180 Years of Compassion in Action: Celebrating Our Canadian SSVP Journey | The theme of our Annual National Formation (ANF), 180 years of Compassion in Action, celebrates the longstanding historical roots of the Society in Canada. Notre Dame Conference was the first Conference established in Canada by Dr. Joseph Painchaud in Quebec City in 1846, after the first Conferences were founded in France in 1833. The Society then expanded to Montreal in 1848 with the founding of Saint Jacques Conference under Monseigneur Ignace Bourget. | | Next, the Society expanded into Ontario in 1850 with the founding of The Conference of Charity of Our Lady at St. Michael’s Cathedral, in Toronto by George Manly Muir. The Society spread to Nova Scotia in 1853 with the formation of St. Mary’s Conference in Halifax. The Society then expanded across Canada to British Columbia when Holy Rosary Conference was formed in Vancouver in 1915. The initial focus of the first Canadian SSVP members was to assist victims of major fires in Quebec City and aiding Irish and German immigrants. As more Conferences formed, early work included assisting orphans, operating night schools for boys, and visiting prisons in addition to home visits to neighbours in need. For 180 years, the Society has focused on home visits providing material support including food security, clothing, furniture and household items to neighbours in need. When visiting, members of our Society listen and help in all possible ways. Currently, the Society in Canada has over 13,000 members and volunteers belonging to 785 councils and conferences. Every year, Conference members help more than 350,000 individuals. | Come and join us at the ANF June 25 – 27 at Mount St. Vincent University in beautiful Halifax, Nova Scotia. At this ANF, our long history will be the basis for our current and future actions on behalf of our neighbours in need. Our focus will be on formation with demonstrations of best practices from conferences and councils and direct anti-poverty actions led by our national committees. Very special guests will join us. It is an event you will not want to miss! Linda Dollard, President
National Council of Canada | | Amplifying Your Impact: The National Council at Your Service | Six months ago, I joined the National Council of the Society, and it has been an amazing journey of discoveries, inspirations, and rewards. During this time, I have had the pleasure of meeting many of you through the various committee and board meetings. To hear the passion and commitment is amazing, and I am truly humbled hearing about the work being done on the front lines. This frequent and varied contact is essential for the National Council. Indeed, one of the best tools for fundraising are stories illustrating the important work we do. Your stories celebrate the Society's impact in very real terms. | | Your National Council is here to make sure as many people as possible understand your work and hear your stories. Our regular social media posts and advertising, coupled with the Bulletin and other outreach activities have successfully raised the SSVP’s visibility and resulted in unprecedented fundraising totals. In 2025, the total amount of donations redirected to conferences and councils through ssvp.ca more than doubled versus 2024! READ MORE | Did you know? YOU can influence the programs and direction of the Society by participating in National Committees. | Committees in your National Council are working hard to ensure that your support to our Neighbours in need is purposeful and the Society’s direction is forward thinking and adapts to the times. To ensure that you are heard and counted, get involved, put your names forward. We are looking for representatives from every region! CLICK HERE FOR OPTIONS & CONTACT INFORMATION FOR EACH COMMITTEE CHAIR | | Guaranteed Basic Income: Insights from Senator Kim Pate | The Society of Saint Vincent de Paul Canada advocates for a Guaranteed Basic Income as a key step toward reducing poverty in Canada. We invite you to watch the recording of our recent webinar on Guaranteed Basic Income, featuring Senator Kim Pate as keynote speaker. LINK TO WEBINAR Passcode: #%.IdUk8 | | Advocacy - An essential dimension of our Mission! | YOUR active engagement helps the Society take a collective, concerted and holistic approach to amplifying the voices of those who are too often unheard. Be part of a lofty effort! READ HERE WHY YOU NEED (and how) TO ADVOCATE Q. Where to start?
With our founder Blessed Frédéric Ozanam’s own words: | | “The science of charity reform is (..) learned (…) by climbing the stairs to the homes of the poor… by discovering the secret of a grief-stricken heart through friendly conversation. When this ministry is carried out not for months, but over many years; when we have studied the poor at home, at school, in hospitals—not only in one city but in many, and also in the countryside, in every condition in which God has placed them—then we begin to understand the formidable problem of misery, and only then are we entitled to propose serious solutions.” — 1848 READ MORE | Vincentian Life in Action | St. Vincent’s on Huron growing Hope—floor by floor What a remarkable year 2025 has been—for the SSVP London, for what will be St. Vincent’s on Huron, and especially for the about 120 individuals who will call it home in 2027. Thanks to our community’s generosity, encouragement, and belief in this vision, this project has moved from concept… to groundbreaking… to a six-story structure rising proudly on Huron Street in London, Ontario. 2025, A Year of Extraordinary Progress! Our community has nearly raised all our $1.7 million goal, an extraordinary achievement reflecting the compassion of our community and more than 335 donors—individuals, families, foundations, parishes, service clubs, and businesses—all committed to addressing London’s urgent affordable housing crisis. READ MORE | The Formation of Our Lady of Guadalupe Conference in Campbell River B.C As recounted by founding member Jim Proctor I was on Saint Patrick’s Parish Council at that time. Our priest was Father Gary Hartman. He was a small person, with a giant heart. The church kept a supply of food and necessities downstairs in the rectory for poor people, and transients in need. One evening a man came by asking for money to help support his needs. Father Gary went into his wallet to give him some money, and the man grabbed Father’s wallet as well as his hand, which resulted in a very painful fractured thumb. After recovering from treatment and the shock of the incident, Father Gary asked me if we could get a Saint Vincent de Paul conference started here, at the parish. I told him we would try. READ MORE | | Jennifer Wilson – Good Shepherd Conference, Windsor, Ontario Since joining the Society of Saint Vincent de Paul just a few years ago, Jennifer Wilson has made remarkable strides as a Vincentian. She currently serves as Vice President of the Good Shepherd Conference, Vice President of the Central Council, Chair of Street Outreach, and Chair of Food Security. Her volunteer commitment ranges from 20 to 40 hours per week. | | Jennifer almost single-handedly manages the Food Security warehouse for our area. She played a key role in launching our street outreach program, helping it become self-sufficient and grow to record levels. She is always recruiting volunteers and securing donations, and she writes numerous grant applications to support multiple initiatives. Her skills are extraordinary, and her dedication is unmatched. We are incredibly grateful to have her on our team. Truly, dedication could be her middle name, as the word “no” simply doesn’t exist in her vocabulary. We invite you to submit your nominations to recognize a Vincentian in our community whose work and dedication deserve to be celebrated. | Conversion of Heart: A Lenten Call to Serve So when you give alms, do not have it trumpeted before you; this is what the hypocrites do in the synagogues and in the streets to win human admiration. In truth I tell you, they have had their reward. (Matthew 6:2) READ MORE | | Question & Answer Are Conferences and Councils allowed to undertake fundraising initiatives such as approaching Corporations? | | Yes. We encourage Councils and Conferences to look at different ways of raising funds, as donations from parishioners have declined. When seeking funds from corporations and foundations, check with your next higher-level Council to ensure that they do not plan to reach out to them. It is also important to confirm that the values of the corporation fit with the Society’s. The Fund Development Committee has created several different fund development ideas to raise funds, which can be found in the Fund Development resources page of ssvp.ca. Feel free to reach out to Jim McIntyre, Chair of the Fund Development Committee - dev@ssvp.ca - with any questions or comments. Your questions deserve answers — send them to us! | The International President General of the Society of Saint Vincent de Paul has released the 2026 Circular Letter, in which he shares his reflections and guidance for the new year, addressed to all members, collaborators, and friends of the SSVP around the world. In this edition, the President invites everyone to strengthen Vincentian unity and fraternity, renewing the commitment to faith and service to those most in need. The letter highlights Frédéric Ozanam as a “Precursor of the Social Doctrine of the Church”, emphasizing the social and evangelizing dimension of Vincentian action, focused on the integral development of every person. READ MORE | | Get Involved in the ANF! We need your ideas, and your colleagues across the country deserve to know more about the good you're doing! Do you have a topic that fits this theme, which you believe would be of value to share with fellow SSVP members and supporters? Then submit your workshop idea for selection in this form: ANF Workshop submission form 2026 Space is limited, and all entries must be made prior to February 28, so don’t delay! Up to a maximum of 2 presenters per confirmed workshop will benefit from a 50% discount on the full event registration fee. The presentation will be expected by the committee by May 30. A full schedule and registration forms for the ANF 2026 will be communicated in the March Chez Vincent bulletin. Thank you in advance for your interest and anticipated participation, we can’t wait to read your topics! | Candidates needed for the position of President of National Council As announced during the 2025 Annual General Assembly, Linda Dollard's mandate as President will conclude on June 30, 2027. The time has come to consider candidates for the position of President of the National Council of Canada. The format, timelines and candidate eligibility considerations can be found here and taken from the Canadian Statutes and Rule of the Society in Canada (2.3.4). | Interested? Fill out the document and email to election@ssvp.ca by April 15, 2026. The confirmed candidates will have the opportunity to address the June Annual General Assembly. | | Twinning French Webinar We are pleased to invite you to our Webinaire de jumelage en français / French Twinning Q&A Webinar during which we will present the program to Vincentians and answer questions. Wednesday, March 18, 2026 at 7:00 p.m. (Eastern Time) REGISTER HERE | We regularly publish exciting facts about the SSVP. Visit our Facebook, Instagram and LinkedIn frequently to find out more about the Society. To promote our publications, please like and share them. Links to our social media can be found at the bottom of this newsletter. We are always looking for Vincentian testimonials and conference/council activity stories. Send your stories to share with Vincentians across Canada to editor-editeur@ssvp.ca. If you received this from a friend, you can subscribe to receive our newsletter directly. SUBSCRIBE HERE | Connect with us on social media | | | | |
