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History

The Victoria Community and Family Services Centre opened on May 21, 1977. Brigadier Victor Underhill, a retired officer, handled services to the community, prior to this date.

Brigadier Underhill convinced Salvation Army leadership of the need to do something more and, on May 21, 1977, Lieut. Colonel H. Sharpe appointed Doreen Blenman to develop the Community and Family Services office. Mrs. Blenman held this position for fourteen years, retiring July 3, 1991.

In the spring of 1986, Lieut.-Colonel William Kerr, then Divisional Commander of BC South Division, purchased a building at 1412 Quadra Street and, following the retirement of Mrs. Blenman, Majors Jack and Ruth Phelan were appointed as directors and continued until June of 1994. They were succeeded by Captains Russell and Evelyn Sutherland who served in the capacity as Community & Family Services Officers until their retirement in June of 1998.The Community & Family Services office was then relocated to 1911 Quadra Street.

Captains Scott and Joyce Hewlett were appointed as Community & Family Services Officers in June, 1998. The increased clientele, coupled with the lack of space, resulted in the search for a new location in 2000. The Salvation Army purchased the former Royal Bank building located at the intersection of Quadra and Hillside on June 1, 2000. Renovations of the new location commenced February 1, 2001 and the new location was officially opened and dedicated by Lieut.-Colonel Peter Roed on April 25, 2001.

In September, 2003, the current Community & Family Services officers, Captains Juan & Lorraine Burry, were appointed to direct the centre. Currently, our centre has 12 full-time staff members that are eager to provide top quality service to the citizens of Victoria. Statistically speaking, our centre assisted one in nine citizens in the Greater Victoria area in 2006.

To know more about the history of the Salvation Army in British Columbia, click here.

To know more about the history of the Salvation Army in Canada, click here.

To know more about the history of the Salvation Army International, click here.