History of the YWCA of Regina
Post War: 1945 - 1955
There was a curious let down in the months immediately following war-end - - as if the ordinary routine of everyday living was in too sharp contrast to the high pitch of wartime activity. One tried to begin again where she had left off before the war; then realized that nothing could be the same again. So it was with the YWCA, but in the period of transition the Association found new challenges.
The housing situation, even with the return of veterans to their homes in other areas, was still acute. The first concern of the Association was for the welfare of the discharged service women who were taking courses in Regina, and who needed living quarters. The Maple Leaf Hostel was leased by the Anglican Church jointly to the YWCA and Citizens Rehabilitation Committee with YWCA responsible for administration. Accommodation with light housekeeping facilities was provided for 62 girls at reasonable rates. In May of '47 the Hostel or the Hostess House as it had become known, was taken over by the Anglican W.A.
The city housing registry closed in 1948, but toward the end of the same year, a rooms registry was set up in the YWCA as part of the Travellers' Aid Department and was supported by a grant from the City of Regina. By 1953 the number of applications for rooms had increased from 3,518 to 6,028. Housing development mushroomed but acute housing shortages still existed. Rentals were inflated where they were not affected by rental control measures. Families in middle salary brackets and elderly people with fixed income bore the brunt of exorbitant rentals.
The Housing Committee of the Local Council of Women submitted a brief to the City Council in 1954 proposing subsidized housing as a means of alleviating the situation. In the November 1954 civic elections, citizens voted by a small majority against a by-law under which the city, provincial and federal governments would enter into a subsidized housing project. The issue, however, was still kept alive.
The years following the war saw a great influx of people from other countries - people from the caps of Europe, others from the Netherlands, Germany, and the British Isles, some from Italy, Greece, China. They brought with them vitality and rich background of culture. The YWCA co-operated with the I.O.D.E. in providing basic English classes. That same year the YWCA affiliated with the newly incorporated New Canadians and Citizenship Council, a society composed of representatives of organizations, of individuals and, branches of government interested in furthering the welfare of new Canadians.
In keeping with its tradition of involvement with public affairs, during this period the YWCA was involved with addressing the needs of women moving in from reservations to the urban areas, combating discrimination and prejudice, contributing to Canada's World Service fund.
Mutual services was once "the foreign work of the Association", deriving its financial support from drawing-room teas. What has happened in the evolution of mutual service is typical of what has happened in relationships within the Association since its founding. There has been a moving away from the idea of "doing for" to "doing with", and more recognition of the fact that the vitality of the Association depends in large degree upon the active participation of its members in the processes of evaluation, planning, and developing their own programme in all its phases. Something of that order happened in what led up to the building of the swimming pool in 1925.
As a membership organization, the Association within recent years has placed increasing emphasis upon purpose, and the implications of purpose in personal and group relationships, and in standards of work. "To build a fellowship of women and girls.......devoted to the task of realising......ideals of personal and social living to which we are committed by our faith as Christians. In this endeavour we seek to understand Jesus, to share His love for all people, and to grow in the knowledge and love of God. "Throughout the years there has been much falling short; there have been many failures and successes - as there must be in any field of human endeavour; and there have been differences in thinking and in methods. Yet out of all this, there has emerged a sense of direction, and of deepening purpose.
In the earlier part of the 1950's the trend was toward classes and large group activities. Square dancing, beginning in the YWCA, spread throughout the city; drama workshops for children became an important program feature. Long distance bus tours were organized during the summer for women, a travel club was formed. Early in 1951 the public cafeteria, which had been operating at a deficit, was closed, but a food service was retained for the young women living in residence and overnight guests. The space, formerly occupied by the cafeteria, was used for the development of much needed group activity. A part time play school was opened in the fall of 1951, was re-opened the next fall, and closed that same year as the need at the time did not appear to be great enough to justify its existence. Small groups grew out of the larger activities; greater emphasis was placed on programs with mothers, teen agers, and young adults.
Association members have come and gone - board, staff and committee members have come and gone; so also activity participants - but the Association remains. This has been achieved not through one person or one group, but through the relationships of many persons, and many groups.
Since that October day in 1911, the saplings in Victoria Park have grown into trees, and the stone step at the entrance to the YWCA building has become worn with the passage of many feet. The words come back across the years with new clarity - "It is a blessed privilege to have a part in the beginning of things."