Auxiliary Grows by Leaps and Bound
"Well-being, happiness, self-esteem, dignity…are made of many little deeds at which the members of our groups excel." – Barbara Desaulniers, Auxiliary President, 1980

Two hundred and fifty people turned out for the Auxiliary’s first meeting on September 22, 1959. In a breathtaking feat of recruiting, more than half of them joined by meeting's end. By 1963, the Auxiliary had 860 members and a 3,000-name mailing list. In fact, the Auxiliary was so popular, its staff was asked to help the Volunteering Department recruit volunteers.

600-Patient “Shopping Spree”
In 1975, the Auxiliary raised enough money to decorate the bleakest wards and waiting rooms in the Hospital, and took many patients to the movies and to bowling and sugaring off parties. Approximately 600 “patient shoppers” went on an unforgettable Christmas Shopping Spree, which was televised on CBC.

The Auxiliary Ball
On February 27, 1976, the Auxiliary launched a fund-raising campaign by holding its first dinner-dance at the Ritz-Carlton Hotel. His Excellency, the Honorable Hugues Lapointe, Quebec’s Lieutenant-Governor of Quebec, was among the guests of honour. A grand success, it was an annual event until 1979.

Forces of Nature
Anyone involved with the Douglas in the 60s and 70s will fondly remember the following directors of volunteers: (from left) Carol McGowan, Aileen Fee, and Isabel McDowell MD. Under their leadership, hundreds of volunteers organized dances, musical revues, picnics, Christmas carol singing, baseball games, and trips to the circus.

Wherever Help is Needed…
Over the years, the Auxiliary helped defray dental costs for patients living outside the Hospital, bought musical instruments, washers and dryers, and television sets, donated toys for patients in Children's Services, furnished apartments for discharged patients, annually collected and wrapped over 1,500 gifts (which it still does!), so no patient is forgotten on Christmas Day, and much more.

Forgotten—Now Remembered
In 1959, the Auxiliary’s Forgotten Patients’ Committee was formed. In the first year alone, over 100 patients without relatives or friends were ‘adopted’ by volunteers, who sent them cards, magazines, food parcels, and gifts. Members hailed from 28 communities throughout Quebec. In June 1992, the Auxiliary was awarded the Canadian Auxiliary's Recognition of Excellence (CARE) Award for this initiative.