History of the Child Development Centre
In April 1968, Mrs. Anne Martin became the Association’s first Executive Director. The following October, the Development Centre for Handicapped Children opened in a portable building loaned by the School District at the corner of Winnipeg Street and Ninth Avenue. The Centre provided medical assessments, a part-time preschool for three to six year olds, and physiotherapy for children of all ages. The preschool developed into a full day program in 1969.
Volunteers were important from the beginning, when they assisted with activities like driving the children; this activity was taken over by the Carefree Taxi Service (now Carefree Society) in 1971. An active Ladies Auxiliary did important fund raising work and also provided volunteers to the Centre.
By 1970, plans were underway for a more suitable building. The government of B.C. and many organizations and people within the local community provided the financial support needed to build the current facility at 1687 Strathcona Avenue. The building was opened in April 1973, using the new name of the Child Development Centre.
Over the years, the services offered at the Centre became more comprehensive. Speech therapy, occupational therapy, social services, expanded preschool and supported childcare programs were added. Social and recreational programs were also made available. The building continued to develop to accommodate expanding roles and needs. The lower level was finished in 1975, and has been used for various preschool programs. In 1984, a new wing was added for the therapy and preschool programs, with support from the Shriners/CKPG telethon, the Kiwanis Club, and the Provincial Lottery Branch.
Between the years of 1998 – 2000 there was an organizational shift whereas more services are now being delivered outside the main facility and children may attend the community daycare/preschool setting of their choice. The children are supported with outreach workers and through professional consultation. This new vision is called Supported Child Care with the philosophy that “Every Child Belongs.”
The evolution of Prince George as it transforms into a totally inclusive community has its share of challenges and will provide many milestones of success as we move forward into the new millennium.
Executive Directors:
Anne Martin 1968 – 1988
Pat Bunn 1988 – 1991
Ray Mabbet 1991 – 1996
Bob Bigelow 1996 – 2005
Darrell Roze 2006-
History of the Child Development Centre
Through the Eyes of Those There
Anne Martin
Executive Director 1968
Thirty years ago a group of determined and farseeing parents in Prince George embarked on a pilot project to determine the local service needs for children with cerebral palsy and other challenges.
With the support from a physician, Dr. Carolyn McGhee, a Physiotherapist, Monica Williams and Frances Lamont, the Executive Secretary of the Cerebral Palsy Association o
Original CDC, 1968
Original CDC 1968
9th Avenue & Winnipeg Street
f British Columbia, they incorporated a society, obtained seed funding
(no government grants for the first 12 months in those days) and employed an executive Director, Anne Martin.
“There really isn’t much to do” Said Monica, “We just need a preschool set up.” During the summer of 1968, fundraising was underway, the program was planned a portable classroom leased from School district 57.
Furniture and Equipment, mostly made or donated, was obtained and a preschool teacher employed. That fall, the Developmental Centre for handicapped Children was ready to accommodate the first 3 children.
Others joined them and by the end of the first year, twelve children were receiving assessment services, preschool and Physiotherapy. A Volunteer driving service had also been set up.
Arrangements had also been made to transfer the first preschoolers into grade 1, while overcoming problems of access posed by flights of steps, no transportation and limited expectations.
“Our responsibility is to the programs. It is up to the children to access them.” Quoted a school official.
The first Centre measured 36 x 17 feet and was quickly out grown. By the next year plans were being made for a purpose built facility.
In 1972 with major funding from the Province, The Society opened the Child Development Centre on Strathcona Avenue.
By: Anne Martin
Origins of the Child Development Centre
As seen by
Dr. Carolyn McGhee
Medical Director – 1968
examining a Child
When I moved to Prince George in 1966, there was a group of parents of children with cerebral palsy, who had this tremendous vision of a unit where children like theirs could get help, so that they would be ready for grade 1. In those days the School District did not have a kindergarten program. Mrs. Francis Lamont of the Provincial CP Association encouraged them, and a board of directors, consisting of mostly parents was struck. Monica Williams was hired to direct the developing of the program and she produced Anne Martin as if out of a hat. Anne "thought she could do it" and she did. She became the first Executive Director, and organized a building, and staff, a preschool teacher and a physiotherapist, to work with the children in the preschool room. It was the only room: an office and a washroom were partitioned off at one end, and our pride and joy the ramp was added outside. This building at the corner of 9th & Winnipeg, was so poorly insulated we had to close when it got "really cold" like –20.
As the medical director I was called in when a new family was referred to us, and at first my visits were infrequent, about once a month. Anne vacated the office for interviews, but the child would be examined in the preschool room on the Physio table, then Anne would type my notes. There were advantages to the smallness of the building, particularly the natural evolution of a team approach to management, but our caseload grew quickly and the new building on Strathcona Avenue was a great relief to everyone. Anyone now could have privacy if necessary, we could have a secretary and could start thinking about other aspects of treatment, such as speech and occupational therapy, social work, more preschool rooms and so on.
By
Dr.Carolyn McGhee
