Sid Stevens

In memory of our dear co-founder who dedicated his life helping his fellow Montrealers.

Sid Stevens looked back on over seven decades of community service with pride, knowing he realized his childhood ambition of “making a difference”.

Millions of Montrealers past and present are grateful to him for his dedication.

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Sid Stevens was born in 1940, of Jewish immigrant parents in Montreal’s “Main” district, and grew up in that colourful and strongly community-oriented area that would impact deeply his upbringing and his career. He was educated at Devonshire School, Baron Byng High School, and Concordia University.

In 1954, barely a teenager, Sid Stevens, and a friend, Earl De La Perralle, co-founded the sports and recreation youth movement that was to become the Sun Youth Organization. Seventy years later, the organization touches the lives of some 30,000 Montrealers every year, dispensing food, clothing, financial assistance, and emergency services, as well as providing sports and recreational facilities to countless young people.

Sun Youth Organization started very small with the creation of a handwritten newspaper called The Clark Street Sun; with only two copies “printed”, it would be rented to the families in the neighbourhood for 2 cents a copy and the profits raised in this manner would serve to buy sports equipment and to organize sports activities for inner-city children. From a budget of $500 in the mid-fifties, the organization went to its current annual budget of over $ 8 million.

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Sid Stevens’ dedication to Montreal’s youth is legendary. Throughout his career as director of human resources for National Typewriter Inc., councillor for the City of Montreal, he devoted himself to community work on a volunteer basis through Sun Youth. He focused much of his competence, time and energy on youth problems. A product of his childhood environment, he understood the challenges of the inner city and was able to bring that understanding to bear on practical solutions. He presided over the Community Basketball Federation, setting up leagues for youngsters throughout Montreal, helped the Montreal police service establish youth sections in two stations (the former MUC police stations 16 and 17) and was the prime mover behind the establishment of a summer camp for the underprivileged youth in the city. In 1968, the Knights of Pythias honoured him for his devotion and the prevention of juvenile delinquency. He was also honoured by the Rotary Club in 1979 for the same reason.

Elected to Montreal’s city council in 1978, Mr. Stevens quickly became known for his commonsense approach to other community problems. He quickly earned the respect and admiration of his fellow councillors as well as the population at large for his commitment to crime prevention and other community initiatives. He campaigned for the beautification of his district, for park facilities and improvement in safety throughout Montreal. He was responsible for bringing Crime Stoppers to the city, setting up Montreal’s Fire Emergency Assistance Plan for fire victims and helping develop a community disaster plan that can assist as many as 200 families in need. Concerned about the elderly as well as the youth of his city, Sid Stevens also launched a project to assist seniors who are bedridden and in need of help and a special unit to aid those who are abused victims of crime. In 1979, after six months as a City Councillor for Montreal, he exposed a scandal involving the City of Montreal permit inspectors. In February 1983, Sid Stevens was appointed coordinator of Montreal’s “Operation Tandem”, a multi-million dollar crime prevention project as well as bringing the Crime Stoppers Project to Montreal. He has also represented the City of Montreal at FBI seminars held annually in Washington, D.C. He was deeply involved in Cultural Exchange Projects between different countries, provinces and cities, with the sole intention of promoting his native city.

Sid Stevens has always been involved in sports and recreation, from the early days of the “Clark Street Sun” newspaper. He arranged for guards at arenas to be replaced by people from the community. In this manner, people earned a little revenue, the city realized savings and the people using the arena benefited. He fought for and won increased safety standards at arenas, amusement parks and community centres, implementing first aid facilities at Beaver Lake (Mont-Royal Park). He arranged for improvements to be made to various parks in Montreal, in particular Jeanne-Mance Park (soccer field and tennis courts as well as a pedestrian crosswalk). He also had an arena constructed in the St. Louis district.

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In 1986, Sid Stevens was honoured by the Chairman of the Board of Governors and Director General of Dawson College for his inspired leadership, compassion and aid to the underprivileged and his remarkable contribution to civic life and spirit.
In 1989, he was presented with the Citation of Citizenship by the Ministry of State for Multiculturalism and Citizenship.
In 1992, the Faculty of Commerce and Administration of Concordia University awarded him for his Professional Distinction and Exceptional Services to the Community.
Also in 1992, Sid Stevens was given recognition by the Association des Médecins Psychiatres du Québec in Oxford Quebec for his social involvement with Sun Youth Organization.
That same year, the Montreal Citizenship Council awarded Sid Stevens the Citation for Outstanding Citizen, to honour unselfish service to the community and for his contribution for the welfare of Fellow-Citizens and of mankind in general.
In 1995, he was named a finalist in Le Grand Prix de l’Entrepreneur.
In 2002, McGill University awarded him an Honorary degree of Doctor of Laws.
In 2009, the Jewish Eldercare Centre Auxiliary honoured Sid Stevens for his outstanding contribution to the community at its Fall Gala.
In 2010, Sid Stevens was featured in the book “Honourable Menschen II” by author Doreen Glazer. Along with 16 other Montrealers, he was recognized for his outstanding contribution to the community.

In 2009, the Jewish Eldercare Centre Auxiliary honoured Sid Stevens for his outstanding contribution to the community at its Fall Gala.
in 2010, Sid Stevens was featured in the book “Honourable Menschen II” by author Doreen Glazer. Along with 16 other Montrealers, he was recognized for his outstanding contribution to the community.
In 2011, Sid Stevens was selected by the Board of Trade of Metropolitan Montreal as the Great Montrealer of the Year in the Social Sector.
In 2017, Sid Stevens and Sun Youth cofounder Earl De La Perralle received the Sheila and Victor Goldbloom award to recognize their outstanding work in making exceptional contributions to the Anglophone community.
In 2018, Sid Stevens was made Commander of the Ordre de Montréal for his dedication towards Montreal’s youth.
In 2022, Premier François Legault awarded Mr. Sid Stevens the Ordre National du Québec, the highest distinction awarded by the Government of Québec. “Mr. Sidney Stevens, on behalf of the people of Quebec, I hereby name you Officer of the Ordre du Québec.” With these words, the Prime Minister expressed his gratitude for Mr. Stevens’ exceptional commitment over the past decades.
In 2024, Mr. Stevens and the Sun Youth team had the immense honour of being welcomed to the newly City Hall’s newly renovated Salle du Pin-Blanc to celebrate the organization’s 70th anniversary, where he was invited to sign the City of Montreal’s Golden Book.

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