Our History
Merrymount Children’s Centre was established in 1874 as the
"Protestant Home for Orphans, Aged and Friendless." When the Children’s Aid Society took responsibility for the wardship of orphans in the 1890s, the Home began to focus on residential care for children of families in crisis or transition. A new Home was built as a Centennial project in 1967 and at the time of its opening, the name Merrymount was adopted to reflect its non-denominational approach. Today’s wonderful facility, at 1064 Colborne Street, was built in 1991.

Merrymount, the only centre of its kind in Canada, provides integrated
and comprehensive programming for families in crisis. In addition to Family Support and Crisis Care, Merrymount also provides Overnight Care, Supervised Access, the All Kids Belong program, satellite programs and an Ontario Early Years Centre. Merrymount supports more than 7,000 families each year, with an operating budget of more than $5 million.