About Us

We are a dynamic group of women striving to develop and provide service and support to women and children in the Waterloo Region through active involvement and fundraising activities.

From our earliest beginnings in 1898 to the present day, the goal of the May Court Clubs of Canada has been to raise funds to serve and support those in need. May Court is the oldest service club in Canada, founded by Lady Isabel Aberdeen, the wife of Canada’s then Governor General. Lady Aberdeen had strong ideas about the role of women in society which she put into action. She was the founder of the Victorian Order of Nurses (VON) and the Council of Women. To support these endeavours, she founded The May Court Club. Over the past century, May Court Clubs have grown to more than 1,500 volunteer women located in nine Ontario cities driven by the same spirit and passion for making a difference in the communities in which they serve.

Take a tour of our site to see what we do in the Kitchener-Waterloo area. If you are new to the community and are interested in helping others, there are many areas of May Court in which you can make a difference. We welcome young and old. We especially welcome you!

A dynamic group of women striving to provide service and support to women and children in need
in the Waterloo Region through active involvement and
fundraising activities.

Canadian Charitable Organization Number: 13082 8841 RR0001

Help To Others

Monday Neighbourhood Centres

The Monday Afternoon Centre offers a program to women and their pre-school children who are referred to May Court by a social service agency. Through a variety of social and educational activities, we try to help participants develop a sense of self-esteem and worth. Social development of pre-school children is encouraged through organized activities and the older children of participants are offered an opportunity to attend summer camps.

The Monday Evening Centre provides interaction with others in similar situations as the Monday Afternoon Centre in a relaxed atmosphere of care and concern. The centre gives our ladies a chance to experience new adventures and a wide variety of activities including crafts, cooking, speakers and outings. The evening group tends to be somewhat smaller than the afternoon group, and participants are encouraged to take an active role in planning programs and providing support.

The Homes for Special Care Committee was formed in the early 1970s and consists of dedicated May Court members and "Friends of May Court". The committee members visit 35 - 40 clients who suffer various psychiatric problems. They meet once a week from mid-September to mid-June. The mandate of this group is to provide support, friendship and an event to look forward to each week. Participants in this program attend a four-day camping trip each September financially supported by The May Court of Kitchener-Waterloo.

Food Box Program

In 1984 local schools found that a number of students were coming to school hungry each day. In response, May Court decided to supply emergency food boxes whenever a school requested one. Each box contains peanut-free, non-perishable, individually packaged items.
Rather than diminishing over the years, the requests for food boxes have increased substantially and May Court continues to respond.

Community Involvement

Many May Court members also volunteer in other capacities in the community. One such involvement is with the Strong Start program which helps young children develop their reading skills on a one-on-one basis in the school setting.