History

1930s

• February 29th, 1932: The John Howard Society of British Columbia is incorporated (later becoming the John Howard Society of the Lower Mainland). The initial focus of the Society was assisting male prisoners with "after care" following their release from B.C. Penitentiary in New Westminster and Oakalla Prison Farm in Burnaby
• The John Howard Society of Victoria is founded in 1935
• New Haven begins operating as the first Canadian institution for young offenders
• Reverend J.D. Hobden, founder of the John Howard Society of BC, is appointed to the Archambault Royal Commission on Penal Reform
• A women's hostel sponsored by the City of Vancouver later becomes the Elizabeth Fry Society

1940s

• The BC Bar Association assigns the screening of legal aid applicants to The John Howard Society
• Adult probation initiated in Vancouver city police courts
• Reverend J.D. Hobden seconded to Remission Service of Canada, which was in charge of parole-granting

1950s

• The John Howard Society supervises parolees released on ticket-of-leave license—the beginning of Parole Services
• Branches of The John Howard Society are established in New Westminster, Kamloops, Kelowna and Penticton

1960s

• The John Howard Society of Canada is established in 1961
• Howard House, a rehabilitation residence, opens in Vernon

1970s

•  The Native Court Worker Program is established, focusing on "family re-unification and restoration, mediation, education, prevention, integrated case management, conflict resolution and counselling"
• The 7th Step Society is founded, providing housing and services for federal parolees
• The McNeil Island Project: JHS staff begin visiting Canadians incarcerated in Washington and Oregon state prisons; prisoner exchange between Canada and the U.S. begins
• The J.D. Hobden Scholarship is established to assist ex-offenders with university level education

1980s

• Regional offices of the John Howard Society are established in the Lower Mainland (Metro Vancouver), the Okanagan, Northern BC and Thompson
• Hobden House opens in Surrey, providing housing and other services for federal parolees
• Family House, which provides low-cost temporary accommodation to the families of men serving time in prison, opens in Abbotsford; a children's summer program is initiated

1990s

• Parole supervision taken over by the Correctional Service of Canada (CSC) from the John Howard Society
• Guy Richmond Place, a B.C. Provincial Corrections halfway house, is established in Surrey, BC (later moving to Vancouver) for men on conditional release
• Stephen Kruger House is established in association with Simon Fraser University to assist persons with "dual-diagnosis": mental health with addiction issues
• JHSLM purchases a Special Needs Residential Facility (Hatfield House) from the Hatfield Society; the Ministry for Children and Family Development contracts for outreach and live-in support services to persons with developmental disabilities
• South Surrey Supported Residence established, a licensed care facility for persons on conditional discharge from the Forensic Psychiatric Hospital (Not Criminally Responsible Due to Mental Disorder or having an Acquired Brain Injury); this closes in 2004 due to changing government priorities
• Vancouver Apartment (VA) purchased: originally intended as independent apartments for persons with developmental disabilities who may have come into conflict with the law, and later providing supported living for people with developmental disabilities with no connection to criminal justice
• JHSLM begins the Prostitution Offender Program with Vancouver Police Department, also known as "John School". This program was discontinued in 2013 due to changes in Section 210 of the Canadian Criminal Code

Recent Years

• JHSLM helps facilitate Methadone Maintenance Treatment Program with the Correctional Service of Canada
• JHS assists in the development of the Drug Treatment Court of Vancouver and acts as an advisor
• Miller Block Transitional Homeless Project residence purchased with grants from the Canada Mortgage and Housing Corporation's Residential Rehabilitation Assistance Program (RRAP) and the federal government's Supporting Communities Partnership Initiative (SCPI); tenants occupy suites from 2005; JHSLM's regional office is moved to the main floor (763 Kingsway)
• JHSLM assists in the development of the BC Yukon Halfway House Association, and later takes on their bookkeeping duties
• JHSLM takes over media relations and administration responsibilities from The John Howard Society of BC
• From 2004, JHSLM begins receiving accreditation from The Commission on Accreditation of Rehabilitation Facilities (CARF)
• JHSLM Property Management Program – Entrepreneurial Program established
• JHSLM introduces the Employment Preparation Program and restores weekly visitation to the Fraser Regional Correctional Centre
• JHSLM purchases Tims Manor in Abbotsford after receiving a $1,000,000 grant from BC Housing to provide supported housing; a Community Outreach worker is employed there through a contract with the Correctional Service of Canada
• Homelessness Partnering Strategy (partially funded by Service Canada) begins assisting men who have been released from prison, and individuals in the community, locate housing and prevent homelessness
• Community Services begin operating out of a new property at 752 Kingsway, across the street from our Regional Office and Miller Block residence
• Community Living BC (CLBC) Outreach Program expands
  • Mental Health Outreach Worker established in the Fraser Valley through a contract with Correctional Service of Canada
  • Vancouver Foundation grant funding helps provide an additional Homelessness Outreach Worker
  • The Law Foundation of BC grant provides support for JHSLM's program, Housing High Risk Offenders in the Community