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Y's Men's Club

The Summerside Y's Men's Club had only been formed for two years when the Second World War began. It participated in a national fundraising campaign for YMCA war work in the spring of 1940 and as a consequence decided to concentrate its energy on war-related projects.

The Club's principal work during the war years was the supervision of a recreational centre that was known as the Red Triangle Club. The idea for such a facility was introduced at a well-attended meeting in the Town Hall on December 19, 1940. The YMCA did not have its own building at that time and the Y's Men held meetings in local restaurants or halls. Donald MacPhail, representative of the YMCA War Services, came from Halifax to address the members and other interested citizens. He announced that the YMCA had been allotted the responsibility to provide a representative to organize recreational activities at the No. 9 School and stressed the importance of the Y having its counterpart in the town.


A committee of five was appointed to pursue the matter. The members were W.A. Currie, Edwin Estey, Leith W. Smith, Cleve Whelan and A.R. Brennan, chairman. As a result of their work, a hall above Foley's Drug Store was procured. The building, located at the corner of Summer and Water Streets, was owned by Senator McArthur. The room was 21 by 45 feet with some fittings and the committee was able to borrow furniture to get started. At a public meeting in January 1941, Mayor Campbell requested that the Y's Men's Club act as the contact group with the YMCA War Services in Halifax. Thus the Red Triangle Club came into being. Harold (Mac) MacDonald was engaged as manager and by April the annual report of the Y's Men declared it to be in "full swing".


In the meantime, the YMCA War Services had appointed a Mr. Horton to handle the recreational program at No. 9 SFTS. After a short stay, he was replaced by John J. Walker, who according to the Journal was "a very genial personality, always ready to assist in every good work for the community." He was transferred to Montreal in July 1941 and Angus (Mac) MacLellan of Glace Bay, N.S took over as "Secretary." In July 1942 when the staff of the No. 9 School left for Ontario, the YMCA presence at the Station ceased and a representative of the Canadian Legion War Services came with the No. 1 GRS.

The Red Triangle Club was a place for servicemen to play games and socialize in a relaxing atmosphere. Singsongs around the piano became a popular Sunday evening event. A canteen run by a committee of local women was on the premises. Y's Men Club members took turns helping to supervise the facilities and many members entertained Air Force personnel for Sunday dinners at their homes.


In the summer of 1942 the Club quarters were repainted and brightened up. The hall was open from 1 p.m. to midnight with a good supply of magazines and newspapers as well as writing materials and mailbox. That winter the Y's Men invited airmen and airwomen to use their open-air rink at the electric light plant pond.

In 1943 the hall was becoming cramped with so many Air Force personnel. A request was made to the IOOF to exchange rooms, but that organization declined so other possibilities were investigated with no positive conclusion. The Red Triangle Club continued to occupy its original quarters. In December 1943 the Journal reported that it was "still going strongly under the efficient and popular managership of Mr. Harold MacDonald, who may truly be called the service man's friend."

A fire gutted the rooms of the Club in May 1944 and it was closed for several months. During that time temporary quarters were found in the G.R. MacQuarrie office on Summer Street. The Red Triangle re-opened after it was repaired and re-equipped. The Club specialized in helping airmen find quarters in the country or at the shore where they could spend their 48 or 96 hour leaves. Mr. MacDonald's dog, a black cocker spaniel named Jerry, was known as the Club Mascot. He loved the water and often accompanied airmen who were going to the beach.

The Y's Men's Club continued to supervise the Red Triangle Club until 1945 when the hall was closed. The furniture was bought from YMCA War Services and sold for $75, a sum that was presented to Harold MacDonald in appreciation for his consistently fine work as host.

During the war years the Y's Men's Club, like other organizations in Summerside, invited individuals from the Airport to be guest speakers. Among them were Tom Neave of New Zealand who spoke about his country, F/O John Venters who described his experiences in China, and Flight Sergeant Stevens who talked about firefighting.

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