration to the Bird Report on the status of women

Submission of a brief on the situation of women in Canada

1975
Transition House

One of the first for women victims of conjugal violence and their children

1975
First Women of Distinction Awards
1976
Career preparation program
1976
$2M Major Fundraising Campaign
1977
Nouveau Départ program
1978
Collaboration in the "Pour les québécoises, égalité et indépendence" report
1980
Management Centre
1982
Creation of an anti-pornography committee
1983
TAMS program for teenage mothers
1983
The Bricoleuse workshop
1985
Partnership with Moisson Montréal begins
1985
Legal Information Clinic

The Legal Information Clinic offers confidential, individual, 30 minutes information sessions by appointment, with a volunteer lawyer or notary with experience in a variety of legal areas, and many other services!
Learn more about the Legal Information Clinic

1985
Volunteer Centre

Each year, hundreds of volunteers work closely with the YWCA team to offer women programs tailored to their needs.
Learn more about the Volunteer Centre

1985
$3M Major Fundraising Campaign
1992
Legal secretary and industrial mechanic training programs
1992
Literacy Centre
1993
OSE Program

Orientation and service for employment
OSE offers women who are ready to return to the workforce, a wide range of services which are adapted to their specific needs.
Learn more

1994
First Women of Distinction Awards fundraising gala

The Women of Distinction Award  acknowledges women’s role in social advancement, because they celebrate women who, through their engagement and achievements in their respective fields, are making a long-lasting and positive impact on society. 
Learn more

1995
Launch of the Women’s Y Foundation

The Women’s Y Foundation seeks to ensure a stable and a continuous source of financing for the YWCA Montreal programs and services. Thus, it contributes in helping the YWCA Montreal play an active role in the socio-economic integration of women and girls from the Montreal community.
Learn more

1996
Mothers Work Integration program
1998
Fringues & Cie program and Workforce Integration Enterprise
2000
Leadership in Action program
2000
"Y des femmes de Montréal" becomes our new name
2000
$10.5M Major Fundraising Campaign (2000-2005)
2000
Leadership in Action Program
2001
ABC en famille program
2001
Community Kitchen
2002
The Residence

Social Reintegration program
The Women’s Y Residence program is designed for women experiencing a difficult period in their lives, who wish to participate in a social reintegration program. This program offers community living in a secure environment at an affordable cost.
Learn more

2003
Renovation of the Hotel and Auberge

Hotel Y Montreal
Auberge YWCA

2003
Action research project on violence
2004
Action-research on youth sexualization
2004
Community housing “Brin d’Elles” Saint-Laurent
2005
Community housing "Les Jardins du Y"
2005
Camp Oolahwan closes
2005
Summer Space Day Camp starts

YWCA Montreal’s Youth Services Summer Space Camp offers 1 to 6 weeks of activities.
Learn more

2007
Community housing "Projet Saint-Michel"
2007
Closing of the pool and the Health and Fitness Centre
2007
Entrepreneurship Centre
2007
Sexy Inc. Our Children under Influence documentary

Learn more

2008
Renovation and expansion of Fringues & Cie boutique

Fringues is the ideal spot for women eager to make some great finds downtown at an affordable price. Whether it’s for work or everyday wear, the thrift boutique stocks a wide choice of new and used clothing.
Learn more

2009
Action-research on the recruitment of girls by street gangs
2009
Creation of the eco-responsible commitment charter
2010
First Scotiabank Charity Challenge

The Banque Scotia 21k de Montreal et 5k event hosts an international calibre half-marathon. The Scotiabank Charity Challenge has helped raises millions of dollars each year to support more than 500 charities across Canada.
Learn more

2011
Pre-Employability program “Literacy Towards Employment”
2011
Collaboration in the the brief submitted by the "CLES"

« Pour l’égalité de fait pour toutes : une politique de lutte contre l’exploitation sexuelle de l’image et du corps des femmes et des filles »

2012
First Women of Distinction Laureates Conference
2012
Installation of a green roof

2013
The YWCA receives the Korn Ferry/Les Affaires Award for excellence in corporate governance

Non-profit Organization category

2013
Centre Multi begins offering activities

For women and girls

2013
Tools for effective action receives the Égalité

 Prévention de la violence Award from the Secrétariat à la condition féminine

2014
Family Caregivers Support Program

A place where you can find support services and leisure designed to meet the needs of women caring for a senior family member or friend.
Learn more

2015
Fringues & Cie receives the "Du coeur à l’ouvrage" prize from CEIQ

Continuing improvement category

2016
Prix Égalité Thérèse-Casgrain awarded by the Secrétariat à la condition féminine du Québec in the Equity Models and Behaviour Category for Hypersexualization Video Clip
2016
Renovation of the Hotel Y bathrooms
2016
First Soirée InspirationnElle

The Soirée InspirationnELLE is a cocktail gala to honour young women for their leadership, career success, and commitment to their respective professional communities.
Learn more

2016
Coup de coeur Award from Banque Nationale

“Entrepreneures de demain” program

2016
Submission of three briefs

1- Submission of a brief as part of the public consultations on Montreal’s social development policy.

Read the brief (french only)

2- Submission of a brief as part of the consultations on Montreal’s downtown strategy.

Read the brief (french only)

3- Submission of a brief as part of the consultations on the redevelopment of the site of the former Montreal Children’s Hospital.

Read the brief (french only)

2017
First My bag is yours Campaign

Learn more

2018
Women's Work Integration Program

The Mothers Work integration program becomes Women’s Work Integration Program and now accepts women without children. This program is an intensive 19-week training program, including an internship in your chosen field.
Learn more

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