Print - The Canadian Jewish Heritage Network - Alex Dworkin Canadian Jewish Archives

Scope and Content: Scrapbook including history of society (1922). Officers list (1915-1926, with gaps). Correspondence about meetings and events. Tickets, membership cards, programs, dance cards, invitations. Clippings (1914-1927, e/y).

Scope and Content: Scrapbook including history of society (1922). Officers list (1915-1926, with gaps). Correspondence about meetings and events. Tickets, membership cards, programs, dance cards, invitations. Clippings (1914-1927, e/y).

History / Biographical: The Dufferin School, the oldest Protestant school in Montreal, had a 90% Jewish enrolment by the early 1900s. In 1913 its alumni founded the Dufferin School Graduates Society, the first Jewish graduates society in Canada. Its aims were to guide students in career choices, suggest curriculum changes best adapted to the students' needs, keep statistics, and organize graduated to keep track of them and have them support the school. The society ran lectures, recitals and dances, raised money for various causes, sponsored graduation day receptions, and granted scholarships to keep Jewish students who otherwise could not afford it in school. Their other events included civic night (where resolutions were passed and then the reforms were sent to the city council), and mock parliaments. There was also a Junior Dufferin School Graduates Society, for students aged 13 to 17, to provide vocational guidance.