Diocese of Toronto | Anglican Church of Canada

York Group

 

Upcoming events:

Tuesday, March 19 at 2:00pm: Archives and the History of St. James Cathedral

Historians and archivists Nancy Mallett and Claire Wilton will be featured on Tuesday, March 19 at 2:00pm in the Lecture Room. Their presentation is entitled: “Archives and the History of St. James Cathedral”. No RSVP is required. Light refreshments will be served. We look forward to an interesting afternoon with the York Group.

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Saturday, April 6 from 8:30am to 12:00 noon: Women’s Breakfast Event
The York Group warmly invites you to attend the Women’s Breakfast event to be held at the Lecture Room on Saturday, April 6, from 8:30am to 12:00 noon. Wycliffe College presents “Silent No More! Reformation-era Women Who Refused To Keep Silent.” Breakfast will be provided.
Please RSVP here or during Coffee Hours, following services.

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Jacqueline Gibbons author’s book presentation:
The York Group invites you to attend Jacqueline Gibbons author’s book presentation called: “Angels, Flight, and the Airplane”. Dr. Gibbons will present on how we have looked to the heavens for adventures in flight. Book signing will follow the presentation. Refreshments will be served. No RSVP is required. Jacqueline Gibbons presentation to be announced in late April.

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What is the York Group?

The York Group has been a long standing, worthy organization at St. James Cathedral for many decades, based on the terms of the Brock Bequest established in 1939. The organization includes an Executive Committee supported by the larger church community, as well as oversight of the Brock Bequest by the Dean and Churchwardens. Membership includes all women of the Cathedral.

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Our Mission

Our mission is to unite women at the Cathedral for the purposes of promoting charitable and educational work, as well as providing companionship and fellowship opportunities for all women parishioners.

We welcome all women of the Cathedral community.

Who We Are

The York Group has over 100 years of devotion and service by women at the Cathedral. The name has changed over the years, and the mission has evolved as we continue to gather for fellowship, worship, learning, and charitable activities.

Over the past number of years, it has primarily been senior women who have been actively involved in York Group activities. We have been blessed with a very generous bequest from a parishioner which has and will continue to fund senior women’s ministry.

Our History

The earliest recording in the St. James’ archives mention a group called a “Ladies Aid Association” in 1879. They held social functions, raised funds, organized bazaars, and helped furnish the Divinity School.

Women Auxiliary Daffodil Luncheon
Photo from Diocese of Toronto – Archives

In 1889, the Women’s Auxiliary of St. James was formed with Mrs. W.R. Brock, who became the president. Between 1891 to 1939, they worked together with the Dorcas Society of Toronto. They organized Sunday School in the Cathedral parish, provided help to St. Michael’s Hospital, packed Christmas baskets for the needy, and contributed funds previously raised towards missionary work in Japan and elsewhere in the world. They also helped the clergy in carrying out their work.

They celebrated their Golden Jubilee in 1939, when the Woman’s Auxiliary of St. James became known as the Afternoon Branch, later known as Senior Branch. In the same year the Cathedral received a very generous bequest from Anna M. Brock for the purpose of disbursing funds through the Senior Branch for senior women’s ministry. These funds are now under the trusteeship of the Rector and Churchwardens. During Second World War, they were involved in such activities as helping families directly impacted by the war at home and abroad and visiting the wounded at St. Michael’s Hospital.

After the war, many happy events took place in the life of the Senior Branch at St. James Cathedral. The Senior Branch continued in many years of service as they carried out their duties in the missionary and charity fields, presenting hymn books, and representing the Cathedral at the Women’s World Day of Prayer.

In 1968, the Senior Branch became known as the York Group. Ever since, membership has been open to all women parishioners of the Cathedral.

From 1968 to the start of the pandemic in 2020, the York Group supported a number of long-standing relationships and funded a variety of activities and events benefiting the Cathedral, as well as initiatives to support the wider community.

In June of 2023, a new Executive was elected and it is now up and running with fresh commitment and purpose, discerning the direction of charitable donations, planning events and welcoming all women of the Cathedral.

Please look for upcoming events and updates in Connections in the Sunday bulletins, in E-Connections, on the Cathedral’s website as well as on social media channels: Facebook, Instagram, and YouTube.

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Past Events:

York Group Annual General Meeting

The York Group held its AGM with lunch on Sunday, March 17th, 2024.
The Dean and Canon Beth Benson were in attendance along with 35 parishioners.
Topics included the introduction of the Executive Committee, Chair’s Report, Finance Report, the recent survey, and a review of upcoming events.
There was an opportunity for questions and comments from parishioners. The meeting included a time of fellowship which was enjoyed by all.

AGM Minutes

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Preventing Chronic Disease – Not What You Think! by Dr. David Mowat
The York Group would like to thank Dr. Mowat for his interesting and entertaining presentation and for all the visitors and parishioners who attended the event. We stayed longer for Fellowship afterwards.

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Wycliffe College’s Women’s Breakfast (online)

Thank you all who attended Wycliffe College’s Women’s Breakfast event hosted by the York Group. We sure had a great time and good food for our body and soul alike.


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The York Group’s Book Presentation
“No Man’s Land” written by Dr. Sarah McKinnon

Thank you to all members of the neighborhood and the Cathedral community who participated today.

The presentation included commemoration of Remembrance Day with Cecil Thompson, who is a past president of the Royal Canadian Air Force Association. After the presentation parishioners had a chance to purchase Dr. McKinnon’s autographed book.

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Sleep and be Well: Effective natural ways to get your best sleep after 50.

Thank you to all members of the neighborhood and the Cathedral community who participated today in an educational workshop on effective self-care from sleep science, psychology and integrative medicine presented by Dr. Lucinda Sykes, a retired Canadian physician and a longtime mindfulness teacher from the Toronto clinic, Meditation for Health.

 

 

Thursday, September 21 at 2:00pm in Snell Hall at the Cathedral Centre
Sleep and be Well: Effective natural ways to get your best sleep after 50.

Did you know that people who sleep well have a lower risk of dementia, better heart health, stronger immune response, and less diabetes? Better sleep means less sleep medication – fewer side effects!

Presented by Lucinda Sykes, BSc, MD a retired Canadian doctor and a longtime mindfulness teacher. More than 6000 patients were referred to attend medical programs of mindfulness at her Toronto clinic, Meditation for Health.

She teaches effective self-care – simple strategies from sleep science, psychology, integrative medicine.
She helps people find their own path to the healthy sleep that’s best for them.

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Dementia Prevention – Awareness Workshop

Thank you to all members of the neighborhood and the Cathedral community who participated in an educational workshop on dementia prevention presented by Dr. Andrea Wilkinson, PhD Research Associate (Dementia Prevention) – University of Toronto.

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Annual Moorelands Baby Shower 2023

The York Group baby shower which benefits the new mothers and babies of Moorelands was fantastic! Thank you to everyone who joined us!

Our members and friends of our community donated many beautiful hand-made baby outfits, quilts, blankets, and other gifts for newborns to benefit the Moorelands Community Services’ Baby Bundle program which provides mothers in need with the clothing and basic toiletries they need to keep their newborns clean, warm and dry. This program makes a positive impact in the lives of new mothers and their newborns who are affected by poverty.

 

All donations were gratefully received and presented to Moorelands.
Thank you to The York Group, Moorelands, and everyone in the community who made this possible!

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Future Considerations

We look forward to providing an ongoing program of events and charitable support – i.e. senior women’s ministry – and welcome the input of all women parishioners.

In the meantime, we are delighted to inform you of our upcoming events. All are warmly welcome to attend.

Contact Information:

Email: info@stjamescathedral.ca

Phone number: (416) 364-7865

 

The Cathedral Church of St James

106 King Street East, Toronto ON M5C 2E9 | Office & Mailing Address: 65 Church Street, Toronto, ON M5C 2E9
(416)364-7865 | info@stjamescathedral.ca

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