More on the Knights in Our Area
Serving Our Community
The Knights of Columbus, like other service clubs, is a lifeline for many individuals and organizations in the West Parry Sound District. The Parry Sound Council #7080 is strongly committed to local needs. We provide aid and financial assistance to:
- Families
- Individuals
- Groups and Organizations
- Students
- Immediate Crisis
- Refugee Settlement
The Knights' History in Ontario
The Knights of Columbus established a presence in Ontario over 120 years ago, shortly after its founding. Since then, the organization has been doing charitable works for its Church and community while also attending to its members' spiritual, social and financial needs. In Ontario there are over 560 councils with over 55,000 members from a wide diversity of ethnic backgrounds.
The Knights' Founding
An American Catholic priest by the name of Michael J. McGivney founded the Knights of Columbus at St. Mary's Church in New Haven, Connecticut in 1882. It as created as a mutual benefit society for Catholic immigrants in that city. As a parish priest in an immigrant community, McGivney witnessed the hardships experienced by a family when the main income earner died. This was at a time before most government support programs were established.