Fonds P131 - Lennoxville and District Women's Centre fonds

The Lennoxville and District Women's Centre grew out of the need to have greater representation for English speaking women in the Eastern Townships. Local women wished to have "a permanent location where [English-speaking] women could meet on a regular basis to talk share ideas and hold activities". They researched other women's groups and queried the community on the status of women. Lennoxville and District Women's Centre local women met with the permission of the Eastern Township's Regional School Board at the Lennoxville Elementary School. They also met at the Lennoxville Town hall before a more permanent building was found.

In April 19th 1981 the Lennoxville and District Women's Centre was founded. The mission statement of this group stated that "[S]erving English speaking women throughout Region 05 ("Estrie"), we are a volunteer group dedicated to helping women develop their full potential. We encourage women to participate in their communities through education, political, and social activities. We accomplish this by offering a meeting place and resource centre for women, formal and informal education opportunities, a liaison between English-speaking women and existing services, and an information and referral service". In the same year a formal constitution was granted and the Centre's Board developed methods to achieve its feminist and community goals. The constitution was adopted in 1982 by the members at the first Annual General Meeting. In 1982 the Centre resided in an apartment at 109 Queen Street in Lennoxville. The organizational structure consists of members, an elected board and staff. The membership cost in 1981 was $5.00 and ten years later in 1991 it was $10.00. The Centre's Board of Directors of members meets monthly. The staff work in the Centre assisting in the office, resource library and with visitors.

Activities of the Lennoxville and District Women's Centre have been supported by Centraide Estrie canvassing and organization grants, as well as grants from provincial government ministries such as Ministry of Secretary of State and Centre de services sociaux de l'Estrie. In addition to this the Centre has participated in Travaux Communautaires and Summer Canada Works, employment programs for students and office help.

The Lennoxville and District Women's Centre hosts events to help educate, inform and support women in the community. They host events such as Centre drop ins, films series, writing workshops, dinners, memorials and car repair information nights. Members and visitors also use the Women's Centre for resources, information and aid. The Centre developed a resource library in 1982 and keeps statistics on usage of this information and the Centre by members and non-members. The Centre continues to gather information and support programs on issues from education to widow support. The Centre's representatives have participated in local and provincial workshops with other women's groups. They have written on women's issues and authored reports such as their report presented to the Special Committee on Pornography and Prostitution in Sherbrooke and a report titled "Women and The Home" both in 1984. The Centre has published a monthly newsletter from its creation and has supported several petition campaigns.

In 2006, the Centre is located at 257, Queen Street in Lennoxville.