A Saint John private club founded in Victorian times is giving itself a makeover

Founded in the late 19th century, the Union Club in Saint John is still an upmarket place for people in the business world to meet — although the private club is taking steps to change and diversify itself. 

Now 140 years old, the Union Club — a fixture on Germain Street — is "a home away from home," says board member Jennifer Waldschütz.

Waldschütz said her family's long-running connection to the club — she's the third generation to belong — made her own membership inevitable.

"It's an important part of the history of the city because this was the principal industrial and business city in the province and we're fortunate because this club has survived," she said. "Similar clubs in other cities have not, so this is a big deal."

While clubs fosused on elite, wealthy businessmen, the Union Club is open, she said, to anyone who "values a lovely setting, a good meal, privacy." 

Waldschütz described club members as a special group of people who work across a wide range of industries.

She also said diversity is now welcomed. Current president Carly Parrish is the first woman to ever serve in that position, which Waldschütz said is indicative of the club's updated values. 

"The world is changing and everyone is accepting other members that maybe wouldn't have been accepted in the past, and now we have diverse members," said Waldschütz.

People that walk into the club often see me with people from all over the world. Like, people joke that my table is always the United Nations table, which I'm proud of."

'A high level of discretion'

While change is in the air, key values are still in place. On its website, the club says its main focus is to provide a place "to gather and meet with their peers to discuss and share new ideas." 

While networking, members "can be certain of a high level of discretion," the website says. 

LISTEN | Emily Brass of Information Morning Saint John goes inside the Union Club to talk tradition and change: 

Information Morning - Saint John9:58The union Club: Shaping the direction of Saint John

Host Emily Brass takes us inside the city's 140 year old Union Club to find out about the traditions and changes happening at the private club.

Member David Streeter said the club is a place where he is comfortable being himself and can express his views with others. 

When asked what he likes specifically, Streeter said, "Everything. Its history, but more particularly its members and the fun of getting together and talking about everything that, well, we may not discuss out on the street, but we feel pretty comfortable discussing political issues here."

The club was once segregated by gender, with different areas for male and female members. That was still the case in Waldschütz's mother's day.

"They had the men's side and the women's side," she said, "so women had their own sort of board and my mom was actually a president of the women's."

Waldschütz, who previously worked as an international Recruiter for the University of New Brunswick, said the club was often a place where she brought influential people to impress them with great service and atmosphere. 

"I knew on any given day I could walk in with an ambassador with someone that I'm trying to impress or host. And the service is always going to be top notch."