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1902
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The Society was first established in 1902 as the “Humane Society of Sault Ste. Marie.”
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1904
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John Joseph Kelso, who was hired by the Government to administer the 1893 Bill for the Prevention of Cruelty To and Better Protection of Children, arrived in Sault Ste. Marie from Toronto to assist a number of Sault Ste. Marie volunteers further establish the Society. At the time, 36 Societies were operating in Ontario.
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1905
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The Society established a definite structure when its first full Executive and Council were elected at its Annual Meeting. John Dawson was elected President.
John Dawson, Mrs. J.Y. Turner, and Minnie (Garrett) Ewing were council members who appeared to do a lot of work in terms of fundraising, finding foster homes, and talking with children and their families.
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1910
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J.P. Reed, who was an ordained minister, was hired by the Society to oversee its operations and establish a children’s shelter in Sault Ste. Marie.
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1912
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The Society purchased the Wawanosh Home, which had once been a residential school for Indian girls. This home was transformed into a shelter.
By this time, 60 Societies were in existence in Ontario. The Associated Children’s Aid Societies of Ontario, which later became the Ontario Association of Children’s Aid Societies (OACAS), was founded. The OACAS was established to promote the welfare of children and to co-ordinate the work of all the Societies. The OACAS aims to facilitate and enhance the work of Societies through collective action, public relations, dissemination of information, uniformity of standards, and assistance to individual Societies.
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1918
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The Department of Education gave the Society permission to set up a school at the shelter under the authority of the Tarentaurus School Board.
Mr. Kelso wrote the Board recommending the Society hire a trained social worker to assist Mr. Reed. No social worker was hired at this time, but a part-time secretary was recruited to assist the Society in the area of administration.
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1934
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The Conservative government was replaced by the Liberals. J.J. Kelso is replaced by B.W. Heise as head of the government’s child welfare department. Heise boldly implemented grading reports (A to E) as a radical new administrative tool for funding CASs and enforcing higher standards. According to Heise, this change in government policy “blew the lid off the Child Welfare system.”
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1937
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The Letters Patent incorporating the Society was recorded in the Office of Land Titles in Sault Ste. Marie on February 18, 1937. At the time, the Society was registered as the Children’s Aid Society of Sault Ste. Marie and District of Algoma.
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1939
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Herb Dawson, son of the first Board President, replaced J.P. Reed as Local Superintendent.
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1942
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Herb Dawson resigned. W.H. Bury replaced Dawson as Local Superintendent.
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1944
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Bury resigned. Lorna Kraus, a Social Worker for the Society was promoted to Superintendent. Ms. Kraus had three social workers and a secretary on staff during this time.
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1953
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Ms. Krause resigned. S.C. Hossie is hired as Superintendent, but suddenly resigned in 1954.
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1955
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The Child Welfare Act of 1954 came into effect. Foster care, rather than institutional care, was identified as being in the best interest of children.
Ian Sutherland was hired as Local Director for the Society. The Society hired three new social workers. The Society employed a Director, six social workers, and a secretary at this time.
At that time, the shelter was closed. Foster Care and Receiving Home placements were viewed as better alternatives.
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1956
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The Society established an office in Blind River.
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1961
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The Family Services Bureau, funded by the Welfare Federation, was established as an autonomous operated counselling agency under the auspices of the Society’s Board of Directors. This service complemented the work of the Society by taking over some of its protection workload and dealing with a wide range of family problems.
Four years later, the Society recommended that the Bureau should lose much of its autonomy and function more as a department of the Society. After much bitterness involving the Society’s Local Director and the Bureau’s Director, this recommendation occurred. However, within three years, the Bureau separated from the Society and established itself as an independent social service organization.
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1965
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The Child Welfare Act was passed. This covered mandatory reporting of child abuse and a two-year limit on temporary wardship.
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1970
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The Society begins to receive 80% funding from the Government and 20% from the municipality. (This replaces the previous 40-60 arrangement.)
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1971
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The Society established offices in Elliot Lake and Thessalon.
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1974
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The Society established an office in Wawa. This office was located on Broadway Avenue above Canadian Tire.
The Central office in Sault Ste. Marie moved their office to Willow Avenue. Prior to this date, the office was located at 123 March Street.
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1975
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Ian Sutherland resigns as Local Director. He had been with the Society for over 20 years in the capacity of Local Director. Mr. Sutherland was replaced by Ron Luciano.
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1977
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The Society purchased a home on Pim Street, which housed its Receiving and Assessment service.
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1978
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The Society purchased a house on Kingsford Road to meet the needs of a group home for adolescents.
The Society hired a part-time on-site counsellor for the community of Hornepayne.
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1979
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Ron Luciano resigned during the strike of 1979-1980. Mr. John Hayes was recruited at this time.
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1984
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The Child Welfare Act became the Child and Family Services Act. This new Act attempted to balance the protection of children and the integrity of the family unit.
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1986
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Dr. Larry McConnell was hired as Local Director. Dr. McConnell replaced John Hayes who resigned in 1985.
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1987
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The Society’s Board of Directors endorsed the following Mission Statement:
The purpose of the Children’s Aid Society is to protect the children of Algoma in a manner which reflects the community’s standards and the intent of related legislation while recognizing the Society’s human and financial limitations.
The Board of Directors decided to change the Society’s name (the “Children’s Aid Society of Sault Ste. Marie and District of Algoma). The Supplementary Letters Patent establishing the organization as the Children’s Aid Society of Algoma” was filed on March 6, 1987.
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1990
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The Society’s Mission Statement was changed to reflect the multi-service nature of the Society’s programs.
Amendments to the Child and Family Services Act added rights related to aboriginal children and families and confidentiality of records.
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1991
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The Society purchased land in Wawa and built a small office on Algoma Street. A full-time secretary for North Algoma was also hired at this time.
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1992
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The Society’s Youth Centre became operational.
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1993
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The Society moved from its Willow Avenue office to its new office on Northern Avenue.
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1997
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Dr. Larry McConnell resigns as Chief Executive Officer. Hugh Nicholson replaced him.
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1998
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The Conservative government launches “Child Welfare Reform.” Major revisions to child protection services across Ontario occur including a provincial screening tool – Eligibility Spectrum, a standardized Risk Assessment Instrument, and a standardized funding formula based on service volume and specific benchmarks.
CASs move to 100% Provincial funding.
The Society’s Mission Statement was amended to read:
“The purpose of the Children’s Aid Society is to protect the children of Algoma and promote their well-being in a manner that reflects community standards and the spirit of related legislation, while making the most efficient use of community and Society resources.”
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2000
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Amendments are made to the CFSA to expand areas of emotional harm, neglect, and Duty to Report.
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2002
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The Society celebrates its 100th Anniversary.
The Board of Directors endorses the Organizational Values.
The Youth Centre is transferred to Northern Youth Services.
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2003
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Hugh Nicholson resigns as Executive Director and is replaced by Jim Baraniuk.
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2004
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The Ministry of Children and Youth Services establishes the Child Welfare Secretariat to review child protection services across Ontario.
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2005
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The Society purchases an office building at 29 Manitoba Road in Elliot Lake and at 405 Queen Street for Family Service and Legal staff in Sault Ste. Marie.
The Customary Care Agreement is signed with Mississauga First Nation.
Family Preservation “hubs” are established on Chapple Avenue and Second Line.
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