A Brief History
The Association of May Court Clubs is a volunteer organization of more than 2,000 Canadian women, dedicated to fund-raising and serving their communities.
Founded in 1898 in Ottawa by Ishbel Aberdeen, wife of the Governor-General of Canada
(Lady Aberdeen also founded the Victorian Order of Nurses and the National
Council of Women), May Court has grown to nine clubs located in cities across
Ontario, including the May Court Club of Brockville. May Court is
From a membership of 29 in 1959,
and a project to help start a new senior citizens’ club, the
Principal source of funds is the May Court Thrift Shop. Funds are also raised through silent auctions, holiday sales, fashion shows and flower sales. Principal service projects in addition to the shop run by members, include St. Lawrence Lodge and Loaves & Fishes.
Members of May Court are women dedicated to active volunteerism in the community--both fund-raising and direct service. Members must fulfill a minimum number of volunteer hours yearly.
May Court members have built a personal foundation for volunteerism. Many have gone on to offer their skills and talents in other capacities: hospital boards, Queen’s University board of governors, Ontario Hospital Association, Girl Guides, YM-YWCA. Four members have served as president of the Association of May Court Clubs.
In 1999 a new category of membership, “Next Generation,” was established to involve younger women in May Court volunteerism.
Over the years May Court has given support to a wide range of projects in this community, including:
Senior Citizens
Meals-on-Wheels
Brockville YM-YWCA day camp, swimming pool
Brockville General,
Operation Harvest Sharing food bank
Emergency Food Boxes in schools
Victorian Order of Nurses
Big Sisters
St. Lawrence Lodge, Sherwood Park Manor nursing
homes
Friendship Centre
Interval House
Touch-a-Rainbow therapeutic riding
Habitat for Humanity
Loaves & Fishes