Founder Dr. Courtney W. Shropshire
Born in 1877, Courtney William Shropshire was born into a time of violence. Rioting sprang from coast to coast with the end of the four year depression and militias were called in to stop lynchings. New Orleans in 1877 was also a time without gas, electric lights, automobiles, motion pictures, radio, elevators, and telephones were just beginning to evolve. Through the years America developed and so did Dr. Shropshire. Dr. Shropshire received many honors and awards throughout his life, but it was 1917 that he declared as his "miracle year." 1917 was the first of Amerca's involvement in World War I, his son Courtney William Shropshire, Jr. was born, and Dr. Shropshire was appointed chief Urological Services of the Norwood Hospital. 1917 was also the year of the first Civitan Club.
With the help of Shropshire and other business and professional men their once civic club became their Civitan Club. In 1920 Shropshire became president of the organization. With support and love from his wife he wished to make Civitan the greatest achievement of his life. And he did. With the loss of loved ones during his life, Shropshire managed to move on and continue to love his personal family and his Civitan family. At the age of 43 he was appointed chairman of the "Committee of One-Hundred," created by the head of the Birmingham government to clean up the city. He was appointed chief of the Venereal Disease Clinic at Hillman Hospital; he was active in the Boy Scouts of America in the executive council, and in the growth program of the Jefferson County Medical Society, in which he was also president. Through the years Shropshire began to give to his Birmingham community through Civitan and continued to grow with the organization across America and Internationally. Shropshire created relationships that will never be forgotten and a foundation that will forever succeed because of his love and willingness to help others. The world is a better place because of one extraordinary man who decided to help others.
The following is reprinted from the Civitan - Canadian District East website
Civitan Dreams - To Build a Better World
Civitan was first introduced to Canada on May 16, 1925 with the charter of the Hamilton Civitan Club. Members of this first club were representative of a cross section of community life, however the majority of the members were returned veterans of World War I and were inclined to stress the companionship of the armed forces without the discipline. The Civitan affiliation was shed less than two years later. Civitan was firmly re-established in Canada on January 29, 1932 when the Toronto Civitan Club received its charter.
On July 1, 1949, Canadian Civitan clubs became the Ontario District. Ernie Moore was the first Governor of this new District and went on to become the first President of Civitan International from outside of the United States.
On July 1, 1954, we shed the Ontario District name, having chartered our first club in Quebec on January 10, 1954. David Urquhart was named the first Governor of the newly formed Ontario-Quebec District. Civitan in Canada continued to grow, adding clubs in Scarborough, Sarnia, Port Credit, Oshawa, Richmond Hill, Oakville, Victoria Village, Burlington, Lakeshore, Cornwall and Pembroke.
Those early clubs served Civitan well. Today the oldest active Civitan Club in Canada is the Don Mills Civitan Club, chartered October 21, 1953. Of these early clubs, only Don Mills, Oakville and Victoria Village remain active in Canadian District West. Lakeshore and Pembroke are still active, viable clubs in Canadian District East.
On July 1, 1961, the Canadian District was formed under the direction of Governor J.R. Pearsall. During the next four years Civitan grew at an unprecedented rate. On July 1, 1965, Canadian District East and Canadian District West became a zone of Civitan International. Gord Bates was named the first vice-president of this newly created zone.
A line was drawn between the westerly limits of the cities of Kingston and Mattawa. Canadian District East was comprised of the territory in the Provinces of Ontario and Quebec east of that line and Canadian District West included all of the territory in Ontario west of the line.
Val Chartier was elected the first Governor of Canadian District East which consisted of 10 clubs with a total of 229 members. Gerry King was the first Governor of Canadian District West which included 20 clubs with a total of 522 members.
In 1982, due to restructuring at Civitan International, zones became regions and Canadian District East and Canadian District West formed Region 5 of Civitan International. Regional Conventions are held each year in September, alternating between the East and West Districts. In 1988, the border between Canadian Districts East and West was moved westward to the westerly limits of Trenton rather than Kingston.
The first International Convention outside of the United States was held in Toronto on June 24-27, 1934. International Conventions have been held in Toronto three other times; June 16-18, 1948; June 18-21, 1961 and July 17-20, 1994. Montreal hosted a Civitan International Convention from June 29 to July 2, 1969. July 2003 will mark the first time that Ottawa will be the site of a Civitan International Convention.
The most prestigious award presented by Civitan International, the Founder's Award, emblematic of the most outstanding Civitan Club in the world, has been presented four times to clubs in Region 5. The first time was to the Agincourt Civitan Club for their work in the 1992-1993 year and to the Civitan Club of Perth for the 1997-1998, 1999-2000 years and again for the 2000-2001 year. At the Civitan International Convention held in Albuquerque, New Mexico, in July 1999, Canadian District East was recognized as the top district in all of Civitan International.
There are, currently, thirty Civitan Clubs in Region 5 . Twelve are in Canadian District West and eighteen are in Canadian District East.
