About

The vocation of the Society of Saint Vincent de Paul is to practically resolve issues, one neighbour in need at a time, and give voice to the voiceless with love, respect, justice, hope and joy.

Who are we?

Founded in 1833, the Society of Saint Vincent de Paul (SSVP) is an international lay organization, united in the mission to serve persons in need. In Canada alone, the SSVP helps more than 350,000 people each year. We provide material support in the form of non-perishable food, clothes, household items and furniture to individuals and families across the country. Whether in their homes, on the street, in shelters, in hospitals or in prison, our work knows no boundaries. The Society also provides assistance to refugees, immigrants, and northern communities. 

Our founding activity, still practiced today, is the Home Visit. Through these visits, our members, known as Vincentians, establish personal relationships with persons in need by offering material assistance, as well as friendship and understanding.

Our Mission

To Live the Gospel message by serving Christ in the poor with love, respect, justice and joy.

Values

The Mission of the Society of Saint Vincent de Paul implies that as Vincentians we:

see Christ in anyone who suffers

come together as a family

have personal contact with the poor

help in all possible ways

History, Patron and Founder

HISTORY

The Society of Saint Vincent de Paul (SSVP) figures prominently among those apostolic institutions which owe their beginnings to the free decisions of lay people. Founded in Paris in 1833 by Frédéric Ozanam and his friends, the SSVP is a worldwide organization of lay Christians. As a Catholic society, it is open to all those who desire to do good work in love and service of…

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MAIN FOUNDER: FRÉDÉRIC OZANAM

Frédéric Ozanam was born on April 23, 1813, in Milan. In 1815, the Ozanam family moved to Lyon (France) where the father had secured a position in the Hôtel-Dieu hospital. From an early age on, Ozanam witnessed poverty and misery through his father’s work. As a member of the “Workers”, his mother, too, worked tirelessly to help those in need. It is no wonder then that…

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FIRST FEMALE COLLABORATOR

From the very beginning, the members decided to dedicate themselves to the poor. The group approached Sister Rosalie Rendu, a reverend Daughter of Charity, who initiated them into the practical care of those in need. For two years, under the guidance of Sister Rosalie, the young Vincentians visited homes, bringing bread, wood, and above all - friendship. …

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SAINT MARGUERITE D'YOUVILLE

The Society in Canada was placed under the holy protection of Saint Marguerite d’Youville, Mother of Universal Charity. Saint Marguerite d’Youville, woman of action, is the example of someone who drew from the very Heart of God and made it visible through the care given to the persons in need regardless of age, sex, nationality or religion. ...

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THE SOCIETY OF SAINT VINCENT DE PAUL IN CANADA

The first Conference of the Society of Saint Vincent de Paul (SSVP) in Canada was founded by Dr. Joseph Painchaud in 1846, in Quebec City. Inspired by his time with the Society while studying medicine at university in Paris, he returned to Canada to discuss the founding of a Conference in his parish. During this period in Quebec, needs were vast…

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INTERNATIONAL EXPANSION

In 1835, the Society began to expand, and Conferences were founded outside of Paris, in Nimes and Lyon, and even beyond France, in Rome. When Frédéric Ozanam died in 1853, there were 15,000 Vincentians. The Society of Saint Vincent de Paul is now present in 153 countries with 800,000 active members. Ozanam pioneered the “network of charity”…

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NATIONAL COUNCIL OF CANADA PRESIDENTS

1846-1850: Honorable Judge Jean Chabot
1850-1866: Augustin Gauthier
1866-1881 : George Manly Muir
1881-1885: Paul Ernest Smith
1885-1911: Charles-Narcisse Hamel
1911-1942: Charles-Joseph Magnan
1942-1969: Honorable Judge Thomas Tremblay
1969-1972: Honorable Judge Gérard Lemay
1972-1977: Patrice Boudreau
1977-1983: Marie-Claire Gingras-Letarte
1983-1995: Robert Martineau
1995-2001: Ellen Schryburt
2001-2007: Michael Burke
2007-2013: Penny Craig
2013-2019: Jean-Noël Cormier
2019-2023: Joseph Claude Bédard
2023- 2023: Pierre Morissette
2023- : Linda Dollard

Board of Directors & Staff

Linda

Linda Dollard

President

Omar Ellis

Omar Ellis

Vice-President, Social Justice

Denise Ouellette x

Denise Ouellette

Vice-President, Strategic Planning

Jeffrey Kucharski x

Jeff Kucharski

Vice-President, Governance

Mgr-Mathieu-s.m.

Most Reverend Yvan Mathieu, S.M.

Spiritual Advisor

sue mazziotti armitage

Sue Mazziotti-Armitage

Director, Stores

Michelle Finigan x

Michelle Finigan

Secretary

David OConnor 2x

Dave O’Connor

Treasurer

Board member2

Youth Representative

Jean-Noel Cormier - Copy

Jean-Noël Cormier

Past President

Bill Small

Bill Small

Atlantic Regional Council Representative

Alain Talbotv2

Alain Talbot

Quebec Regional Council Representative

guido kelly

Guido Kelly

Ontario Regional Council President

Heather Schilling

Heather Schilling

Western Regional Council President

belinda boyd

Belinda Boyd

British Columbia and Yukon Regional Council President

Philippe E BlainV2

Philippe E. Blain

Executive Director

Nicole Schryburt

Nicole Schryburt

Administrative Assistant

Josee LemieuxV2

Josee Lemieux

Administrative Assistant

Lise Lagroix

Lise Lagroix

Office Clerk

Please complete the form below to contact one of our Board Members.

International Confederation of Society of Saint Vincent de Paul

Learn more about the international confederation of Society of Saint Vincent de Paul and how it is represented in over 150 countries.

Go to the Website

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©2025 Society of Saint Vincent de Paul National Council of Canada
Charitable Registration Number: 132410671 RR0001
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The SSVP National Council acknowledges the location of its office on the traditional, unceded territories of the Anishinabe Algonquin nation. In doing so, we acknowledge our responsibility to the Algonquin people and a responsibility to adhere to Algonquin cultural protocols.

Notice – Trademark / Copyright

The trademarks SOCIÉTÉ DE SAINT-VINCENT DE PAUL, SOCIETY OF SAINT VINCENT DE PAUL, SSVP, CONFÉRENCE DE LA SOCIÉTÉ DE SAINT-VINCENT DE PAUL, CONFERENCE OF THE SOCIETY OF SAINT VINCENT DE PAUL, the motto SERVIENS IN SPE and the fish design (SSVP logo) shown in this document are trademarks of the International Confederation of the Society of Saint Vincent de Paul (“SSVP Global”), and used in Canada by Society of Saint Vincent de Paul – National Council of Canada (“SSVP Canada”) pursuant to a licence granted by SSVP Global. Unless otherwise indicated, the content of and the materials available from this document are protected by copyright and the intellectual property rights, pursuant to Canadian and international laws, of SSVP Global and SSVP Canada, as the case may be. All rights reserved. Any use or reproduction not authorized in writing by SSVP Global and SSVP Canada, as the case may be, is prohibited.

History

The Society of Saint Vincent de Paul (SSVP) figures prominently among those apostolic institutions which owe their beginnings to the free decisions of lay people.

Founded in Paris in 1833 by Frédéric Ozanam and his friends, the SSVP is a worldwide organization of lay Christians. A Catholic society, it is open to all those who desire to do good work in love and service of their neighbour.

Under the patronage of Saint Vincent de Paul, the organization draws its inspiration from his thoughts and his works. Members strive, in a spirit of justice, charity, mutual help, solidarity with the poor, and through personal commitment, to ease the hardships of those who suffer.

The Founder: Frédéric Ozanam

Frédéric Ozanam was born on April 23, 1813, in Milan.

In 1815, the Ozanam family moved to Lyon (France) where his father had secured a position in the Hôtel-Dieu hospital.

From an early age on, Ozanam witnessed poverty and misery through his father’s work. As a member of the “Workers”, his mother, too, worked tirelessly to help those in need. It is no wonder then that Ozanam would devote his entire life to defending the rights and dignity of vulnerable people. 

Not long after entering the Royal Collage of Lyon (secondary school), he developed a reputation as a diligent and exceptionally intelligent pupil. He began contributing historical and philosophical articles to the Collage’s journal and found time outside of school to write for the Association for the Propagation of the Faith. 

In 1831, Ozanam entered Sorbonne to study law. He married in 1841 and was soon established both as a family man and as a successful professor at the Sorbonne. While in Paris, he was haunted by the misery of the poor, and his dream was to help close the divide among social classes. His faith was tested daily, studying in an environment where it was fashionable to scorn and ridicule Christianity. 

He decided to establish a Catholic discussion group, where students were invited to confront critics of their faith and defend the relevance of the Church. Nevertheless, taunted by the perpetual question “what was the Church doing for the poor?”, Ozanam and his friends decided to found the Society of Saint Vincent de Paul in the spring of 1833, and their first meeting was held on April 23. He was only 20 years old at that time.

First Female Collaborator

From the very beginning, the members decided to dedicate themselves to the poor. The group approached Sister Rosalie Rendu, a reverend Daughter of Charity, who initiated them into the practical care of those in need.

For two years, under the guidance of Sister Rosalie, the young Vincentians visited homes, bringing bread, wood, and above all – friendship. 

Initially, the group (or Conference, as these groups are called) didn’t admit new members for fear of weakening the bond. However, with the reassurance from Sister Rosalie, a second conference was formed, and thus began the expansion of the Society.

Saint Marguerite d'Youville

Among Canadian saints, Marguerite d’Youville is the one whose life witness, works and spirituality most reflect the mission of the Society of Saint Vincent de Paul. Her feast day is celebrated on October 16. She was a woman of action, the example of someone who drew from the very Heart of God and made it visible to all persons in need to whom she attended. The cry for help from the poor did not come to her only from without, instead it arose from within herself, a poor person among poor people. For her, the poorest of the poor was the person who had the greatest need of God in order to become a man or woman. Her dream was to liberate the poorest of the poor by teaching him or her, through action, that he or she is loved. By her actions of serving the needy and her compassion for the poor, Pope John XXIII described her as the “Mother of Universal Charity”.

Marguerite had a great trust in the goodness of God and His justice towards all. This enabled her to achieve charitable works of astonishing scope, even by today’s standards. By her many works, she laid the foundations for the social and community services that we are currently familiar with within our society. In 1737, with three companions, she founded the Grey Nuns when they took their initial vows. As the years passed, the Grey Nuns were responsible for running hospitals, schools, housing for the poor and orphanages throughout Canada, the United States, Africa and South America. They were also well known for their work with the Inuit.

She was born in Varennes, Quebec on October 15, 1701, and died on December 23, 1771. Marguerite left to her contemporaries and to future generations, a spiritual legacy marked by an unconditional compassion for the poor and an inextinguishable faith in God the Father and His Providence.

https://sanctuaireyouville.ca/en/marguerite-dyouville/illustrated-story-of-her-life/

The Society Of Saint Vincent De Paul In Canada

The first Conference of the Society of Saint Vincent de Paul (SSVP) in Canada was founded by Dr. Joseph Painchaud in 1846, in Quebec City. Inspired by his time with the Society while studying medicine at university in Paris, he returned to Canada to discuss the founding of a Conference in his parish.

During this period in Quebec, needs were vast and visible. Epidemics frequently broke out with the arrival of immigrants.Economic depressions called for the establishment of savings banks or banking co-ops to encourage the poor to save money. 

In 1848, a few days after the foundation of the Society in Montreal, the members visited a prison and immediately afterward prepared a report for the government suggesting important reforms to the management of the prison.

During his lifetime, Dr. Painchaud founded 12 Conferences, and from these would grow the Society of Saint Vincent de Paul in Canada.

International Expansion

In 1835, the Society began to expand, and Conferences were founded outside of Paris, in Nimes and Lyon, and even beyond France, in Rome. 

When Frédéric Ozanam died in 1853, there were 15,000 Vincentians. The Society of Saint Vincent de Paul is now present in 153 countries with 800,000 active members.

Ozanam pioneered the “network of charity” that spread all around the world. As part of this network, we must recognize the thousands of volunteers in Canada and globally who so generously give their time. If you visit one of the Society’s stores and outlets, you will see them working tirelessly sorting through donated goods, putting away merchandise and helping with sales. It is thanks to these stores that many of the poor are able to find essential items, including clothing and household goods, at very low cost, or even for free.

This expansion of the Society throughout the world is the most beautiful monument that could ever be erected to the memory of our founders, indeed to the memory of all our predecessors.