Part III
THE GOLDEN YEARS
The opening months of the 1954/55 year, with Murray J. Scott as President, was the threshold of the golden anniversary of Rotary International. To celebrate the event, the club formed a special anniversary committee to plan celebrations
In January 1955, in conjunction with the premiere showing of Arthur Rank's "Romeo and Juliet," the club arranged a showing of a film produced by Rotary International, known as the" Great Adventure." This theatre night was ajoint undertaking of all five Rotary clubs on the Island. On February 1, the Past Presidents took over the general meeting, the theme of which was the golden anniversary. The head table and background was decorated with golden Rotary wheels and flags.
There were several other events organized to emphasize the anniversary. By way of example, in April a reception was held at the Weredale Boys' Home which, as well as recognizing Rotary's fiftieth birthday, it celebrated Weredale's twenty-fifth. A similar event occurred at the University Settlement, when the President of the University Settlement, Andy Hersey, entertained members of Rotary and explained the work of the Settlement. The events generated favourable publicity both for Rotary International and the Rotary clubs on the Island.
With the club's membership close to 400, the individual committees carried out their usual programmes. The Youth Service Committee concerned itself with summer camp activities. The usual visits were carried out, although the records indicate that attendance had dropped off considerably. The standard items, such as canoes and row boats, were donated to several camps. There were some larger projects undertaken, such as the installation of a sewage system for Trails' End Camp and an improvement to swimming facilities. A raft and diving board were supplied to the Summerhill Camp. The University Settlement Camp at Lake Hersey was supplied with funds to bring in electricity. This project was spread over a couple of years and was actually completed in the 1956/57 year. This particular camp also received other grants for improvement of its waterfront and to provide better accommodations for the kitchen staff.
In 1955 the Negro Community Centre, because of its growth, had to change its premises. The former building of the Iverley Settlement was acquired and the club assisted the move financially. In order to make the building suitable as a centre, extensive alterations had to be carried out. During the 1957/58 year, under the chairmanship of Vern McAdam, $40,000 was raised for the purpose. A gymnasium was built and equipped, new plumbing facilities instMled, and other improvements effected.
In the 1958 /59 year, a similar project was undertaken for the Dawson Boys' Club. In memory of Owen Dawson, the club donated $10,000, which was matched by friends of Owen Dawson, to equip the new centre with furniture, handicraft tools, etc.
The above projects were more or less of a major nature. During the same period, the stamp room at Shawbridge Boys' Farm was rebuilt, flinds were made available to equip the Bolton Glen Hostel, a recreation room was built in the basement at the St. Andrew's Youth Centre, and other similar undertakings were carried out.
Interest in the area of juvenile delinquency was maintained. Joe Rapapport and Howard McCartney were appointed as Rotary representatives on a youth protection committee, which had been established by the Montreal Council of Social Agencies and city authorities.
On an individual basis, the club sponsored students to participate in "Adventure in Citizenship." This project, organized by a Rotary club in Ottawa, provided students the opportunity to learn about Canada's parliamentary system. The club so financed another student to attend a Youth Rally in New Brunswick, which featured students from all over Canada and the United States.
Mention has been made of the club's involvement in the Air Cadet movement. Annually it had been donating money to the Villeray Air Cadets. It was during this period that the 96 Air Cadet Squadron was organized and Rotarian Jean-Marie Lachance became very much involved. The entire air cadet movement in Quebec was growing rapidly, largely due to Jean-Marie Lachance, the enthusiasm he generated, and the financial assistance which the club made available through the Youth Services Committee.
There is a tendency for the various committees to fall into a routine, to follow a fixed pattern from year to year. This is most likely due to the fact that agencies repeatedly request help from the same sources. From 1954 to the end of 1959, the Social Services Committee appears to have extended assistance to the same agencies and to have followed the same avenues of activities. In order to enlarge their field of interest, they selected 14 Montreal-based agencies and appointed a committee member to act as a liaison between them and the club. This resulted in the committee assisting a large number of agencies with routine requests, such as supplying small pieces of equipment, assisting individuals with specializ?d. apparatus, or the renovation of agency premises. While these activities were important, no useful purpose would be served by a detailed list.
There were, however, one or two important areas in which the committee became involved. For instance, in conjunction with the Montreal Council of Social Agencies, it helped organize and sponsor the Golden Age Hobby Show for several years. The first such show had 700 exhibits of handicraft work done by senior citizens - 4,000 people visited the exhibition. The four Rotarians involved with this project were Fred Rejall, Andy Hersey, Charles Ronalds, and Lloyd McClintock. This activity focused public attention on senior citizens and many senior citizens clubs came into existence as an indirect result.
Other projects which were undertaken by the committee were the construction of a balcony and an infirrnary at Camp Chapleau. Camp Chapleau was the summer camp run by the Old Brewery Mission.
The Montreal Children's Hospital was provided with two oxygen tents. The Montreal Day Nursery was granted two scholarships to enaNe two of its teachers to foUow a special child care programme in Boston, and a part sponsorship of a movement founded by the Montreal Council of Social Agencies known as" Recreation for the Handicapped." To list only a few items might leave the impression that the Social Service Committee did not accomplish a great deal. On the contrary, its work benefitted a large number of agencies in the City and the members of the committee were kept occupied in carrying out the necessary investigations.
Since the involvement with the Easter Seals movement and the additional funds which Easter Seals made available to the Cripples Aid Committee, this committee's activities increased substantially. It continued to organize entertainment and outings for crippled children, to visit the two camps for disabled children(Ayers Cliff and St. Alphonse de Joliette), and to carry out other traditional projects. It enlarged its field of interest, becoming involved with other forms of handicaps in addition to those resulting from polio, cerebral palsy, and other similar diseases.
During this five year period, work towards the founding and establishing of two organizations concerned with the treatment and rehabilitation of disabled individuals, particularly adults, was progressing slowly.
One of these was the Rehabilitation Institute which is known today as l'Institut de Re adaptation de Montreal. A leading promoter for this particular project was J. Arthur Lapres. In the beginning, temporary quarters were rented in the old Place Viger station. Work was started, but plans were being formulated to build a new centre. As is common with all new ventures, funds were badly needed. The committee made several substantial donations to provide the necessary equipment; for example, it provided funds to purchase a movie projector and screen to be used as a form of therapy. In addition, it supplied funds to provide equipment for the testing of hearing deficiencies. A large grant of $10,000 was made available for the erection of a temporary prosthetic shop. In connection with the planned new building, it pledged a donation of $7,500.
These are examples of four items which the committee made available to the Rehabilitation Centre. Its interest and involvement was broader. Annually, it gave full support to financial drives to raise capital funds or operating money for the new centre. Several Rotarians, such as John Bancroft, became leaders in promoting the new building. Dr. G. Gingras, the director of the Institute, became a very active member of the club.
Paralleling the assistance given to the proposed Rehabilitation Institute, the committee also became involved with the Lethbridge Rehabilitation Centre, Known then as the Occupational Therapy Centre. It provided funds for capital equipment and donated the sum of $5,000 to help with the purchase and installation of an elevator. Disabled individuals receiving treatment at the centre were also granted various sums to help with the purchase of specialized orthopedic equipment.
The two summer camps for disabled children, one at Ayers Cliff and the other at St. Alphonse de Joliette, were visited annually. As a result ofthese visits, the committee became involved with special projects. For the Ayers Cliff Camp, funds were supplied for the wiring and equipping of the craft shop, a new counsellor's cabin was built and equipped, and an administrative hut was erected. An interesting feature of this last project was that, after being built, it was dedicated to the memory of three deceased Rotarians: Jack Carson, William Harrison, and J. Arthur Lapres.
The Quebec Society for Crippled Children's camp at St. Alphonse de Joliette also received several grants to assist with various projects, the most important of which was the building and equipping of new counsellors' quarters.
Not only funds were provided for the camp buildings. On an annual basis, Rotarians, assisted by Air Force veterans from the number 306 (Maple Leaf) Wing of the Royal Canadian Air Force Association, visited these camps and actually performed the painting and carpentry work. This represented real Rotary involvement in addition to the provision of the necessary funds. Both these camps owe a great deal to Rotary and, indeed, to the service club movement in general.
A difficulty, always present when recording the activities of any particular group, is to determine what should be included and what left out. There were many organizations and individuals assisted by the Cripples Aid Committee. Orthopedic appliances, wheelchairs, and other similar equipment were provided to some two to three hundred individuals. Organizations such as Victor Dore' School, Montreal Children's Hospital, and Mackay Centre were also assisted. The value received by the individuals and organizations far exceed the monetary expenditure.
One interesting feature of this period was the committee's departure from the treatment of disabled people in the area of research to the prevention of disabling diseases. In 1958 it made a substantial grant to a research project designed to eliminate or minimize crippling disabilities caused by accidents and injuries. This project was being conducted at the McGill Donner Experimental Laboratories under Dr. Fraser Gurd.
The Mental Health Committee's activities, from the years 1954 to 1959, revolved around the film library and projects involving the mentally retarded. New films were provided to the Mental Institute's Library. One or more showings were organized and were very successful. In the 1954/55 year, Rotarian John Bancroft was appointed to work with other groups, studying the possibility of establishing a school for mentally retarded children. The Provincial Government did not appear to be very interested in this matter. Eventually, under private auspices, a school was established and the committee did make small financial contributions towards the purchase of equipment.
From time to time, the committee became involved with outside bodies. With the Montreal Council of Social Agencies, the committee examined the needs and the facilities for the mentally retarded citizens of Montreal. A seminar was organized to study this whole question. The four Rotarians involved were James B. Hawkins, Dr. Baruch Silverman, W. S. Shepherd, and Ernest 0. Freedman.
During the 1958/59 year,the committee examined its own activities. There was a feeling that they were spreading their work over too wide a field and that they should concentrate on a smaller number of areas. They invited several organizations to meet with the committee to discuss this programme and make plans. Resulting from this, a special committee under chairmanship of Reverend Reg Dunn, was appointed. With Dr. Roberts of the Douglas Hospital, they discussed the possibility of establishing a half-way house which would provide a gradual re-integration of mental patients into society. This project would require an estimated outlay of some $100,000. By the end of the year, although an interest had been expressed, no commitment was made.
Many of the matters which come before the Public Affairs Committee take a long time before results are achieved. Frequently, proper action is not taken by the appropriate government authorities., It can be safely stated, however, that results are achieved over a long period of time and it is impossible to determine the degree to which Rotary's involvement is responsible.
From the years 1954 to the end of 1959, the Public Affairs Comminee looked at many areas of public interest. Juvenile delinquency,
Montreal traffic, safety for children at street crossings, the effect of the St. Lawrence Seaway on Montreal. civil defense, and air pollution from motor vehicles, all came under survey. Letters were addressed to the proper government authorities and other civic bodies were made aware of what Rotary was attempting to accomplish. Rotary cannot take full credit for many of things which today have come to pass, but we feel quite confident in stating that Rotary's interest and action did start the ball rolling in the right direction.
Perhaps the most important project of this period was the ambulance service. Because of Rotary's agitation, by the early 1950s a Citizens' Committee had been established. Rotarians Jim Gallagher and Lew Stewart were most active on this committee. By September 1955, municipalities on the Island were beginning to take the necessary steps to improve the emergency ambulance service. In the 1957/58 year, resulting from a series of serious traffic accidents, the problem became a very important one, and the city executive appointed a special sub¬committee to study it once again.
Although most projects took a long time to resolve, there were several which did result in immediate action. The objection raised by Rotary and other bodies towards the erection of a concert hall on Fletcher's Field did result in the hall being built elsewhere. Bringing to light the deplorable conditions existing in nursing homes also brought about an inquiry on the part of authorities. Rotary organized special welcome ceremonies at the Citizen's Court for immigrants being given Canadian citizenship. The committee also conducted a survey of the facilities existing for derelicts and found that Montreal compared favourably with other cities. The Meurling Refuge received special commendation for the work it did in this particular area. The club, through the Public Affairs Committee, deserves a great deal of commendation for the many areas in which it became involved and for the action taken.
There were other committees, but their programmes were more or less standard and followed the lines of previous years. It is not necessary to give in any detail what they accomplished. The Photographic Committee continued its meetings and discussions on photography. The Art Committee did much the same. The Fellowship Committee continued its fun meetings and of course organized the social events of the club. Perhaps the one exception was the International Services Committee. As well as its foreign students programmes and its reception of and involvement with Rotary International students and groups coming to Canada, it did undertake a major project. It gave financial assistance to the two sailors' institutes. Its main activity, however, was the clothing drive organized to gather and distribute clothing for the Hungarians who came to Canada following the uprising against the Communist regime in 1956. Hundreds of refugees were assisted. So much clothing was gathered that the leftover clothing was given to welfare agencies in the city.
These particular five years were busy. Rotary and Rotarians were involved in the Montreal scene. Practically every agency of note within the city had Rotary representatives on its board. The five men who guided the destinies of the club over these years were Murray J. Scott, Joseph P. Lynes, A. Leslie Ham, Romeo Desjardins, and Vernon F. McAdam.
THE GOLDEN YEARS CONTINUED
As we proceed with the examination of the club's records, we begin to deal with current matters. Since our own membership in the club dates from 1950, the events which we are now covering do not leave us with the feeling that we are delving into history. Rather, we have the impression that we are re-living occurrences which are still reasonably fresh in our minds.
From time to time the question is asked," Why belong to Rotary"? It might be proper to answer, "Are you aware that some of the things you enjoy are the result of Rotary's action or, if not Rotary, some other service club whose principles and ideas are similar to those of Rotary?"
In the early months of 1959,the Public Affairs Committee undertook several projects. Some were successful and others disappointing. The Notre-Dame-de-Grace public library was being organized. The committee appealed to members for donations of books. Unfortunately, the response was extremely poor and resulted in a relatively small number of books being made available.
Three other areas met with greater success. The cornmittee assisted Dr. Crutchlow of the Royal Victoria Hospital with a research project which enquired into the medical aspect of traffic accidents. Records do not indicate the end result, but it appears that several recommendations were made to the medical profession.
Drug control was beginning to be a burning question. Many dangerous commodities were being sold across the counter and it was felt by some that stricter control be instituted. At the invitation of the Public Affairs Committee, Dr. D. I. Melville, a leading exponent of stricter drug control legislation, addressed the club. His talk impressed the membership. The committee had a copy of the address reproduced and distributed to all Rotary clubs across Canada and to a large number of newspapers and magazines.
The club's involvement with the Senior Citizens' Hobby Show created a general interest in the plight of senior citizens. Rotarians Bill Keyton and Andy Hersey were appointed to a special committee to gather information on and forward recommendations for senior citizens' homes.
For the year 1960/61, the Public Affairs Committee undertook a major project. The newspapers and radio had been focusing on the pollution of our lakes and rivers by the indiscriminate dumping of industrial waste and raw sewage. In the autumn months of 1960, President Mackay Smith and the Board of Directors approved a project put forward by the Public Affairs Committee. This project was to bring together all interested parties across Quebec to urge immediate legislation to remedy the water pollution problem. All the Rotary clubs in the province were contacted, as well as other service clubs such as Lions, Kiwanis, Optimists, and included other organizations such as the Baha'i and B'nai B'rith. Three hundred organizations, representing some 500,000 citizens of the province, were involved. A brief was prepared and, together with representation from the various organiza¬tions, Messrs Armand Godin and Peter Kerrigan presented the brief to the Provincial Government. This presentation resulted in Bill 88, "An Act to Remedy the Pollution of Water," being passed by the Provincial Government on May29, 1961.
This project alone is undoubtedly a concrete example of Rotary in action. Some will say that such an act would eventually have been passed by the government, but would it have been in 1961? How much more harm might have been done to our lakes and rivers? There is still a great deal of work to do, but we are closer to a solution than we would have been if legislation had been delayed for several years.
The success achieved with the water pollution problem encouraged the committee to enquire into a related one, air pollution. In this particular area, Dr. Armour Forse became a dynamic leader. Stations were established to monitor air pollution in various areas of the city. The club purchased and equipped a van with laboratory facilities. The mobility of the station enabled measurement to be taken over a large area. The problem of air pollution is still being vigorously pursued. Rotary, and particularly Dr. Armour Forse, can take much credit for this project.
Although water and air pollution had occupied most of the attention of the Public Affairs Committee during the years 1960/61 and 1961/62, the committee also studied subversive activities. A brief on the subject was prepared and forwarded to the Quebec Commission of Education urging that care be taken to keep the teaching of subversive doctrines out of the school system.
The controversy over the fluoridation of Montreal 's drinking water has been raging for a number of years. Some say fluoridation prevents dental decay; others do not entirely share the opinion. During the year 1962/63, the question was heatedly debated by the Public Affairs Committee. Eventually, the matter was set aside because a federal government's commission ruled against fluoridation. To this day, the Montreal city council is not in favour of the matter.
With the beginning of the calendar year 1963, thoughts turned towards celebrating the club's fiftieth birthday, its golden anniversary. The Public Affairs Committee was charged with the responsibility of recommending an event for the celebration which would also continue in subsequent years. Accordingly, it recommended to the Board of Directors "A Community Service Award," which would be given annually to an individual in the community who, through his actions, exemplified the Rotary idea of service to others and who by so doing encouraged others to follow his example. This recommendation was accepted and immediate plans were taken to select a candidate who would be given the award on or around October 2, the club's founding date.
The golden anniversary celebration was planned by the Programme Committee. Sixty- seven Rotary banners from 67 countries were displayed behind the head table. The guest speaker was Mr. Richard L. Evans, former Director and Vice President of Rotary International. Mr. Philip S. Fisher and Judge Arthur Laramet were presented with the Community Service Award. This award, as well as being comprised of the appropriate scrolls, carried with it a cash donation. In memory of his father, Past President Ralph Leavin established a special fund to cover the annual cash aspect of the award. The event was heralded as a great success.
Rotarians who were members in 1963 will recall vividly the club's involvement with the Bilingual and Bicultural Commission, known as the B & B Commission. In conjunction whh the Club Richelieu, a comprehensive brief was presented to the commission. This action received much recognition from all concerned.
As a final act in celebration of our fiftieth birthday, an amount of $20,000 was donated to the Mackay Centre for its library. It was also about this time that the Mackay Centre for the Deaf and the School for Crippled Children amalgamated to form one organizatiQn. New facilities had been built on Decarie Boulevard.
During the fifty years of our club's history, the International Services Committee had been primarily concerned with activities within Canada. It had been involved with foreign students attending Montreal - based universities by sending Christmas cards to those clubs whose members had visited the Montreal club, assisting foreign Rotarians and their families while visiting Canada, and other similar programmes. While extending the international hand of Rotary, they were not involved in international projects.In the 1962/63 year, however, donations were made towards a water purification project in Honduras and towards help with the reconstruction of a fishing school destroyed by an earthquake in San Jose.
In a service club, there is always a big turnover in membership. New members come in with new interests, and an active committee at one time may become less dynamic during another. During the five years from 1959 to 1964, the Cripples Aid Committee did not initiate any new projects. Camp visitations, the sending of crippled children to the Ice Capades or Ice Follies, and other standard activities continued.
One innovation was the establishment of the annual bursaries for students wishing to study physio or occupational therapy. These bursaries were available to French and English speaking students. During these years, between six and ten students were recipients.
Annual working parties continued to be organized for both Ayers Cliff and St. Alphonse de Joliette crippled children camps. In June of 1963, the committee was responsible for the erection of anothet cottage at the Ayers Cliff camp. In addition, during one such visit, the committee's attention was drawn to the problem of transportation and of the Quebec Society for Crippled Children's need for an additional vehicle. Accordingly, in 1960 a new ambulance was purchased and donated to the society.
Due to economic pressures, industrial expansion, and population shifts, many problems arise in an urban setting such as the City of Montreal. There was a great deal of poverty andjuvenile delinquency in the area east of St. Lawrence Street and north of the river.
During the Rotary year 1962/63, representatives from the Social Services Committee, together with members of the Mental Health Committee, attended a conference on urban redevelopment. This conference was organized by the University Settlement, the Mental Hygiene Institute, and the McGill School of Social Work. Its aim was to establish a cooperative health and welfare service to raise the status of a depressed community and to prevent family breakdown, adult crime, andjuvenile delinquency. As a direct outcome of Rotary's participation in this conference, the Social Services Committee, together with Mental Health, pledged an amount of$6,000 annually for a five-year period to implement the recommendations. Rotary should definitely be com¬mended highly for its participation in such a worthwhile project.
Around 1959, the City embarked on a housing development project known as the " Jeanne Mance Housing." Among the facilities badly needed was a day nursery. During the summer of 1961 the budget of the Social Services Committee was almost totally devoted to financing the nursery project. Paul Cot6, Chairman of the committee, was elected to the Board of the Jeanne Mance project. He immediately began putting pressure on the authorities to have the nursery school project included in the entire development project. This eventually occurred and, once the City assumed responsibility, Rotary withdrew its support. This is yet another example of how Rotary's participation during the initial months of a project helped lay the foundation for the final outcome.
For several years the Social Services Commktee had been a co¬sponsor of the Senior Citizens Hobby Show, but it now felt that responsibility for this annual event should be assumed by the Montreal Council of Social Agencies. It then turned its attention to other matters. In the year 1963/64, it took a survey on the availability of housing for the aged. After a lengthy investigation, a comprehensive report was produced and the committee concluded that it should be brought to the Board of Directors in order to formulate a plan of action. Further information on this subject will appear in later sections.
The Social Services Committee continued its activities in many other areas. Numerous agencies and individuals were assisted in one way or another and the usual visits to various institutions ans summer camp facilities were made.
The youth of today are the adults of tomorrow. Rotary believes that it is the responsibility of society to care for and assist youth, particularly those without economic advantages. The Youth Services Committee from the years 1959 to 1964 continued its programmes of visiting summer camps and other youth organizations. Camp Lewis, whose administration had been completely revamped, again received a great deal of help. New canoes, rowboats, tents and other essential camping equipment was purchased. The main project, however, was the building of new administration headquarters. Weredale, Trail's End, and University Settlement camps also received equipment, canoes, rowboats, and other similar items. Trail's End was provided with a new sick bay and University Settlement with a new wharf.
Camp Carowanis, originally a camp for orphan girls, changed ownership and became a camp for diabetic children. The Youth Services Committee provided the camp with a walk- in cooler which, as well as being used for perishable food, was essential for the storage of medication used to control diabetes. The camp was also provided with a movie projector and screen for entertainment purposes.
The Negro Community Centre, Tyndale House, Jean Le Prevost, the Sea Scouts, the Holy Cross Boys' Club, and other agencies received assistance in various forms. The Cecil Butter's Memorial Home for chronically ill mental patients required a new water supply; the committee provided funds for the digging of a new well. Any organization dealing with youth, who made applications for help, invariably received encouragement and tangible assistance.
In January 1960, the Dawson Boys' Club was officially opened and the Rotary club was well represented at the opening ceremonies. It not only had contributed towards the actual building, but had provided funds for a large portion of the equipment.
In 1962 the Montreal Rehabilitation Institute was officially opened. This was a three and a half million dollar project which had come into being due to the initiative and encouragement of the Rotary Club, particularly the efforts of Arthur Lapres and Later, John Bancroft. The Rotary Club is justified in taking credit for the Rehabilitation Institute, which has gained a worldwide reputation. Its Executive Director, Dr. Gustav Gingras, is internationally recognized as a leading authority in the field of physical medicine.
Rotary's interest in youth work did not confine itself to the provision of equipment or to the growth of organizations. For a number of years it made available a thousand dollar scholarship for any student wishing to pursue leadership training studies in order to become involved in youth work. During the 1963/64 year, Rotarian Norrey Owens organized a leadership training course for 45 students; apparently it was very successful. A young man residing at the Weredale Rome received funds to enable him to enroll in a dentistry course at McGill.
There was never any lack of projects for the Youth Services Committee. The problem was meeting all the needs; with a limited budget, despite all the goodwill in the world, there is a limit to what one organization can accomplish. A thorough investigation of each request before funds were granted was conducted. This fact is amply borne out by what occurred with Camp Lewis. This particular summer camp administration had been severely criticized. The Youth Services Committee had refused to extend further assistance until the matter had been cleared up to its satisfaction.
Unlike many single interest organizations, Rotary, with its motto of Service Above Self," becomes involved in practically every aspect affecting people. In 1960 it was decided that the Boys' Public Speaking, Student Loan, and Educational Services Committees be brought under the single banner of Educational Services. Each section continued to work separately to achieve its particular aims and objectives. The Boys' Public Speaking Committee continued to organize its annual Boys' Public Speaking Contest for the entire Province of Quebec and part of Ontario. Some 55 schools and numerous Rotary clubs were involved. Each year the finals were held before the Montreal club and was regarded as one of the better programmes. For a number of years the Students Loan Committee had been extending financial assistance to needy students. In 1960/61 a special group of four Rotarians (Ken Hicks, Kaj Dickow, Ralph Higginson, and Shorty Teakle) was assigned the task of contacting all the students and reminding them of fulfill their obligation to repay the loan. Most of the students contacted responded favourably; others could not be traced and one or two refused to recognize their responsibility.
The main project of the Educational Services Committee was a survey determining the educational facilities available to the citizens of Montreal. Including nursery schools, primary and high schools, technical schools and universities, it required substantial work and a great deal of time.
It was felt that business schools needed more investigation. Many of these institutions did not have any standards and had entirely inadequate facilities. In conjunction with other organizations such as the National Office Management Association, the Association of Business Colleges, the Montreal Personnel Association, and the Women's Personnel Group, a conference was organized and held on January20, 1962. The outcome was the establishment of a steering committee composed of representatives of the various groups. The decision was taken to draft a letter for much stricter licensing and supervision of this branch of education and forward it to the Department of Education. During 1961/ 63, a special committee composed of Fraser Bentley, Pat Patterson and Mac Davies, working in conjunction with the Montreal Council of Social Agencies, looked into the matter of exceptional children's education.
After numerous meetings and negotiations, a conference was organized for November 13, 1963. It was attended by two hundred delegates and was an outstanding success. The conference reached the conclusion that the education of deaf, mentally retarded, and other exceptional children should not continue to be the responsibility of the private sector. It was firmly established that it should become the responsibility of social and governmental education departments. This recommendation has come to pass. The Department of Education now works very closely with private agencies such as the Mackay Centre, the Oral School for the Deaf, the schools for the mentally retarded and for the blind. This is yet another striking example of Rotary stimulating needed changes for our society.
Vocational Services is one of the four avenues of Rotary service. It is the only committee in Rotary which experiences difficulty finding suitable projects. In 1960/61, however, it organized Junior Achievement. This Junior Achievement movement is designed to help high school students understand the nature of private enterprise and gain insight into business management. With the help of exisfing industry, Junior Achievement companies are established for a period of one year. The participating students fill the various offices of the company: President, Secretary, ChiefAccountant, etc. A definite activity is selected for that particfllar company. The students then manage the company's business and at the end of the year wind up the affairs.
The Montreal club undertook to establish Junior Achievement in the year 1961/62. Unfortunately, the cooperation of Montreal schools was not obtained. It then began to work with the Lakeshore Rotary Club and negotiations with the Lakeshore School Board were successful. Twenty Junior Achievement companies were established and industry responded generously with financial assistance. Members of the Montreal club played an active role in obtaining Rotary support. One young man was chosen and sent to the U.S. to undergo training as a director.
This Junior Achievement movement continued to grow on the Lakeshore and then in St. Laurent. Eventually, it became independent and continues to operate primarily in French- speaking schools. The Montreal and Lakeshore Rotary clubs can take credit for initiating the movement in the Montreal area.
The Vocational Services Committee also studied two other important problems, school drop- outs and racial discrimination in employment. Working with the Negro Community Centre, black students experiencing difficulties with their studies were matched with white students from more affluent areas who helped encourage them. This programme met with relative success. Club records do not indicate whether any progress was made in respect to discrimination in employment.
People unacquainted with Rotary feel that the businessmen get together once a week to have lunch, exchange pleasantries, and then return to their offices. Unfortunately, these people do not appreciate what is accomplished as a result of those weekly luncheon meetings. A couple who recently crossed Canada by automobile stated that they had not realized how much Rotary did for the community until their trip. From Montreal to Vancouver, they were constantly seeing signs stating that such and such a park was established by a Rotary club, that a particular recreational beach was known as the Rotary beach, etc. And this is only a small part of what Rotary does.
The Montreal club has accomplished a great deal over the years and the achievements reflect in some way the President at that time. Although previously mentioned, those who served as President for the years 1959/60 to 1963/64 were: 1959/60 Harold F. Kerrigan, 1960/ 61 Mackay Smith, 1961/62 Dr. Baruch Silverman, 1962/63 Ralph Leavitt, and 1963/64 Paul A. Cote'.
The opening months of the 1954/55 year, with Murray J. Scott as President, was the threshold of the golden anniversary of Rotary International. To celebrate the event, the club formed a special anniversary committee to plan celebrations
In January 1955, in conjunction with the premiere showing of Arthur Rank's "Romeo and Juliet," the club arranged a showing of a film produced by Rotary International, known as the" Great Adventure." This theatre night was ajoint undertaking of all five Rotary clubs on the Island. On February 1, the Past Presidents took over the general meeting, the theme of which was the golden anniversary. The head table and background was decorated with golden Rotary wheels and flags.
There were several other events organized to emphasize the anniversary. By way of example, in April a reception was held at the Weredale Boys' Home which, as well as recognizing Rotary's fiftieth birthday, it celebrated Weredale's twenty-fifth. A similar event occurred at the University Settlement, when the President of the University Settlement, Andy Hersey, entertained members of Rotary and explained the work of the Settlement. The events generated favourable publicity both for Rotary International and the Rotary clubs on the Island.
With the club's membership close to 400, the individual committees carried out their usual programmes. The Youth Service Committee concerned itself with summer camp activities. The usual visits were carried out, although the records indicate that attendance had dropped off considerably. The standard items, such as canoes and row boats, were donated to several camps. There were some larger projects undertaken, such as the installation of a sewage system for Trails' End Camp and an improvement to swimming facilities. A raft and diving board were supplied to the Summerhill Camp. The University Settlement Camp at Lake Hersey was supplied with funds to bring in electricity. This project was spread over a couple of years and was actually completed in the 1956/57 year. This particular camp also received other grants for improvement of its waterfront and to provide better accommodations for the kitchen staff.
In 1955 the Negro Community Centre, because of its growth, had to change its premises. The former building of the Iverley Settlement was acquired and the club assisted the move financially. In order to make the building suitable as a centre, extensive alterations had to be carried out. During the 1957/58 year, under the chairmanship of Vern McAdam, $40,000 was raised for the purpose. A gymnasium was built and equipped, new plumbing facilities instMled, and other improvements effected.
In the 1958 /59 year, a similar project was undertaken for the Dawson Boys' Club. In memory of Owen Dawson, the club donated $10,000, which was matched by friends of Owen Dawson, to equip the new centre with furniture, handicraft tools, etc.
The above projects were more or less of a major nature. During the same period, the stamp room at Shawbridge Boys' Farm was rebuilt, flinds were made available to equip the Bolton Glen Hostel, a recreation room was built in the basement at the St. Andrew's Youth Centre, and other similar undertakings were carried out.
Interest in the area of juvenile delinquency was maintained. Joe Rapapport and Howard McCartney were appointed as Rotary representatives on a youth protection committee, which had been established by the Montreal Council of Social Agencies and city authorities.
On an individual basis, the club sponsored students to participate in "Adventure in Citizenship." This project, organized by a Rotary club in Ottawa, provided students the opportunity to learn about Canada's parliamentary system. The club so financed another student to attend a Youth Rally in New Brunswick, which featured students from all over Canada and the United States.
Mention has been made of the club's involvement in the Air Cadet movement. Annually it had been donating money to the Villeray Air Cadets. It was during this period that the 96 Air Cadet Squadron was organized and Rotarian Jean-Marie Lachance became very much involved. The entire air cadet movement in Quebec was growing rapidly, largely due to Jean-Marie Lachance, the enthusiasm he generated, and the financial assistance which the club made available through the Youth Services Committee.
There is a tendency for the various committees to fall into a routine, to follow a fixed pattern from year to year. This is most likely due to the fact that agencies repeatedly request help from the same sources. From 1954 to the end of 1959, the Social Services Committee appears to have extended assistance to the same agencies and to have followed the same avenues of activities. In order to enlarge their field of interest, they selected 14 Montreal-based agencies and appointed a committee member to act as a liaison between them and the club. This resulted in the committee assisting a large number of agencies with routine requests, such as supplying small pieces of equipment, assisting individuals with specializ?d. apparatus, or the renovation of agency premises. While these activities were important, no useful purpose would be served by a detailed list.
There were, however, one or two important areas in which the committee became involved. For instance, in conjunction with the Montreal Council of Social Agencies, it helped organize and sponsor the Golden Age Hobby Show for several years. The first such show had 700 exhibits of handicraft work done by senior citizens - 4,000 people visited the exhibition. The four Rotarians involved with this project were Fred Rejall, Andy Hersey, Charles Ronalds, and Lloyd McClintock. This activity focused public attention on senior citizens and many senior citizens clubs came into existence as an indirect result.
Other projects which were undertaken by the committee were the construction of a balcony and an infirrnary at Camp Chapleau. Camp Chapleau was the summer camp run by the Old Brewery Mission.
The Montreal Children's Hospital was provided with two oxygen tents. The Montreal Day Nursery was granted two scholarships to enaNe two of its teachers to foUow a special child care programme in Boston, and a part sponsorship of a movement founded by the Montreal Council of Social Agencies known as" Recreation for the Handicapped." To list only a few items might leave the impression that the Social Service Committee did not accomplish a great deal. On the contrary, its work benefitted a large number of agencies in the City and the members of the committee were kept occupied in carrying out the necessary investigations.
Since the involvement with the Easter Seals movement and the additional funds which Easter Seals made available to the Cripples Aid Committee, this committee's activities increased substantially. It continued to organize entertainment and outings for crippled children, to visit the two camps for disabled children(Ayers Cliff and St. Alphonse de Joliette), and to carry out other traditional projects. It enlarged its field of interest, becoming involved with other forms of handicaps in addition to those resulting from polio, cerebral palsy, and other similar diseases.
During this five year period, work towards the founding and establishing of two organizations concerned with the treatment and rehabilitation of disabled individuals, particularly adults, was progressing slowly.
One of these was the Rehabilitation Institute which is known today as l'Institut de Re adaptation de Montreal. A leading promoter for this particular project was J. Arthur Lapres. In the beginning, temporary quarters were rented in the old Place Viger station. Work was started, but plans were being formulated to build a new centre. As is common with all new ventures, funds were badly needed. The committee made several substantial donations to provide the necessary equipment; for example, it provided funds to purchase a movie projector and screen to be used as a form of therapy. In addition, it supplied funds to provide equipment for the testing of hearing deficiencies. A large grant of $10,000 was made available for the erection of a temporary prosthetic shop. In connection with the planned new building, it pledged a donation of $7,500.
These are examples of four items which the committee made available to the Rehabilitation Centre. Its interest and involvement was broader. Annually, it gave full support to financial drives to raise capital funds or operating money for the new centre. Several Rotarians, such as John Bancroft, became leaders in promoting the new building. Dr. G. Gingras, the director of the Institute, became a very active member of the club.
Paralleling the assistance given to the proposed Rehabilitation Institute, the committee also became involved with the Lethbridge Rehabilitation Centre, Known then as the Occupational Therapy Centre. It provided funds for capital equipment and donated the sum of $5,000 to help with the purchase and installation of an elevator. Disabled individuals receiving treatment at the centre were also granted various sums to help with the purchase of specialized orthopedic equipment.
The two summer camps for disabled children, one at Ayers Cliff and the other at St. Alphonse de Joliette, were visited annually. As a result ofthese visits, the committee became involved with special projects. For the Ayers Cliff Camp, funds were supplied for the wiring and equipping of the craft shop, a new counsellor's cabin was built and equipped, and an administrative hut was erected. An interesting feature of this last project was that, after being built, it was dedicated to the memory of three deceased Rotarians: Jack Carson, William Harrison, and J. Arthur Lapres.
The Quebec Society for Crippled Children's camp at St. Alphonse de Joliette also received several grants to assist with various projects, the most important of which was the building and equipping of new counsellors' quarters.
Not only funds were provided for the camp buildings. On an annual basis, Rotarians, assisted by Air Force veterans from the number 306 (Maple Leaf) Wing of the Royal Canadian Air Force Association, visited these camps and actually performed the painting and carpentry work. This represented real Rotary involvement in addition to the provision of the necessary funds. Both these camps owe a great deal to Rotary and, indeed, to the service club movement in general.
A difficulty, always present when recording the activities of any particular group, is to determine what should be included and what left out. There were many organizations and individuals assisted by the Cripples Aid Committee. Orthopedic appliances, wheelchairs, and other similar equipment were provided to some two to three hundred individuals. Organizations such as Victor Dore' School, Montreal Children's Hospital, and Mackay Centre were also assisted. The value received by the individuals and organizations far exceed the monetary expenditure.
One interesting feature of this period was the committee's departure from the treatment of disabled people in the area of research to the prevention of disabling diseases. In 1958 it made a substantial grant to a research project designed to eliminate or minimize crippling disabilities caused by accidents and injuries. This project was being conducted at the McGill Donner Experimental Laboratories under Dr. Fraser Gurd.
The Mental Health Committee's activities, from the years 1954 to 1959, revolved around the film library and projects involving the mentally retarded. New films were provided to the Mental Institute's Library. One or more showings were organized and were very successful. In the 1954/55 year, Rotarian John Bancroft was appointed to work with other groups, studying the possibility of establishing a school for mentally retarded children. The Provincial Government did not appear to be very interested in this matter. Eventually, under private auspices, a school was established and the committee did make small financial contributions towards the purchase of equipment.
From time to time, the committee became involved with outside bodies. With the Montreal Council of Social Agencies, the committee examined the needs and the facilities for the mentally retarded citizens of Montreal. A seminar was organized to study this whole question. The four Rotarians involved were James B. Hawkins, Dr. Baruch Silverman, W. S. Shepherd, and Ernest 0. Freedman.
During the 1958/59 year,the committee examined its own activities. There was a feeling that they were spreading their work over too wide a field and that they should concentrate on a smaller number of areas. They invited several organizations to meet with the committee to discuss this programme and make plans. Resulting from this, a special committee under chairmanship of Reverend Reg Dunn, was appointed. With Dr. Roberts of the Douglas Hospital, they discussed the possibility of establishing a half-way house which would provide a gradual re-integration of mental patients into society. This project would require an estimated outlay of some $100,000. By the end of the year, although an interest had been expressed, no commitment was made.
Many of the matters which come before the Public Affairs Committee take a long time before results are achieved. Frequently, proper action is not taken by the appropriate government authorities., It can be safely stated, however, that results are achieved over a long period of time and it is impossible to determine the degree to which Rotary's involvement is responsible.
From the years 1954 to the end of 1959, the Public Affairs Comminee looked at many areas of public interest. Juvenile delinquency,
Montreal traffic, safety for children at street crossings, the effect of the St. Lawrence Seaway on Montreal. civil defense, and air pollution from motor vehicles, all came under survey. Letters were addressed to the proper government authorities and other civic bodies were made aware of what Rotary was attempting to accomplish. Rotary cannot take full credit for many of things which today have come to pass, but we feel quite confident in stating that Rotary's interest and action did start the ball rolling in the right direction.
Perhaps the most important project of this period was the ambulance service. Because of Rotary's agitation, by the early 1950s a Citizens' Committee had been established. Rotarians Jim Gallagher and Lew Stewart were most active on this committee. By September 1955, municipalities on the Island were beginning to take the necessary steps to improve the emergency ambulance service. In the 1957/58 year, resulting from a series of serious traffic accidents, the problem became a very important one, and the city executive appointed a special sub¬committee to study it once again.
Although most projects took a long time to resolve, there were several which did result in immediate action. The objection raised by Rotary and other bodies towards the erection of a concert hall on Fletcher's Field did result in the hall being built elsewhere. Bringing to light the deplorable conditions existing in nursing homes also brought about an inquiry on the part of authorities. Rotary organized special welcome ceremonies at the Citizen's Court for immigrants being given Canadian citizenship. The committee also conducted a survey of the facilities existing for derelicts and found that Montreal compared favourably with other cities. The Meurling Refuge received special commendation for the work it did in this particular area. The club, through the Public Affairs Committee, deserves a great deal of commendation for the many areas in which it became involved and for the action taken.
There were other committees, but their programmes were more or less standard and followed the lines of previous years. It is not necessary to give in any detail what they accomplished. The Photographic Committee continued its meetings and discussions on photography. The Art Committee did much the same. The Fellowship Committee continued its fun meetings and of course organized the social events of the club. Perhaps the one exception was the International Services Committee. As well as its foreign students programmes and its reception of and involvement with Rotary International students and groups coming to Canada, it did undertake a major project. It gave financial assistance to the two sailors' institutes. Its main activity, however, was the clothing drive organized to gather and distribute clothing for the Hungarians who came to Canada following the uprising against the Communist regime in 1956. Hundreds of refugees were assisted. So much clothing was gathered that the leftover clothing was given to welfare agencies in the city.
These particular five years were busy. Rotary and Rotarians were involved in the Montreal scene. Practically every agency of note within the city had Rotary representatives on its board. The five men who guided the destinies of the club over these years were Murray J. Scott, Joseph P. Lynes, A. Leslie Ham, Romeo Desjardins, and Vernon F. McAdam.
THE GOLDEN YEARS CONTINUED
As we proceed with the examination of the club's records, we begin to deal with current matters. Since our own membership in the club dates from 1950, the events which we are now covering do not leave us with the feeling that we are delving into history. Rather, we have the impression that we are re-living occurrences which are still reasonably fresh in our minds.
From time to time the question is asked," Why belong to Rotary"? It might be proper to answer, "Are you aware that some of the things you enjoy are the result of Rotary's action or, if not Rotary, some other service club whose principles and ideas are similar to those of Rotary?"
In the early months of 1959,the Public Affairs Committee undertook several projects. Some were successful and others disappointing. The Notre-Dame-de-Grace public library was being organized. The committee appealed to members for donations of books. Unfortunately, the response was extremely poor and resulted in a relatively small number of books being made available.
Three other areas met with greater success. The cornmittee assisted Dr. Crutchlow of the Royal Victoria Hospital with a research project which enquired into the medical aspect of traffic accidents. Records do not indicate the end result, but it appears that several recommendations were made to the medical profession.
Drug control was beginning to be a burning question. Many dangerous commodities were being sold across the counter and it was felt by some that stricter control be instituted. At the invitation of the Public Affairs Committee, Dr. D. I. Melville, a leading exponent of stricter drug control legislation, addressed the club. His talk impressed the membership. The committee had a copy of the address reproduced and distributed to all Rotary clubs across Canada and to a large number of newspapers and magazines.
The club's involvement with the Senior Citizens' Hobby Show created a general interest in the plight of senior citizens. Rotarians Bill Keyton and Andy Hersey were appointed to a special committee to gather information on and forward recommendations for senior citizens' homes.
For the year 1960/61, the Public Affairs Committee undertook a major project. The newspapers and radio had been focusing on the pollution of our lakes and rivers by the indiscriminate dumping of industrial waste and raw sewage. In the autumn months of 1960, President Mackay Smith and the Board of Directors approved a project put forward by the Public Affairs Committee. This project was to bring together all interested parties across Quebec to urge immediate legislation to remedy the water pollution problem. All the Rotary clubs in the province were contacted, as well as other service clubs such as Lions, Kiwanis, Optimists, and included other organizations such as the Baha'i and B'nai B'rith. Three hundred organizations, representing some 500,000 citizens of the province, were involved. A brief was prepared and, together with representation from the various organiza¬tions, Messrs Armand Godin and Peter Kerrigan presented the brief to the Provincial Government. This presentation resulted in Bill 88, "An Act to Remedy the Pollution of Water," being passed by the Provincial Government on May29, 1961.
This project alone is undoubtedly a concrete example of Rotary in action. Some will say that such an act would eventually have been passed by the government, but would it have been in 1961? How much more harm might have been done to our lakes and rivers? There is still a great deal of work to do, but we are closer to a solution than we would have been if legislation had been delayed for several years.
The success achieved with the water pollution problem encouraged the committee to enquire into a related one, air pollution. In this particular area, Dr. Armour Forse became a dynamic leader. Stations were established to monitor air pollution in various areas of the city. The club purchased and equipped a van with laboratory facilities. The mobility of the station enabled measurement to be taken over a large area. The problem of air pollution is still being vigorously pursued. Rotary, and particularly Dr. Armour Forse, can take much credit for this project.
Although water and air pollution had occupied most of the attention of the Public Affairs Committee during the years 1960/61 and 1961/62, the committee also studied subversive activities. A brief on the subject was prepared and forwarded to the Quebec Commission of Education urging that care be taken to keep the teaching of subversive doctrines out of the school system.
The controversy over the fluoridation of Montreal 's drinking water has been raging for a number of years. Some say fluoridation prevents dental decay; others do not entirely share the opinion. During the year 1962/63, the question was heatedly debated by the Public Affairs Committee. Eventually, the matter was set aside because a federal government's commission ruled against fluoridation. To this day, the Montreal city council is not in favour of the matter.
With the beginning of the calendar year 1963, thoughts turned towards celebrating the club's fiftieth birthday, its golden anniversary. The Public Affairs Committee was charged with the responsibility of recommending an event for the celebration which would also continue in subsequent years. Accordingly, it recommended to the Board of Directors "A Community Service Award," which would be given annually to an individual in the community who, through his actions, exemplified the Rotary idea of service to others and who by so doing encouraged others to follow his example. This recommendation was accepted and immediate plans were taken to select a candidate who would be given the award on or around October 2, the club's founding date.
The golden anniversary celebration was planned by the Programme Committee. Sixty- seven Rotary banners from 67 countries were displayed behind the head table. The guest speaker was Mr. Richard L. Evans, former Director and Vice President of Rotary International. Mr. Philip S. Fisher and Judge Arthur Laramet were presented with the Community Service Award. This award, as well as being comprised of the appropriate scrolls, carried with it a cash donation. In memory of his father, Past President Ralph Leavin established a special fund to cover the annual cash aspect of the award. The event was heralded as a great success.
Rotarians who were members in 1963 will recall vividly the club's involvement with the Bilingual and Bicultural Commission, known as the B & B Commission. In conjunction whh the Club Richelieu, a comprehensive brief was presented to the commission. This action received much recognition from all concerned.
As a final act in celebration of our fiftieth birthday, an amount of $20,000 was donated to the Mackay Centre for its library. It was also about this time that the Mackay Centre for the Deaf and the School for Crippled Children amalgamated to form one organizatiQn. New facilities had been built on Decarie Boulevard.
During the fifty years of our club's history, the International Services Committee had been primarily concerned with activities within Canada. It had been involved with foreign students attending Montreal - based universities by sending Christmas cards to those clubs whose members had visited the Montreal club, assisting foreign Rotarians and their families while visiting Canada, and other similar programmes. While extending the international hand of Rotary, they were not involved in international projects.In the 1962/63 year, however, donations were made towards a water purification project in Honduras and towards help with the reconstruction of a fishing school destroyed by an earthquake in San Jose.
In a service club, there is always a big turnover in membership. New members come in with new interests, and an active committee at one time may become less dynamic during another. During the five years from 1959 to 1964, the Cripples Aid Committee did not initiate any new projects. Camp visitations, the sending of crippled children to the Ice Capades or Ice Follies, and other standard activities continued.
One innovation was the establishment of the annual bursaries for students wishing to study physio or occupational therapy. These bursaries were available to French and English speaking students. During these years, between six and ten students were recipients.
Annual working parties continued to be organized for both Ayers Cliff and St. Alphonse de Joliette crippled children camps. In June of 1963, the committee was responsible for the erection of anothet cottage at the Ayers Cliff camp. In addition, during one such visit, the committee's attention was drawn to the problem of transportation and of the Quebec Society for Crippled Children's need for an additional vehicle. Accordingly, in 1960 a new ambulance was purchased and donated to the society.
Due to economic pressures, industrial expansion, and population shifts, many problems arise in an urban setting such as the City of Montreal. There was a great deal of poverty andjuvenile delinquency in the area east of St. Lawrence Street and north of the river.
During the Rotary year 1962/63, representatives from the Social Services Committee, together with members of the Mental Health Committee, attended a conference on urban redevelopment. This conference was organized by the University Settlement, the Mental Hygiene Institute, and the McGill School of Social Work. Its aim was to establish a cooperative health and welfare service to raise the status of a depressed community and to prevent family breakdown, adult crime, andjuvenile delinquency. As a direct outcome of Rotary's participation in this conference, the Social Services Committee, together with Mental Health, pledged an amount of$6,000 annually for a five-year period to implement the recommendations. Rotary should definitely be com¬mended highly for its participation in such a worthwhile project.
Around 1959, the City embarked on a housing development project known as the " Jeanne Mance Housing." Among the facilities badly needed was a day nursery. During the summer of 1961 the budget of the Social Services Committee was almost totally devoted to financing the nursery project. Paul Cot6, Chairman of the committee, was elected to the Board of the Jeanne Mance project. He immediately began putting pressure on the authorities to have the nursery school project included in the entire development project. This eventually occurred and, once the City assumed responsibility, Rotary withdrew its support. This is yet another example of how Rotary's participation during the initial months of a project helped lay the foundation for the final outcome.
For several years the Social Services Commktee had been a co¬sponsor of the Senior Citizens Hobby Show, but it now felt that responsibility for this annual event should be assumed by the Montreal Council of Social Agencies. It then turned its attention to other matters. In the year 1963/64, it took a survey on the availability of housing for the aged. After a lengthy investigation, a comprehensive report was produced and the committee concluded that it should be brought to the Board of Directors in order to formulate a plan of action. Further information on this subject will appear in later sections.
The Social Services Committee continued its activities in many other areas. Numerous agencies and individuals were assisted in one way or another and the usual visits to various institutions ans summer camp facilities were made.
The youth of today are the adults of tomorrow. Rotary believes that it is the responsibility of society to care for and assist youth, particularly those without economic advantages. The Youth Services Committee from the years 1959 to 1964 continued its programmes of visiting summer camps and other youth organizations. Camp Lewis, whose administration had been completely revamped, again received a great deal of help. New canoes, rowboats, tents and other essential camping equipment was purchased. The main project, however, was the building of new administration headquarters. Weredale, Trail's End, and University Settlement camps also received equipment, canoes, rowboats, and other similar items. Trail's End was provided with a new sick bay and University Settlement with a new wharf.
Camp Carowanis, originally a camp for orphan girls, changed ownership and became a camp for diabetic children. The Youth Services Committee provided the camp with a walk- in cooler which, as well as being used for perishable food, was essential for the storage of medication used to control diabetes. The camp was also provided with a movie projector and screen for entertainment purposes.
The Negro Community Centre, Tyndale House, Jean Le Prevost, the Sea Scouts, the Holy Cross Boys' Club, and other agencies received assistance in various forms. The Cecil Butter's Memorial Home for chronically ill mental patients required a new water supply; the committee provided funds for the digging of a new well. Any organization dealing with youth, who made applications for help, invariably received encouragement and tangible assistance.
In January 1960, the Dawson Boys' Club was officially opened and the Rotary club was well represented at the opening ceremonies. It not only had contributed towards the actual building, but had provided funds for a large portion of the equipment.
In 1962 the Montreal Rehabilitation Institute was officially opened. This was a three and a half million dollar project which had come into being due to the initiative and encouragement of the Rotary Club, particularly the efforts of Arthur Lapres and Later, John Bancroft. The Rotary Club is justified in taking credit for the Rehabilitation Institute, which has gained a worldwide reputation. Its Executive Director, Dr. Gustav Gingras, is internationally recognized as a leading authority in the field of physical medicine.
Rotary's interest in youth work did not confine itself to the provision of equipment or to the growth of organizations. For a number of years it made available a thousand dollar scholarship for any student wishing to pursue leadership training studies in order to become involved in youth work. During the 1963/64 year, Rotarian Norrey Owens organized a leadership training course for 45 students; apparently it was very successful. A young man residing at the Weredale Rome received funds to enable him to enroll in a dentistry course at McGill.
There was never any lack of projects for the Youth Services Committee. The problem was meeting all the needs; with a limited budget, despite all the goodwill in the world, there is a limit to what one organization can accomplish. A thorough investigation of each request before funds were granted was conducted. This fact is amply borne out by what occurred with Camp Lewis. This particular summer camp administration had been severely criticized. The Youth Services Committee had refused to extend further assistance until the matter had been cleared up to its satisfaction.
Unlike many single interest organizations, Rotary, with its motto of Service Above Self," becomes involved in practically every aspect affecting people. In 1960 it was decided that the Boys' Public Speaking, Student Loan, and Educational Services Committees be brought under the single banner of Educational Services. Each section continued to work separately to achieve its particular aims and objectives. The Boys' Public Speaking Committee continued to organize its annual Boys' Public Speaking Contest for the entire Province of Quebec and part of Ontario. Some 55 schools and numerous Rotary clubs were involved. Each year the finals were held before the Montreal club and was regarded as one of the better programmes. For a number of years the Students Loan Committee had been extending financial assistance to needy students. In 1960/61 a special group of four Rotarians (Ken Hicks, Kaj Dickow, Ralph Higginson, and Shorty Teakle) was assigned the task of contacting all the students and reminding them of fulfill their obligation to repay the loan. Most of the students contacted responded favourably; others could not be traced and one or two refused to recognize their responsibility.
The main project of the Educational Services Committee was a survey determining the educational facilities available to the citizens of Montreal. Including nursery schools, primary and high schools, technical schools and universities, it required substantial work and a great deal of time.
It was felt that business schools needed more investigation. Many of these institutions did not have any standards and had entirely inadequate facilities. In conjunction with other organizations such as the National Office Management Association, the Association of Business Colleges, the Montreal Personnel Association, and the Women's Personnel Group, a conference was organized and held on January20, 1962. The outcome was the establishment of a steering committee composed of representatives of the various groups. The decision was taken to draft a letter for much stricter licensing and supervision of this branch of education and forward it to the Department of Education. During 1961/ 63, a special committee composed of Fraser Bentley, Pat Patterson and Mac Davies, working in conjunction with the Montreal Council of Social Agencies, looked into the matter of exceptional children's education.
After numerous meetings and negotiations, a conference was organized for November 13, 1963. It was attended by two hundred delegates and was an outstanding success. The conference reached the conclusion that the education of deaf, mentally retarded, and other exceptional children should not continue to be the responsibility of the private sector. It was firmly established that it should become the responsibility of social and governmental education departments. This recommendation has come to pass. The Department of Education now works very closely with private agencies such as the Mackay Centre, the Oral School for the Deaf, the schools for the mentally retarded and for the blind. This is yet another striking example of Rotary stimulating needed changes for our society.
Vocational Services is one of the four avenues of Rotary service. It is the only committee in Rotary which experiences difficulty finding suitable projects. In 1960/61, however, it organized Junior Achievement. This Junior Achievement movement is designed to help high school students understand the nature of private enterprise and gain insight into business management. With the help of exisfing industry, Junior Achievement companies are established for a period of one year. The participating students fill the various offices of the company: President, Secretary, ChiefAccountant, etc. A definite activity is selected for that particfllar company. The students then manage the company's business and at the end of the year wind up the affairs.
The Montreal club undertook to establish Junior Achievement in the year 1961/62. Unfortunately, the cooperation of Montreal schools was not obtained. It then began to work with the Lakeshore Rotary Club and negotiations with the Lakeshore School Board were successful. Twenty Junior Achievement companies were established and industry responded generously with financial assistance. Members of the Montreal club played an active role in obtaining Rotary support. One young man was chosen and sent to the U.S. to undergo training as a director.
This Junior Achievement movement continued to grow on the Lakeshore and then in St. Laurent. Eventually, it became independent and continues to operate primarily in French- speaking schools. The Montreal and Lakeshore Rotary clubs can take credit for initiating the movement in the Montreal area.
The Vocational Services Committee also studied two other important problems, school drop- outs and racial discrimination in employment. Working with the Negro Community Centre, black students experiencing difficulties with their studies were matched with white students from more affluent areas who helped encourage them. This programme met with relative success. Club records do not indicate whether any progress was made in respect to discrimination in employment.
People unacquainted with Rotary feel that the businessmen get together once a week to have lunch, exchange pleasantries, and then return to their offices. Unfortunately, these people do not appreciate what is accomplished as a result of those weekly luncheon meetings. A couple who recently crossed Canada by automobile stated that they had not realized how much Rotary did for the community until their trip. From Montreal to Vancouver, they were constantly seeing signs stating that such and such a park was established by a Rotary club, that a particular recreational beach was known as the Rotary beach, etc. And this is only a small part of what Rotary does.
The Montreal club has accomplished a great deal over the years and the achievements reflect in some way the President at that time. Although previously mentioned, those who served as President for the years 1959/60 to 1963/64 were: 1959/60 Harold F. Kerrigan, 1960/ 61 Mackay Smith, 1961/62 Dr. Baruch Silverman, 1962/63 Ralph Leavitt, and 1963/64 Paul A. Cote'.