The Facility – Centre of Hope (NEW FACILITY OPENED IN 2021!)

In 2024, Mt. Waddington Community Ministries celebrated 17 years of operating in Port Hardy. Over the years, the Centre has become a beacon of light and a symbol of hope for many. As the Regional District of Mount Waddington has the highest rate of poverty per capita, we especially serve those living in poverty and those struggling with homelessness and addiction issues.

As the sole social service-based community centre in the Regional District of Mount Waddington, the Centre of Hope is often the first point of contact for those needing essential living necessities, food, shelter, clothing, and advocacy. In addition, the Centre is a critical partner in our Community’s Poverty Reduction Strategy Initiative.

Giving Hope in The Mount Waddington Region

The Salvation Army’s Mt. Waddington Community Ministries operates The Centre of Hope, located at 7305 Market Street in Port Hardy. We partner with Island Health, BC Housing, and the Ministry of Social Development and Poverty Reduction, which allows us to deliver a wide range of programs, services, and resources to community members. Our service area covers the Mt. Waddington Region, roughly a population of 12,000 people, which includes: Port Hardy, Port McNeill, Coal Harbour, Alert Bay, Port Alice, and outlying areas.

We respectfully acknowledge that we are on the traditional territory of the Kwakiutl people. The majority of people who access our Centre identify as Indigenous who are primarily First Nations. We serve five surrounding Nations: Gwa’sala-‘Nakwaxda’xw Nations in Port Hardy, Kwakiutl First Nations in Fort Rupert, Quatsino First Nations in Coal Harbour, ‘Namgis First Nations in Alert Bay, and Dsawada’enuxw First Nations in Kincome Inlet.

Mt.-Waddington-Community-Ministries

The Salvation Army Mt. Waddington Community Ministries focuses on social services helping to provide the basic needs of food, clothing, shelter, and emergency assistance. This includes addressing such needs as homelessness, addictions, abuse, and food security. All our programs and services aim to meet people “where they are at” without judgment. We offer these programs and services in a warm, friendly and safe environment that helps us foster nurturing and loving relationships.

The Centre of Hope, located at 7305 Market Street, Port Hardy, serves the Regional District of Mount Waddington. Mt. Waddington Community Ministries is a partnership with Island Health, BC Housing, Ministry of Social Development and Poverty Reduction, and The Salvation Army. The Salvation Army officially opened its doors to the region in October 2007.

The Centre of Hope serves with an “everyone welcome” philosophy; our primary focus is on support services and programs for guests encountering various barriers, including low income, unemployment, addictions, social isolation, homelessness, and mental health barriers.

We have approximately 1100 people using over 4820 services per month. These include a Hot Lunch Program, Mental Health & Addiction Services, Nurse Practitioner, Shelter Services, Emergency Assistance (which includes Clothes, Food, Hygiene Products, Transportation, Personal Items, Disaster Assistance and Thrift Store Vouchers), Advocacy, Spiritual Care, Healing Circles, Access to Treatment Services, Recovery Groups, Life Skills Programs, Legal Services Society, access to Computers, Fax Machine, Photocopier & Telephone, Laundry & Clothing Assistance, Access to Showers, Income Tax Preparation and more.

Our guests range in age from 18 to 65+, with the majority being between 19 and 55. Many are dependent on government agencies over which they have no control; some are involved in the “underground economy,” which may include selling drugs or their belongings, charging for rides etc. Their low income means they cannot afford anything other than day-to-day necessities, and sometimes not even those. There are similarities between our guests and those in larger urban centers such as Vancouver’s downtown east side.

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The Impact…

The Salvation Army is well established as a solid community partner providing support throughout the Mount Waddington Region. As the demand for services keeps increasing, we will continue to change, grow, and adapt our relevant services, programs, and resources to positively impact the precious lives we serve.

History

The Salvation Army is an international Christian organization whose work began in London, England in 1865 when William Booth, a minister, abandoned the conventional concept of a church and a pulpit and took his message of hope to the poor, the homeless, the hungry and the destitute.  By 1867 The Salvation Army had developed into a ministry offering basic schooling, reading rooms, penny banks, soup kitchens and relief aid to the destitute.

The Salvation Army started its work in Canada in 1882 and quickly began giving hope to those in need throughout the country.  It serves over 1.85 million people each year in over 400 communities in Canada and is now the largest non-governmental direct provider of social services in the country.  

To accommodate the changing times, The Salvation Army in Canada continues to evolve and has undertaken Mobilize 2.0 which is a transformation program that included the creation of a vision for The Salvation Army Canada and Bermuda Territory so that we know where we are heading, and the development of a strategic plan that will help our movement get there.  While the same values and aspirations still exist, our primary goal is always to advance and find innovative solutions to better address rising community needs.

The Salvation Army is an international Christian church.

Its message is based on the Bible; its ministry is motivated by love for God and the needs of humanity.

MISSION STATEMENT

The Salvation Army exists to share the love of Jesus Christ, meet human needs and be a transforming influence in the communities of our world.

CORE VALUES

HOPE: We give hope through the power of the gospel of Jesus Christ.

SERVICE: We reach out to support others without discrimination.

DIGNITY: We respect and value each other, recognizing everyone’s worth.

STEWARDSHIP: We responsibly manage the resources entrusted to us.

More about the work of The Salvation Army in Canada

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Our Mission

Our Vision

The Salvation Army exists to share the love of Jesus Christ,
meet human needs,
and be a transforming influence in the
communities of our world.

We are an innovative partner,
mobilized to share hope wherever there is hardship,
building communities that are just and know the love of Jesus.

Our Values

Hope

We give hope through the power of the gospel of Jesus Christ.

Service

We reach out to support others without discrimination.

Dignity

We respect and value each other, recognizing everyone’s worth.

Stewardship

We responsibly manage the resources entrusted to us