On April 9th, 1926, women holding executive positions in Vancouver gathered to form the First Soroptimist Club in Canada. It was only the second within the British Empire.
From the Great Depression to World War II and into the modern era, our members have been social pioneers—women who were different and wanted to make a difference.
The First Soroptimist Club in Canada is formed. Our motto: Quality, Service, and Harmony.
We aligned with the Police Women of Vancouver to support 'Dunromin', a hostel for unemployed women. By 1932, we took over operations, beginning our real estate odyssey.
Every month, we sent over 100 articles overseas. Post-war, we continued sending food parcels to Britain and Holland to aid recovery.
We opened the Soroptimist Apartment House at 546 West 13th, becoming the first club on the continent to house low-income senior women. In 1970, we partnered with Kiwanis to open 90 more suites.
We continue to fund awards for students and support senior centers. Our newest legacy project, Housing for Women by Women, continues our real estate odyssey into the 21st century.
Our history isn’t just dates; it’s people. Hear from our long-standing members who have carried the torch for decades.
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