As we enter our 50th Anniversary in 2025 we recall our rich fifty-year history and why we are here: a vision for a community of connected, resilient people.

James Bay, being the oldest neighbourhood in Victoria, propelled our mission forward because we believe that no person – of any age – who may be vulnerable, ill, isolated, and/or low income should walk alone in their struggles. We aim to help before a family or individual reaches their breaking point, and our experienced staff of social and support workers, and volunteers tirelessly walk alongside our program participants.

Our history has been one of a responsive nature and continues to be as we serve nearly 1,500 individuals and families in James Bay, and across Victoria.

Like many charitable organizations, we started with humble roots in 1973 when the James Bay Community Association (JBCA), the James Bay Community School and the local Human Resources office began meeting regularly to discuss community issues and planning for health, education, recreation, and human resource developments. This gained footing for many James Bay Community organizations that still exist today.

Moving forward, in 1984 James Bay Community Project (JBCP) reconstituted under the Societies Act as the James Bay Health and Community Services Society, and in 1990, JBCP bought and renovated the building at 547 Michigan Street as part of a dream to create community services “under one roof”, as we know the organization today.

This is why we ask you to consider helping us kick off the 50th celebrations by joining our “Resilience of 50” major Monthly Donor Drive this Summer and Fall.

Thank you to our donors without whose donations we couldn’t help people who may be vulnerable, ill, isolated, and/or be dealing with low-income. Your compassion is the magical touch that helps people like Kathy whose story we shared in the Spring 2024 newsletter. Through our Seniors’ Digital Dive-In program, Kathy learned how to use translation tools as a Korean speaker to support her husband through kidney disease and transplant by understanding his medical reports and health requirements as his primary caregiver. Our programs and services exist in part because of donors – people just like you who connect with our mission and have empathy for the unknown, serious challenges that others experience – because we can all remember times in our own lives when we have needed a helping hand.

As we embrace our upcoming 50th Anniversary, we invite you to celebrate by joining “Resilience of 50” – our major Monthly Donor Campaign that is now underway. By becoming a $50/month donor in solidarity within a group of 50, your generosity will build the core funding we need to envision our next fifty years.

Our existing services are:

◆◆Family Resource Centre

◆◆Youth & Family Outreach

◆◆Youth Food Skills

◆◆Seniors Outreach

◆◆Better at Home Program

◆◆Volunteer-delivered services for seniors

◆◆Social programs for seniors

◆◆Digital Dive-In (portable tech info sessions for seniors)

Further information about the families and individuals we serve can be found in the 2023-24 Annual Report.

We hope we can count on your support and participation in this special “Resilience if 50” Major Monthly Donor Campaign. If you can, please follow this link to set up your CanadaHelps account and $50 monthly donation.

Sincerely,

Elissa Bergman
Part-time Fundraiser