In May 1950, 11 women who had enjoyed membership in the Association of Junior Leagues of America and who saw possibilities for a similar service organization within Calgary formed the Junior Service League. The desire to provide service to Calgary was a shared goal as 108 members attended the first Annual Meeting of the Junior Service League.

The Junior Service League provided both volunteer and financial resources to Calgary during its first year. External volunteer placements included the Golden Age Club, Belcher Hospital Library, Booth Memorial Home Nursery School, and the Well Baby Clinic. Volunteer placements also included internal placements to operate the League’s Next-to-New Shop. Financial contributions were made to the Golden Age Club and to the Nursery School and Well-Baby Clinic at Booth Memorial Home. A course for Provisional members was developed and was offered during the League’s second year in the form of ten lectures.

In keeping with the expressed desire to have the Junior Service League join the Association of Junior Leagues of America, the organizational structure and operations of the Junior Service League were modified in 1952 to more closely match the Association of Junior Leagues of America. The Junior Service League was accepted into the Association of Junior Leagues of America in April 1956.

Today, the JLC is a member of the Association of Junior Leagues International, an organization of more than 125,000 women in 298 Junior Leagues in Canada, Mexico, Kenya, the United Kingdom and the United States. These 298 Leagues and their members make a difference in their communities though their volunteer efforts.