Association Historique de Westmount / Westmount Historical Association

The Association Historique de Westmount (English: Westmount Historical Association) is a Canadian nonprofit organization dedicated to preserving and promoting the history of Westmount, a city on the Island of Montreal in Quebec, Canada. The organization is registered as a charity with the Canada Revenue Agency under the business number 891715047RR0001.

History

Founded in 1944, the Westmount Historical Association was established to foster awareness and research into the social and cultural development of Westmount. The initiative was supported by Miss Alice Lighthall, daughter of W.D. Lighthall, a past mayor of Westmount who was deeply interested in history. The first actions of the WHA included organizing exhibitions and collecting historical materials such as maps, letters, and newspapers from residents, which formed the foundation of their archives.

During the 1980s, the association experienced a period of inactivity but was revived in 1994 by historian Aline Gubbay. Following this revival, the WHA launched its first lecture series, titled “Living with History.”

Activities and Publications

The association organizes various events and activities throughout the year, including lecture series and walking tours. Members receive access to these events, along with two issues annually of their newsletter, The Westmount Historian.

Historians affiliated with the WHA have published several works, including Montreal’s Little Mountain: A Portrait of Westmount by Aline Gubbay and Sally Hooff in 1979, and A View of Their Own: The Story of Westmount by Aline Gubbay in 1998. The archives of the WHA were named the Saly Heritage Collection in 1994.

Governance

The Westmount Historical Association operates under a volunteer Board of Directors, ensuring its mission as a provincially registered charitable organization is maintained. The board oversees activities such as exhibitions, publications, and fundraising ventures to support the preservation of Westmount's heritage.

Mission

The primary objective of the Westmount Historical Association is to collect, classify, and interpret historical material related to Westmount, facilitating a broader understanding of the city's past and its impact on the present. By engaging the community through lectures, exhibitions, and historical tours, the association aims to foster a deeper appreciation for Westmount's rich cultural and social heritage.