History of South Vancouver Family Place Society

In 1975 the Vancouver Life Skills Society (now known as South Vancouver Family Place Society) was established and had as its major objective “to prevent, reduce and relieve family stress resulting from raising children in isolation, as well as from poverty, abuse, violence, single parenthood and social isolation due to language and cultural barriers”. The society incorporated in June 1977 and its major project was to find a permanent home for its activities.

Family Place’s first home was 4932 Victoria Drive and later relocated to the Fraserview Boys and Girls Club on Victoria and 60th Avenue. The next move was to a small mall located at 2295 East 61st. Meanwhile Kids Care Preschool opens under the society’s umbrella in 1995, offering both kinder care and preschool programs. Family Place joined the preschool on Bobolink Park in 2001 when the City of Vancouver generously provided a building and location for Family Place. With the very generous support of the City for these two building and their support to maintain these sites, we see this as our home for many years to come.

In the early nineties one of our parents at Family Place created a logo for Family Place that was used on many publications. It depicted a little tree house, housing the many families attending Family Place programs. In 2007 the board of directors wanted a new look for Family Place and held a contest for a new logo creation. Danielle Ragas (12 yrs. old) created a beautiful logo depicting a family under a canopy of hearts.

Since 2002 there has been a great deal of expansion of the family drop-in model and as of 2009 we now offer 6 family drop-ins (some called Strong Start centres) throughout South Vancouver.