Custom Search
|
|
The Bissell Centre Has 100 Candles On Its Birthday Cake
The Bissell Centre was once known as the Methodist All People’s Mission. Started in 1910, the centre’s primary focus was helping recent immigrants from the Ukraine to adjust to their new life in Canada. The centre would hold English classes and church services. The Great Depression changed the centre’s focus. They then helped the unemployed by providing a place to sleep, food, clothes and weekly concerts to soothe the soul. Mr. T. E. Bissell, in the farm machinery business, was impressed and donated $25,000 towards their cause. That was in 1935. The money helped the group move to a new location, which they named after their benefactor. During WWII, the Bissell Centre aided the Japanese by providing church services and other aid. Then in the 1940s they started showing support for the First Nation People and were instrumental in getting the oppressive laws of the times repealed. To this day the centre is used for traditional First Nation ceremonies. Aboriginal Canadians make up about 70 percent of its client base. More room was needed, so in 1989 Bissell Centre moved into a new home. A renovated warehouse allowed them to expand their services and in 2006 they added a new building across the street. Here they continue to help the homeless and others that find themselves down on their luck and looking for a little bit of help and hope. Article Directory: http://www.articledashboard.com Ryan Philipenko - Central Edmonton Real Estate |
|