Old Y Centre for Community Organizations
1911-1997
The story of this building and those that lived and worked in it begins
on a wet November night in 1907. A young woman, arriving on a late train
from the south, found herself going from door to door in Calgary looking
for a place to stay the night. Many of the city's landlords were hesitant
to take in young women as women were found to be expensive tenants. They
were too fond of doing laundry and burning extra coal oil to heat their
curling tongs. This particular lady was lucky. Just after midnight she
rang Mrs. John McDougall's doorbell and was taken in for the night.
It didn't take Mrs. McDougall long to bring together some of the
prominent ladies of Calgary in an effort to do something about the
problem of accommodation for young women.
The corner stone of the YWCA located at 223-12 Avenue South West was laid
on June 21, 1910.
After 50 years the Old Y was beginning to sag. When it was built, it was
considered one of the most up-to-date and attractive buildings west of
Toronto. In 1969, it was considered one of the most unattractive, least
functional buildings west of Toronto.
In the Spring of 1971, the YWCA and the building that was it's first
owned home parted company. The city of Calgary took over responsibility
for it in a property swap that provided the YWCA with it's new site.
In early 1979, social service agencies housed in the Old Y, presented a
proposal to the social services committee to save the building from
demolition. The plan involved the tenants forming a society and taking
over responsibility for the Old Y.
On November 26, 1980 the building was designated an Historic Site by the
Minister, Mary J. LeMessurier. This designation secured the buildings
future.
Tenants in the building as of this writing are:
- Alberta Rockies Gay Rodeo Association
- Alberta Romance Writer's Association
- Calgary Association of Parents and Professionals for Safe Alternatives
in Childbirth
- Calgary Lesbian and Gay Political Action Guild
- Calgary Mental Health Consumer's Network
- Calgary Status of Women Action
Committee
- Calgary Women's Health Collective
- Canadian Feed the Children
- Children's Wish Foundation
- CHOOSE: The Fellowship
- Creative Connections - P.A.S.C.
- Dandelion Magazine Society
- Education on Media and Pornography
- Eritrean Community Association, Calgary
- Ethiopian Community Association
- Faith In Christ Church
- Gay & Lesbian Community Services Association
- Green Fools Theatre
- Greenpeace
- Jabber Magazine
- Les Gigueurs
- Maenad Theatre
- Oromo Community Association
- Personal Lifestyle Alternative Program
- Religious Society of
Friends
- The Sunshine Phone Lines
- TRIAD Society for Truth in Adoption
- Western Canadian Wilderness Committee
- Women Looking Forward
- Women of Colour Collective
- Writer's Guild of Alberta
The following are "ASSOCIATE MEMBERS":
- Calgary Friends of Medicare
- Calgary Rainforest Action
Group
- Canadian Cuban Friendship Association
- Chinook City Dance Club
- Oxfam
- Parents, Families and Friends of Lesbians and Gays
Following is a very short listing of the over 200 past members:
- AIDS Calgary
- Alberta Luge Association
- Arete Mime Troupe
- Calgary Birth Control Association
- Calgary Coalition on Family Violence
- Calgary Immigrant Aid Society
- Calgary Inner City Coalition
- Canadian Hemophilia Society
- Citizens for Public Justice
- Company of Young Canadians
- Distress Centre/Drug Centre
- Elizabeth Fry Society
- Inter Faith
- Legal Guidance
- McMann Youth Services
- Oxfam Canada
- Parent Support Association
- Rape Crisis Centre
- Southern Alberta Deaf Association
- S.H.A.R.P. Foundation
- Vocation Rehabilitation Research Institute
The Old Y Centre currently houses over 30 different non-profit and
charitable organizations serving Calgary and area. Our mandate is two
fold.
First we are charged with the responsibility of restoring this grand old
building.
Second, we offer space and meeting rooms to over 30 non-profit and
charitable organizations at nominal cost.
For further information on how to become a member, rent office or meeting
room space, call Darlene at 261-9660.
Index of Calgary Non-Profits