1898
The Relief Committee functions
were visits to the Perley Home and assistance to the Victorian
Order of Nurses. As well as charitable work in the local hospitals
and gifts and entertainment for the patients, this committee
assumed the additional task of administering to the needs
of many poor and destitute families.
Furnished a children's ward
in the Prostestant General Hospital on Rideau Street at
which the Countess Grey officiated. The Club formed a committee
in reply to the Anti-Tuberculosis Association's plea for
help for its poorer patients.
1907
The May Court Ball was held
in the old Racquet Court on Metcalfe Street, with net profits
amounting to $675.
The Club established a children's
ward at the Ottawa General Hospital. To raise funds they
recruited prominent Ottawans and put on an Amateur Vaudeville
Show in the Russell Theatre which cleared the tidy sum of
$1,062.73.
Member
Kay McElroy at the Children's Aid Society Clinic
1914-18
The Club was fully occupied
with World War I activities. These included assistance to
the Red Cross, to soldiers' families and to the Sire Sanford
Fleming Military Convalescent Home. They established a Work
Depot and Employment Bureau for Women and aided teh War
Savings Committee. In 1916 one of the organization's greatest
projects was begun - the Convalescent Home. It was used
as an emergency hospital during the influenza epidemic of
1918. By 1918, the Club was an established force in the
charitable and social life of Ottawa, with its first public
appeal generating $6,000.
1926
A most successful enterprise
was inauguratined with a library of 850 books for patients
at the Civic Hospital. Within the next few years the Club's
Ward at the General Hospital was tranferred and enlarged,
a new ward was equipped at the Protestant Children's Hospital,
and a committee was formed to assist the Ottawa Welfare
Bureau.
1928
The erection of a modern, commodious
and well-appointed Anti-Tuberculosis Dispensary at 374 Besserer
Street. It was the first of its kind in Canada. Also, during
the Twenties, the Convalescent Home began its long and creditable
efforts on behalf of women patients who required care and
attention following an illness.
1935
The first May Court Ball for
some years was held in the Royal Ottawa Golf Club in the
presence of the Governor General and Lady Tweedsmuir. More
than 300 guests were present.
First
x-ray machine purchased by the May Court Club, 1924
1936
The idea was conceived to use
prominent local people to provide a cabaret. By now more
than 600 people were attending this annual event and the
elite of Ottawa Society were persuaded to part with sizable
sums of money on the 'games' - a system for obtaining contributions
to charity so painless and effective that it has become
a permanent adjunct to the Ball. The Club has extended its
work to include assistance in the Day Nursery, the Blind
Institute, crippled children, the 'Boys' Club and the first
Well-Baby Clinic of its kind in Canada
1939
When World War II broke out,
they had to mobilize their forces for a national emergency.
First Aid, Home Nursing and Motor Mechanics were organized
for members. The Club again volunteered to cut large quantities
of material for supplies for the Red Cross and knitting
for the three armed services was carried on throughout the
War.
In the interval immediately
following the War, the May Court went through a difficult
period. Times had changed and members had scattered. Those
who remained were fully occupied.
|
1950's
These were busy years and ones
filled with considerable achievement. The Club assisted in
the alleviateion of the suffering of cancer and cerebral palsy
victims. The traditional Christmas Cheere throughout the hospitals
and under-priveledged homes of the city were vital activities.
In 1955, the untimely death of Miss Phyllis Rykert, who had
been librarian of the Civic Hospital Library for 28 years
brought sorrow to all her colleagues. Under the terms of her
will the May Court Library was endowed with a generous sum
for its maintenance and perpetuity.
1959
The biggest undertaking of the
Club for the past 20 years was the building of the new Convalescent
Home at 114 Cameron Avenue.
The beautiful house and property
on the banks of the Ottawa River, owned by A.J. Ewart, was
purchased in 1959. The architect was W.E. Fancott who prepared
plans for a 41-bed Home to be added to the rear of the house.
Their Cooper Street property was sold for $89,500.
A professional firm was engaged
to plan the "objective of raising $225,000 for the May
Court Club Building Fund". The Fund Raising Committee
began their campaign on January 1st, 1961. At the Annual Meeting
in 1962, the Committee reported total receipts of $225,215
which included two bequests and receipts of the 1961 Ball,
as well as pledges to the Building Fund, paid and pledged.
The campaign cost approximately $20,000. The Home was opened
by Madame Vanier in June 1961, and the first patients were
admitted shortly thereafter. The rates, then, were: Private
$9, Semi-Private $4 and 4-Bed $1. In 1964, a bequest of $36,519
from a former member, Miss Maraquita Martin, was received,
enabling the bank loan to be paid off and the Home was finally
debt free. The financing of the Home had always been a problem.
Usually at year's end there was a deficit which was covered
by the Club.
Crowning
of the first May Queen
1966
The TB Clinic on Besserer Street
closed its doors in 1966 in its 78th year. The property was
sold and part of the proceeds were used to present a $7,000
x-ray machine to the new City Clinic on Somerset Street East.
The Club supplied volunteers
for two projects dealing with children; these were Carleton
University Early Childhood Research and Children's Aid Head
Start.
Committees which have been functioning
for many years are: Children's Aid Knitting, 70 years; Civic
Hospital Library, 52 years; Blind Women's Entertainment, 42
years; Children's Aid Clinic, 36 years; Secretarial and Telephone,
33 years; Cancer Clinic Coffee Wagon, 21 years. The Bargain
Box was opened in 1971 on Laurier Avenue East and was an instant
success.
1979
Committees were enlarged to include
the Palliative Care Service, for care of the terminally ill,
at the Riverside Hsopital; and Interval House, a co-operative
home for abused women and their children. The Club also purchased
a retinal probe for the Opthalamology Department of the Ottawa
Civic Hospital. During the year, a successful Benny Goodman
concert was held at the National Arts Centre.
1981
The third national Arts Centre
'Pops Concert' featuring André Gagnon and Moe Koffman was
again a fantastic success, netting $37,000.
1982
he C.N.I.B. Entertainment Committee,
now in its 47th year, formerly the Women's Entertainment Committee,
has now become co-educational and happily includes the gentlemen
in their monthly get-togethers.
1983
25th year - Driving for Good Companions
- transporting the elderly: "the ideal humane and human-scaled
health service" - Dr. John Dahl, advisor to Dept. of Health
and Welfare. On Nov. 25th, the 1st Ball, A Night to Remember,
at the new Westin Hotel raised $62,000.
1984
Added seven-bed Elizabeth Wing
extension to the Convalescent Home. The Club purchased a $18,
247.51 van for the Boys & Girls Club. |
1985-86
Members volunteered at Amethyst
- a Drug & Alcohol Treatment Centre for Women.
1987
$75,000 in proceeds from the 1983
and 1985 Balls were donated to Amethyst as seed money for
the purchase of a house which they named "May Court House".
Afternoon Reception - Rideau Hall
1990
April in Paris the Ball raised $40,000.
1991
The Christmas "Fantasy Trees" raffle began - a very
popular fundraiser.
An Emergency Food
Box Program started at six area schools. A large container
of non-perishable snacks is delivered monthly to the schools.
By 1997, the program has expanded to 33 schools as suggested
by the school boards. This program has been funded primarily
through the support of Loblaws and Kristy's Restaurants Breakfast
Promotion Program.
1992
Ottawa's first "Designer
Showcase" began at the Chelsea Club, with 37 area designers
participating. $128,986 was raised from the involvement of
(7000 vol hours) of all May Court members.
1994
Joint fundraiser with Association
of May Court Clubs of Canada to raise funds to establish a
"Lady Aberdeen Room" at Rideau Hall, to commemorate
the 100th Anniversary.
1997
After 81 years of continuous convalescent
care to the Ottawa Carleton community, the May Court Home
is closed.
During the 1986-1997 timeframe,
the May Court Club has raised $1,650,944 due to the contribution
of some 190,000 volunteer hours.
1998
The May Court Club of Ottawa celebrated its 100th anniversary
and hosted the annual meeting of The May Court Clubs of Canada,
which included a reception at Rideau Hall where The May Court
Club began. “Tables All Set; Creative Designs to Dine
For” raised $10,000 and the proceeds from the 100th
anniversary Ball, held in November and attended by 800 guests,
helped to establish the May Court Centennial Scholarship Fund.
In recognition of this important milestone, the Club History
was written and published by the 100th Anniversary Committee.
1999
Saw the installation of the Hospice of
All Saints in the former Convalescent Home premises, a Purchase
of Service Agreement between the Hospice and The May Court
Club that guaranteed free rent to the Hospice, an on-going
grant to them from The May Court Club for utilities and other
expenses, and the change of their name to The Hospice at May
Court.
2000
– 2003
The Club held a successful fundraiser, namely Designer Tables
and Creations with Lladro porcelain. The Heart Beat Ball enabled
us to donate $70,000 to the Heart Institute. The Club also
received the 2000 Group Philanthropy Award and were the recipients
of a doll house created by a Past President that was raffled,
with the proceeds going to the Ottawa Children’s Treatment
Centre.in honour of their 50th anniversary. A Fashion Show
at St Elias Hall by Earlene’s House of Fashion raised
more than $12,000.
2004
A donation of $100,000 was given
to the Hospice, in large part thanks to the proceeds of the
Silver Screen Ball held in May, 2004. The Club also had the
honour of being named the Outstanding Community Builder Organization
by the United Way.
2005
- 2006
“The May Court Menu Cookbook –
107 Menus celebrating 107 years of Community Service”
was published in June 2005 and all proceeds from the sales
go to the Emergency Food Box Program that now serves 56 schools
in the Ottawa area. Fantasy Trees & Treasures continues
as an annual fundraiser and all proceeds are donated to needy
organizations in the community. A Fashion Show in May, 2006
raised $16,000 and the Bargain Box, now in its 35th year,
continues to provide the Club with more than $50,000 each
year to support community projects. |
