Bialystoker Centre of Montreal

The Bialystoker Centre was officially established in January 1944, and the Women's Committee was established in the spring of the same year. Membership consisted of 300 people. The aim of the Centre was to provide help to Bialystok survivors of the War. Contacted through newspapers in Europe the survivors wrote to the Centre, identifying themselves as Bialystokers. Every letter was answered and packages of food, clothes, and money were sent back to them. Money was raised either through membership dues, or by private donations. Teas, raffles, and souvenir albums were also organized as fundraisers. The Centre cooperated with other relief agencies in Montreal, especially the Federation of Polish Jews. It also maintained contact with Bialystoker Centers around the world. The Centre's most active years were from 1945 to 1955. It was never officially disbanded. As of 1986, members were still receiving letters. Consists of financial and administrative records of the Bialystoker Centre, as well as correspondence sent and received by the Centre.