HISTORY

St. Leonard’s Community Services is recognized as a leader in the field of community justice, employment, youth and family and addictions and mental health services.  The following is a brief history of the Agency:

1968

St. Leonard's Community Services is incorporated and receives its charter.

1972

The Elgin Street Residence, an 8-bed halfway house for adult male offenders, is opened.

1974

The Elgin Street Residence expands to 16 beds.

1979

The St. Leonard's Pallet Company is opened to provide employment and job skills training for male offenders and other employment-disadvantaged persons.

The Community Service Order Program is begun as an alternative to incarceration or fines.

1981

The Elgin Street Residence is expanded to 20 beds.

1983

The Community Service Order Program expands to include young offenders.

1986

We open the William Street Residence, a 10-bed group home for male young offenders aged 16 to 17.

1987

The Parole Supervision Program commences for federal parolees.

St. Leonard's Community Services assumes the management of Brant Alcove Rehabilitation Services Inc., a 12-bed substance abuse treatment home for adult males.

1988

The St. Leonard's Pallet Company is relocated and expanded to employ 20 clients, including women.

The Impaired Drivers Awareness Program begins.

We open the Albion Street Residence, a 9-bed home for resourceless youth.

1990

Brant Alcove is converted to a 10-bed substance abuse treatment program for federal parolees.

The Elgin Street Residence is converted to a 15-bed group home for male young offenders aged 16 and 17 and renamed Peter Willis Residence in honour of the Agency's founding Executive Director.

1991

The Information/Lottery Kiosk opens in the Market Square Mall to generate fundraising revenue.

The Intensive Supervision Program for young offenders aged 12 to 15 is implemented.

We implement the Intermittent Weekend Work Program for adult male inmates incarcerated at the Burtch Correctional Centre.

1992

In partnership with the Children's Aid Society of Brant, we open the Dalhousie Street Residence as a 10-bed group home for children aged 12 to 16 in need of protection.

1993

The Family Violence Abuse/Awareness Program begins as a 10-week educational awareness program for male perpetrators of domestic violence.

We open the Youth Employment Counselling Centre at 12 Market Street in downtown Brantford, providing employment services to youth aged 16 to 24.

1994

The Buffalo Street Residence is opened as a 10-bed supportive housing program providing transitional housing to women aged 18 to 24.

1995

The Parent Support Program starts as a 40-week forum of mutual support and exchange for parents of 13 to 17 year old "out of control" adolescents.

1996

The Fleet Street Residence is opened as a 6-bed co-ed residence for young offenders aged 12 to 15.

1997

The Fleet Street Residence clients are relocated to 144 Chatham Street and the program is expanded to 8 beds.

We commence intake services for all young offenders charged in Brantford, enabling children aged 12 to 15 to remain in their home community.

The Brant Alcove Residence is relocated to 19 Buffalo Street as a 10-bed substance abuse treatment home.

We relocate the Women's Residence from 19 Buffalo Street to 13 Fleet Street.

We open the "Employment Centre" in Dunnville, providing employment services to area residents.

13 Fleet Street is sold and clients are referred to YWCA Housing Programs.

We assume management of Addiction Services of Brant Inc.

1998

The Career Resource Centre is opened at Tollgate Technological Skills Centre.

We initiate the Anti-Shoplifting Program in partnership with the Brantford Police Services.

St. Leonard's Community Services amalgamates with Addiction Services of Brant and relocates the Impaired Drivers Awareness Program there.

The "Work Release Program" is commenced for federal offenders at the Pallet Company.

We partner with Nova Vita Women's Services to deliver Family Violence Abuse/Awareness Program.

With funding from Rotary Club, we build the Dalhousie Street Residence school addition--the Learning for Life Classroom.

1999

Career Resource Centres open in Paris District High School, Brantford Collegiate Institute, Pauline Johnson, Hagersville and Cayuga High Schools.

We commence Back on Track Remedial Measures Program.

We partner with Police Services to offer the Pre-Charge Diversion Program.

Take Control--A Youth Anger Control Service begins.

We purchase 29 Victoria Street as a home for young offenders ages 12 to 15.

The Problem Gambling Program begins.

2000

The Community Justice Circles commence as an alternative to traditional court process.

Career Resource Centres open at North Park, Burford, St. John's College and McKinnon Park in Caledonia.

The Chatham Street residents relocate to the Victoria Street Residence home for young offenders ages 12 to 15.

The Bingo Palace closes in February.

Mobile Crisis Response Service commences providing crisis intervention service for children up to age 18 and their parents in Brant County.

A 4-week Smoking Cessation Program begins for individuals and/or groups interested in quitting smoking.

2001

The Youth Resource Centre (YRC) is opened for homeless teens.

Seven CRCs open to the public. New CRCs open in Assumption College, Grand Erie Learning Alternatives and Dunnville High School.

The Dalhousie Street Residence Program expands to include Chatham Street Residence.

SNAP™--Stop Now and Plan--begins for children between the ages of 9 and 12 to learn to control impulsivity, to think about the consequences of their actions and to make positive changes.

The Bail Supervision Program begins, targeting youth ages 12 to 17 who have committed an offence, have been charged, and would otherwise be placed in detention.

2002

We change our name to St. Leonard's Community Services and adopt our new logo and tag line "Challenge. Choices. Change."

The Burford Career Resource Centre moves from the high school to a public site.

The St. Leonard's Pallet Company is closed after 25 years of business.

The MotherVoice Program begins in partnership with the CAS. It is a substance program for expectant mothers and mothers with children aged 0 to 6 in order to reduce the negative impact of addictions on themselves and their families.

In co-operation with Ontario Works, Addiction and Mental Health programming begins which provides assessment and ongoing treatment for clients with addiction issues that interfere with employment readiness.

2003

The Youth Resource Centre opens its Section 20 school classroom.

An Addictions & Mental Health Counsellor begins at the Youth Resource Centre.

CFSA licensing is obtained for the Youth Resource Centre.

2004

The Attendance Centre for Young Offenders opens in the former William Street Residence.

Varency Home is constructed and opens for children aged 12 to 17 in care of the Children's Aid Society of Haldimand/Norfok in Jarvis, Ontario with funding from CMHC and the Ontario Trillium Foundation.

The Dunnville Employment Centre moves to a new location.

Addiction & Mental Health Services becomes a community site for the Needle Exchange Program.

2005

Children's Mental Health funding supports Respite Experience at Tim Horton Onondaga Farms and increases the number of PASP, SNAP™ and Youth Anger Control groups.

The Walk in Clinic for youth aged 0 to 16 opens at 133 Elgin Street.

MCYS merges phase I and II at Peter Willis Residence and the Victoria Street Residence is closed.

The YRC location at 40 Queen Street is sold and the program moves temporarily to 29 Victoria Street.

We purchase a building at 466 Colborne Street for the new Youth Action Centre (YAC).

The Albion Street Residence is closed and the program funding is transferred to support the merged YRC.

The Dalhousie Program moves temporarily to 74 Albion Street. CMHC funds renovations at 331 Dalhousie Street to accommodate up to 20 beds for YRC residents.

The YRC moves from temporary location at 29 Victoria Street to 331 Dalhousie Street.

The Youth and Animals Learning Together (YALT) program begins at Varency Home with funding from National Crime.

MOHLTC awards Accord Funding to expand walk in services for ages 17 to 99.

Addiction and Mental Health Services moves to 133 Elgin Street and the Administration Offices relocate to 1100 Clarence Street.

2006

The Ministry of Education approves maintaining the Section 20 Schools previously at 29 Victoria Street and at the Youth Resource Centre as community schools at YAC.

YAC opens to house Youth Employment Centre, Attendance Centre, 2 Section 20 schools and Justice Community Programs.

Chatham Street residents move to 75 Albion Street and Albion Street residents move to 41 William Street. The homes are renamed Roy Walsh Homes.

MTCU awards the job development component of Youth Job Connect to the Youth Employment Centre at 466 Colborne Street.

CMHC provides a renovation grant to construct an addition at 331 Dalhousie Street to provide kitchen, dining and recreation facilities to accommodate 20 youth.

12 Market Street is initially renovated as a training and conference centre for the Agency and the community, but is instead used for the community justice and mental health programs.

The Ministry of Health and Long-Term Care awards funding for Concurrent and Mental Health Case Management located at 12 Market Street.

The Ministry of the Attorney General awards funding for the Youth Justice Committee Program located at 12 Market Street.

The Ministry of the Attorney General awards the contract for Bail Verification and Supervision Program at 12 Market Street.

2006

  A fire at Varency destroyed the home and residents were temporarily moved to 75 Albion Street.

The Youth Justice Committee moved from 12 Market Street to the Youth Action Centre with other youth justice programs.

Roy Walsh Home at 75 Albion Street closed due to reduced occupancy and residents relocated to 41 William Street.

National Homelessness Initiative (NHI) and MCYS Designated Housing Reserve provided funding to renovate 144 Chatham Street to provide a transitional home for females from the Youth Resource Centre.

The Local Health Integration Network (LHIN) approved proposals to fund a 5-bed transitional housing program at 144 Chatham Street and a Concurrent Disorders Counsellor at 12 Market Street.

2008   

National Crime Prevention provided a grant to operate a Youth and Art program for 3 years.
           
Varency Home was rebuilt and residents moved from 75 Albion Street back to Varency Home.

Royal Bank of Canada developed a partnership with the Agency providing funding, volunteer support and joint marketing efforts.