'An East Coast Port': Halifax in Wartime, 1939-1945

The Y.W.C.A. had two previous locations in Halifax before this bulding was built at 267 Barrington Street in 1931. The Y.W.C.A. provided residence rooms, club rooms, and a temporary gymnasium. It did not have a swimming pool which was a fund-raising goal when A Tale of two Citadels was published in 1957. Nova Scotia Archives Library V/F volume 211 number 23   During World War II and the post-war years, the Y.W.C.A. served the young women of metropolitan Halifax and newcomers from other Maritime centres such as Truro, Sydney, Charlottetown and New Glasgow who came to begin or seek employment or to improve their education and training. The booklet noted that "Since in inception [1874] the Association in Halifax has played a role in helping hundreds of acutely distressed girls, had helped many hundreds of others to achieve happiness and good citizenship, had found suitable accommodation for 40,000 girls and women through its Room Registry, had provided at least 15,000 nights of free lodging for girls in need and as many free meals for such cases."

Date: 1942

Reference: E.A. Bollinger Nova Scotia Archives 1975-305 1942 no. 602e