The GFS1 was founded in England in 1875, originally to protect young working girls and is still in existence.. An 1911 history is available online2. A Canadian operation was started in 1883. It was incorporated in Ontario3 on 1884 Feb 8 as a branch of the English society. In Canada it was particularly involved with the immigration of young English women to Canada. Records of the Canadian operation are in Library and Archives Canada4. The English records, which include some material on Canada, are at the UK National Archives5.
References:
(1) http://www.girlsfriendlysociety.org.uk/
(2) Money, Agnes L – History of the Girls Friendly Society – Wells Gardner Darton, London (1911), online
at http://anglicanhistory.org/women/money_gfs1911/
(3) Archives of Ontario, RG 55-8, box 2, file 117
(4) Girls' Friendly Society Fonds (MG28 I349)
(5) http://apps.nationalarchives.gov.uk/a2a/records.aspx?cat=106-5gfs&cid=-1#-1