Five W’s about the Y

We seem to be on the topic of “Move It” this week, so I did a little research into the ?áhistory of the Y! ?áBy learning a little about the Y, I end up learning a bit about Montreal and Concordia University.

In 1851, the very first North American YMCA opened in Montreal. ?áIt is located on rue des R?®collets and rue Sainte-H?®l?¿ne.

The man who founded the YMCA was Sir George Williams. ?áHe was a man who was wild at one point and then became a devote Christian. ?áIt seems to me that he really understood the meaning of a “good life.” ?áIn 1844, while working as a draper in London during the Industrial Revolution, he organized workers to engage in healthy activities during their free-time. ?áOne of the important activities that was encouraged by the YMCA was continuing education.

During this time, continuing education for workers was controversial because education was thought to be a privilege belonging to the elite. ?áIn 1873, the YMCA in Montreal started offering night courses to labourers. ?áThis was the beginning of Sir George Williams College which opened in 1926. ?áIt was located in the 1911 YMCA building on Drummond Street. University level courses were offered starting in 1929. ?áEventually Sir George Williams University merged with Loyola College to become Concordia University.

If you know anything more about this history, drop me a line in the comments.

Tammy Schmidt, Montreal