The Good Neighbours' Club

The Good Neighbours' Club Logo

The Good Neighbours' Club is a drop-in centre in Toronto, Ontario, Canada, for men over fifty years of age who are living in poverty. The club provides members with low-cost meals, meals-on-wheels, social work services, basic health services, a housing worker, a concurrent disorders worker, a library with internet access, laundry, showers, mail services, telephones, and social and recreational activities. The club is funded by the City of Toronto, the United Way, the Province of Ontario through the Local Health Integration Network (LHIN), and by private donations. It is located downtown, at Jarvis and Shuter Streets.

History

The Good Neighbours' Club was founded in 1933 by May Birchard (died July 30, 1968), a municipal politician and anti-poverty activist. Birchard intended the club to serve homeless and unemployed elderly men living in Toronto at the time, many of whom were veterans of the First World War. As a strong believer in the Canadian Social Gospel movement, Birchard was motivated by the Christian principle that "thou shalt love thy neighbour as thyself."

Paul Croutch and the Day of the Homeless

In 2005, Good Neighbours' Club member, Paul Croutch, was beaten to death by Corporal Jeffery Hall, Corporal Mountaz Ibrahim and Rifleman Brian Deganis. All three were members of the Queen's Own Rifles, a Canadian Forces regiment stationed at the Moss Park Armoury, across the street from the club. Croutch, who was 59 years old and who suffered from serious health problems, was sleeping on a bench at the time. Hall, Ibrahim and Deganis also assaulted bystander Valerie Valen, who attempted to stop their attack on Croutch.[1][2][3]

In 2009, the Good Neighbours' Club started the "Day of the Homeless"[4] as a memorial to Croutch and other victims of homelessness and intolerance. The event is held annually in August. In 2010, the event featured an exhibit of photos of Club members called "Expressions of Hope and Despair," by photojournalist Rita Leistner and member-photographers.

The Toronto Challenge

The Good Neighbours' Club participates in the Toronto Challenge, an annual run/walk event that raises funds for agencies serving seniors in the City of Toronto.[5]

Patrons and Board of Directors

The Good Neighbours' Club has a patron and a vice-patron. The current patron is David Onley, the Lieutenant Governor of Ontario, and the current vice-patron is Bill Blair, chief of the Toronto Police Service. The club's board of directors includes:

References

  1. ↑ Betsy Powell Courts Bureau (2008-05-01). "Soldiers sorry for Moss Park killing". Toronto: thestar.com. Retrieved 2011-03-29.
  2. ↑ Peter Small Courts Bureau (2008-03-18). "Homeless man was kicked 'like a football,' trial told". Toronto: thestar.com. Retrieved 2011-03-29.
  3. ↑ Originally published September 2008 (2005-08-30). "The Lonely Death of Paul Croutch". torontolife.com. Retrieved 2011-03-29.
  4. ↑ "Day of the Homeless — The Good Neighbours' Club". Goodneighboursclub.org. Retrieved 2011-03-29.
  5. ↑ "Toronto Challenge – Sunday, June 13, 2010". Toronto.ca. 2010-06-13. Retrieved 2011-03-29.

External links

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