History of the Junior League of Greater Vancouver

The Beginning :

The Junior Service League of Vancouver was founded on June 1, 1927, and admitted into the Association of Junior Leagues in March, 1931.

• Projects and placements in the early years were largely in the Health and Welfare areas. Some recipients of the League's Help were:
  • The Children's Aid Society
  • Vancouver General Hospital
  • Crippled Children's Hospital
  • CNIB
  • The Well Baby Clinic
• The Thrift Shop was started in 1932. It still continues to be one of the major sources of fundraising for the League.
• A publication for members, later known as the "News and Views" was first published in 1934 and still continues today.
• The League was Incorporated in 1936.
• The first Cabaret Fundraiser was held at this time. This song and dance extravaganza was a popular Vancouver event for thirty years, 1940-1970.
• What is now known as the Volunteer Vancouver Centre, was established in 1939 with the financial and volunteer help of the Junior League.

During the War Period 1939-1945:

League volunteers continued with their regular commitments as well as contributing to the war effort:

• 20 women worked at the Provincial Red Cross
• 15 took the Red Cross home nursing exams
• 12 members received diplomas from the General Motors Driving Corps.

The financial contribution of the League totalled over $20,000. This money, in part, provided the Red Cross with an ambulance, a mobile hospital unit and a station wagon.

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The Post-War Period :

League community involvement became more focused on the arts the League:

• Initiated an art appreciation program in the schools
• Provided annual grants to the Vancouver Art Gallery
• League funds provided training for two teachers in mental hygiene
• League funds paid for training of two Children's Aid Society workers in play therapy for emotionally disturbed children
• Paid the salary of an occupational therapist at Children's Hospital

It was also during the post-war era that the League published a public relations brochure - the first of its kind in the Association. An office was established in the Ritz Hotel in 1947.

The Fifties :

These were years of dynamic community involvement.

• Twelve years of involvement at Children's Hospital
• Fifteen years at Alexandra Neighbourhood House
• The Health Centre for Children Canteen - staffed by volunteers for nine years and received grants for twelve
• League provided two thirds of the funding for the Speech and Hearing Clinic in the H.C.C.
• In 1958, the first Public Affairs Committee was struck, and was the forerunner of the Community Research Committee
• Board manuals were established

Our members shone in the Association during this period. In 1957, Mrs. W.M. Armstrong was elected First Vice President of AJLI. In 1959, Pat Hall was Chairman of the Regional Nominating Committee and went on to become First Vice President of the Association in 1962.

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The Sixties :

This period is characterized by a number of trends that developed in the League programs. Co-sponsorship was undertaken

• 1968 with the University Women's Club in providing a forum on Daycare.
• 1969, with the Elizabeth Fry Society - to establish a hostel for female offenders.
• With the Vancouver Art Gallery to provide a salary for an educator/volunteer co-ordinator.
• In 1970 - involvement in the learning disabilities field
• Contributed to the salary of an Education Supervisor at the Aquarium.
• A school volunteers project in 1968.
• $21,000 for a Child Study Centre at UBC

A trend to future planning caused the revitalization of the Advisory Planning Committee, substantial changes in the Board structure and revision of Bylaws and Standing Rules.

To commemorate Canada's Centennial, the League provided $30,000 for a permanent area for children's participation in the Museum and Natural Human History in the Centennial Museum.

The Seventies :

Our fundraising events took a turn:

• The last cabaret was held in 1970
• The Thrift Shop was recognized as a permanent fundraiser
• Other fundraising was done in the form of an Arts and Crafts Fair (1974) which raised $14,000
• The Designer Homes of 1977 and 1979 were highly successful, raising $36,000 for child abuse projects and $49,000 for the Arts, Sciences and Technology Centre.

The League was extremely busy co-sponsoring many community seminars during this decade:

• Community Life Planning 1976
• Citizens Advocacy Skills 1977
• Conference in Children's Arts and Science Centres 1978
• Boardsmanship/Grantsmanship 1979.

In 1979 the Provincial government awarded the League with "The Year of the Child and Family Achievement Award".

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The Eighties :

• The League celebrated its Fiftieth Anniversary in 1981. To commemorate - a $50,000 endowment was given to Science World (previously the Arts, Science and Technology Centre)
• "A League of Cooks" and "The 1, 2, 3's of Boardsmanship" were published and have become ongoing fundraisers for our organization.
• The Elsje Armstrong Award honours an outstanding Sustainer who best demonstrates the League's Mission Statement in the community.
• A community Special Events Calendar was begun.
• In collaboration with some community partners, the League held World Affairs Dinner and the Choral Breakfast, two fundraisers.

During this decade, our projects in the arts were

• The Chevron Museumobile,
• Folklife Pavilion at Expo '86,
• First Night Celebration.

Health related projects were

• the Red Cross Family Support Program, C.N.I.B.
• Crabtree Corner (Y.W.C.A.).

But most of the League's projects fell into the category of education;

• "Together We Can"
• Kids on the Block
• "Feeling Yes, Feeling No"
• North Shore Legal Program
• Queen Mary Community School
• Project T.E.A.M.S.
• Smoke Free.

• In 1990, the JLGV was honoured with the Simon Fraser University President's Club Distinguished Leadership Award.
• 1991 found us celebrating 60 years of community service. The 60th Anniversary of the Junior League Thrift Shop followed a year later.
• Our Children's Literacy Program 'ONE TO ONE' won a Volunteer Vancouver Award for Community Service. ONE TO ONE continues to be our major community project; by 1999 including over 20 Vancouver School Board schools as well as 8 schools in Vernon.
• Other projects included Theatre Terrific, St. Paul's Hospital and Osteoporosis workshops.
• In 1994 the JLGV structure was revamped along 'Team' lines with a reduced Board of Directors to allow streamlining of the League's administration.

The Thrift Shop remains our major, on-going fundraiser. Other fundraising ventures included two World Affairs Dinners; a highly successful evening with Martha Stewart, a Designer Home, our 'Home and Garden Tours', and our annual "Holiday Happenings".

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