It all started in 1935…

Simcoe Hall originally started out as a Settlement House for helping those that were immigrating to Canada’s industrial areas.  It was at this time that a man named only as Mr. Robson donated his home in Oshawa to the Women’s Welfare League who would be instrumental in supporting the aims of the Settlement House.

Settlement houses were started around the world with eventually there being 20 of them.  Now there’s only two left… Simcoe Hall and another one in London, England.

Simcoe Hall Settlement House was established, in 1935, by the Women’s Welfare League in response to human and health conditions created, largely, by the Great Depression of the 1930’s. During the war years of the 1940’s, the Women’s League remained active and dedicated to aiding the lives of less advantaged families and alleviating the consequences of poverty in Oshawa and surrounding areas.

In the post war years of 1950’s, they expanded their vision of a fair and equitable community, in which all members could prosper, by turning their attention to early education, intervention and prevention programs for children and youth. Thousands of adults, living and working in our community to-day, once passed through the doors of Simcoe Hall to attend the Simcoe Hall Nursery School and Children’s After School Programs. Seniors were also welcomed to participate in the community’s first recreation and leisure program called the Golden Age Club which still exists to-day.