Local Development Projects

In addition to our international projects, we believe it is important to assist our local community in Montreal. Over the years, we have implemented several initiatives and formed relationships with local volunteer organizations.

Community Clean Up

A great team-bonding event is our annual community clean up where the Borderless World Volunteers help to clean the neighbourhoods near McGill campus.

Sandwiches for the Homeless

Our Sandwiches for the Homeless initiative was created to assist the vulnerable homeless population in Montreal. Borderless World Volunteers get together to prepare and distribute lunch bags containing sandwiches, juices, and snacks. Additionally, the volunteers prepare hygiene kits for the homeless, which consist of toothbrushes, toothpaste, soap, and other essential items.

Old Brewery Mission

The Old Brewery Mission is a homeless shelter that has assisted the Montreal homeless population for 125 years. The shelter offers many important programs for homeless people including immediate shelter and meals but also helps to find long-term sustainable solutions to combat homelessness. The BWV Local Development Committee has participated in several trips to the Old Brewery Mission and helped with serving the meal and cleaning up the hall after.

The Breakfast Club of Canada

Club Déjeuners Du Québec: The Breakfast Club of Canada aims to ensure all students receive a nutritious meal before school begins. 1 child out of 7 is at risk of not receiving breakfast and going to school on an empty stomach. Borderless World Volunteers visit the school on a weekly basis to assist with setting up, meal preparation, serving meals and cleaning.

Contactivity Senior's Centre

The Contactivity Centre offers Westmount seniors a variety of activities and programmes, including twice-weekly community meals, courses ranging from Tai Chi to history, and everything in-between, day trips, restaurant outings, arts and crafts, bridge and chess groups, and watercolouring sessions. It also offers a range of home-support services, such as assistance with grocery shopping, accompaniment to medical appointments, a shared taxi service for seniors with poor mobility, as well as a volunteer-run daily telephone check-in service for those who live alone. Information and referrals are also provided on different senior-related topics. Our volunteers assist the seniors with grocery shopping, special events, friendly visits, etc.

Clothing, Food and Book Drives

During the year, Borderless World Volunteers organize various events to collect clothing, food and books on McGill campus. This is a great way for students to clean out their homes while also helping others benefit from these items. Some past events include a book drive in March 2011 with donations given to Montreal General Hospital to help replenish the in-patient reading collection. In November 2011, BWV volunteers hosted a clothing drive in support of the People’s Church, which distributes clothing to the homeless in Montreal. We created a Christmas Card Outreach program in 2011 to give the homeless a way to communicate with their families and other significant others during the holiday season. In November 2012, Borderless World Volunteers participated in a book drive to support the Rosemount Secondary School.