Ladies’ Guild

Ladies’ Guild

The Ladies’ Guild is a group of women of all ages involved in their parish.

From its first meeting on February 2, 1938, these women took it upon themselves to complete the last, but not least, details of the Anglican church’s development. Fundraising and donation campaigns enabled the acquisition of the Hammond B 3 organ, the pulpit, and other furnishings through the Ladies Guild. Like the Ladies’ Auxiliary, the group ensured that women could play an important and dynamic role within their community. These women ensured that the church would have everything it needed for services and items necessary for social gatherings such as suppers, teas, altar flowers, and receptions. A committee was formed to raise funds to cover the expenses of the presbytery, major purchases such as the organ, and maintenance. Fifteen years later, a kitchen was added for the Ladies Guild to help with their teas.

Teas were a highlight of the community and it was an honor to host them. Silver tea services, owned by the members, were used; tea was served in fine china cups, which are still in use today. These meetings generally took place on the first Friday of each month. During these meetings, public and domestic affairs were discussed; these ladies wished to improve their living environment. Some of these discussions would lead to legitimate requests or suggestions that would be forwarded to the municipality, the Chamber of Commerce, etc., notably in 1944, when they were concerned about parking on La Salle Square.

During the Second World War, the Ladies’ Guild joined forces with the Ladies’ Auxiliary to found the town’s first bilingual newspaper, the Bulletin or Town Crier. The profits were used to support, through small gifts, the soldiers sent to the front during the conflict.