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Archival description
Public welfare--British Columbia
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Memorandum (incomplete) of Social Assistance Branch

  • GR-0636
  • Series
  • 1944

Incomplete memorandum on the Department's Social Assistance Branch, prepared by E.W. Griffith, Assistant Deputy Provincial Secretary.

British Columbia. Dept. of the Provincial Secretary

Newspaper clippings and other material

  • GR-0638
  • Series
  • 1906-1908

This series consists of newspaper clippings concerning public health and the campaign to establish an institution for the treatment of tuberculosis. Includes one photograph, "Lepers at D'arcy Island".

British Columbia. Dept. of the Provincial Secretary

Correspondence

  • GR-2819
  • Series
  • 1939

One correspondence file of the Superintendent of Welfare and one case file of an individual who applied for assistance. The files contain memoranda and correspondence of the Superintendent and one welfare visitor with the Unemployment Relief Branch of the Dept. of Labour, the Supervisor of the Destitute, Poor and Sick Fund, the Canadian Legion, and various government agents.

British Columbia. Dept. of the Provincial Secretary. Superintendent of Welfare

BC Radio News : [press conferences, interviews, speeches, etc., January 1979]

CALL NUMBER: T3860:0116 SUPPLIED TITLE OF TAPE(S): Dave Barrett RECORDED: [location unknown], 1979-01-18 SUMMARY: Dave Barrett on F.I.R.A.; CALL NUMBER: T3860:0117 SUPPLIED TITLE OF TAPE(S): Premier Bennett : Maclean's magazine interview RECORDED: [location unknown], 1979-01-22 SUMMARY: MacLean's magazine interview with Premier Bill Bennett.; CALL NUMBER: T3860:0118 SUPPLIED TITLE OF TAPE(S): Premier Bennett : Maclean's magazine interview (cont;d) RECORDED: [location unknown], 1979-01-22 SUMMARY: MacLean's magazine interview with Premier Bill Bennett (continued from T3860:0118).; CALL NUMBER: T3860:0119 SUPPLIED TITLE OF TAPE(S): Premier Bennett RECORDED: [location unknown], 1979-01-25 SUMMARY: Bill Bennett on the Unity Task Force report.; CALL NUMBER: T3860:0120 SUPPLIED TITLE OF TAPE(S): Rafe Mair RECORDED: [location unknown], 1979-01-26 SUMMARY: Rafe Mair on allegations he interfered with the Rentalsman's office.; CALL NUMBER: T3860:0121 SUPPLIED TITLE OF TAPE(S): Walter Davidson ; Bill King RECORDED: [location unknown], 1979-01-30 SUMMARY: Walter Davidson and Bill King on Ombudsman appointment.; CALL NUMBER: T3860:0122 SUPPLIED TITLE OF TAPE(S): Grace McCarthy RECORDED: [location unknown], 1979-01-31 SUMMARY: Grace McCarthy writes to business leaders so they will hire '"welfare bums". [sic];

Tilly Rolston : [talk]

SUMMARY: Talk by Tilly Rolston, Member of Legislative Assembly for Vancouver-Point Grey, about: British Columbia election June 15, 1949; socialism, British experience; Coalition Government, accomplishments; social security, hospitalization plan; finance, public debt, British Columbia.

Doris Mellish interview

CALL NUMBER: T1988:0001 SUPPLIED TITLE OF TAPE(S): Doris Mellish, General Medicine, Vancouver PERIOD COVERED: 1920-1970 RECORDED: [location unknown], 1976-01-08 SUMMARY: TRACK 1: Personal background; nurses training and early job experiences; life on the northwest coast of Vancouver Island; health care on the northwest coast of Vancouver Island; involvement with the Vancouver Health League; mental health; amalgamation of city health and school health; start of Mental Health committee; description of Parent Teachers Association; parent education courses. TRACK 2: ; Description of courses; formation of Vancouver Health League and the Community Chest; Council of Social Agencies; smallpox epidemics of 1919 and 1932; vaccinations for small pox; school vaccination; Cancer Foundation; BC Cancer Society; Tranquille. CALL NUMBER: T1988:0002 SUPPLIED TITLE OF TAPE(S): Doris Mellish, General Medicine, Vancouver PERIOD COVERED: 1950-1976 RECORDED: [location unknown], 1976-01-08 SUMMARY: TRACK 1: Community program takeover by government; choosing members of family service organisations; payment for services by government; availability of services throughout BC; care of aged; nutrition; results of Conference of Aged; law resulting from the study of facilities; nutrition in Vancouver; fluoridation. TRACK 2: Fluoridation; water pollution; registry of disabled children; handicapped aids; building codes for handicapped; residential treatment for disturbed children. CALL NUMBER: T1988:0003 SUPPLIED TITLE OF TAPE(S): Doris Mellish, General Medicine, Vancouver PERIOD COVERED: 1940-1976 RECORDED: [location unknown], 1976-01-08 SUMMARY: TRACK 1: Vancouver Health League; mental health; house for residential treatment; mentally retarded; formation of BC Mental Health Association; volunteers for mental health centres; preventorium; Sunnyhill; formation of Victoria Order of Nurses; industrial health in Vancouver; Community Chest organisations. TRACK 2: Community Chest; changes and budget deficits; opinions of resource boards; Community Chest; future.

Lenore Patterson interview

SUPPLIED TITLE OF TAPE(S): Co-ordinator of Health Care Services, Vancouver Resources Board RECORDED: Vancouver (B.C.), 1976-04-14 SUMMARY: TRACK 1: Background; brief career as a dietitian here and in UK; involvement in dental care; came to Vancouver and became a nutritionist with Catholic Child Care; last year, 1975, became the head of dietetics in the Vancouver Resources Board. Health care as it was before integration last year; decentralisation (see Foulkes Report) responsible for reorganisation of social services; mandate of Resources Board; 14 local offices and 5 special offices; Mincome delivered at Dunsmuir Street office; advent of resources boards, and their disbandment; definition of health care according to resource boards, defined by programs: old people's care and children. Staff of specialists in psychiatry department, to help children; work closely with all community resources; public health nurses' duties. Adult; care resource homes: Taylor Manor and Kinna Mair. Nutritionists help recipients and community groups to budget food and balance with goodness; also help baby home. Children in care of the Resources Board present with a variety of health problems. One medical clinic under Resources Board; one full-time physician and a part-time pediatrician. Dental health arranged. Post-partum group handles new mothers with problems; program for counseling these women. Types of problems handled. Men's group started. Child abuse dealt with. TRACK 2: Other programs of Resources board: nutrition program for healthy babies; drug and alcohol abuse an ongoing problem. Taylor Manor, for adults with mental and physical problems who are not able to function in the community, and are not expected to get into the community; 894 new contacts in 1974 under the psychiatric counseling. Taylor Manor has 58 beds and a waiting list; government pays for all. Per diem rate for five levels of care, set by government. Relations with other community health services. More involvement with Attorney-General's Department hoped for. Future of Resources Board.

Amy Leigh interview : [Covernton, 1973]

SUPPLIED TITLE OF TAPE(S): Amy Leigh : a pioneer social worker in B.C. interested in public welfare PERIOD COVERED: 1913-1963 RECORDED: [location unknown], 1973-03-30 SUMMARY: Amy Leigh was born in 1897 and discusses her immigration to Canada from England in 1913; Girl Guides; childhood; recollections; early jobs as a secretary; probation work; training at the University of Toronto School of Social Work; various social work jobs. TRACK 2: Jobs: Director of Welfare, Vancouver. Discussion of the Depression and radicalism. Canadian National Institute for the Blind. Director of Welfare, Vancouver, 1937-1943: decentralization; South Vancouver Experiment; Japanese evacuation. Assistant Director of Welfare for the province. Comments on social work. Retirement in 1958. Other jobs: teaching public welfare, University of Washington; Welfare Department in the Yukon; CNIB, Winnipeg and Ottawa, 1960s. General comments on public welfare: role of government; limits of financial aid.

Report of the committee on homeless men

The file consists of a letter to J.E. Vaz of the Jewish Federation in Montreal, written by J. Howard T. Falk, Executive Director of the Vancouver Council of Social Agencies, dated August 1, 1932. The letter includes an 8 page report of the committee on homeless men dated July 1932. The report, which includes a survey of Vancouver agencies providing assistance to homeless men, also makes recommendations in the area of local and national policy. This report was one of many copies sent to cities and agencies across Canada to encourage support for the recommendations contained within and to ask that these agencies take their suggestions directly to the Prime Minister of Canada.

Syd Thompson interview

CALL NUMBER: T3529:0001 SUPPLIED TITLE OF TAPE(S): Syd Thompson : recollections of years as a labour organizer : part 1 PERIOD COVERED: 1930-1939 RECORDED: [location unknown], 1978-06-12 SUMMARY: TRACK 1: In an interview with Colleen Bostwick, Syd Thompson discusses his personal background. Recollections of first working experiences. Life in a relief camp in Ontario during the Depression. Coming to Vancouver in the 1930s. Experiences with the relief camp workers' union. Comments on the relief system in Vancouver. TRACK 2: Comments on the differences between the CCF and the Communist Party of Canada. Attitudes and political ideas of single unemployed men in Vancouver during the Depression of the 1930s. Organized labour and political action. Anecdotes about life in various relief camps in western Canada. Comments on the effects of the relief camp system. (Cont'd on T3529:0002) CALL NUMBER: T3529:0002 SUPPLIED TITLE OF TAPE(S): Syd Thompson : recollections of years as a labour organizer : part 2 PERIOD COVERED: 1935-1935 RECORDED: [location unknown], 1978 SUMMARY: TRACK 1: (Continues interview of 1978-06-12) Syd Thompson comments on the effect of the Depression of the 1930s on the labour movement in Canada. The inadequacies of the capitalist system. Organizing in the relief camps in Alberta. Anecdotes and stories related to experiences in prison. TRACK 2: (Continuation of interview, 1978-08-21) Further comments on organizing in relief camps. Description of conditions in relief camps in B.C. Social life and conditions during the Depression. Leaving the Communist party. Other experiences during the Depression. CALL NUMBER: T3529:0003 SUPPLIED TITLE OF TAPE(S): Syd Thompson : recollections of years as a labour organizer : part 3 PERIOD COVERED: 1935-1940 RECORDED: [location unknown], 1978 SUMMARY: TRACK 1: Syd Thompson describes his experiences in the army during the Second World War. Memories of movies he went to during the 1930s. General comments on class divisions in society and the lack of a proper division of wealth. The effect of the Depression of the 1930s on Thompson's later life. Recollection of the On-To-Ottawa Trek. TRACK 2: Recollections of experiences while organizing in a relief camp at Banff. Other memories of organizing on the prairies. Hobo jungles in B.C. during the Depression. Comments on his children and expectations for their lives. (End of interview)

Records pertaining to care of indigents and destitute persons

  • GR-0150
  • Series
  • 1911-1925

The series contains records pertaining to the care of indigents and destitute persons created by the Dept. of the Provincial Secretary between 1911 and 1925.

Files consist of applications for relief, supporting documents from police constables and government agents, case files, administrative reports, and general correspondence. Reports on unemployment in specific communities in British Columbia, ca. 1911-1918 are also included.

Records created prior to 1923 were filed numerically and constituted a separate records series within the Provincial Secretary's office. Records created after 1923 were kept alphabetically, by name of applicant. Regrettably, contemporary registers and indices for these records have not survived.

Although it was "the duty of every city and district municipality to make suitable provision for its poor" [Municipal Act, RSBC 1911, c.170 s.526], the Department of the Provincial Secretary was largely responsible for the care of indigents and other destitute people in British Columbia. In fact, prior to the creation of the Department of Health and Welfare in 1946, the Provincial Secretary's office was often the only source of support for deserted wives and children, indigent widows and elderly persons, disabled workers and others in need of public welfare.

The Provincial Secretary administered funds to such groups through charitable accounts, the Workmen's Compensation Board, the Provincial Board of Health, and other agencies. At the local level, relief payments were often distributed by Provincial Police constables or Government Agents.

British Columbia. Dept. of the Provincial Secretary

Jeannie McDuff interview

SUPPLIED TITLE OF TAPE(S): Strathcona neighbourhood : the First United Church PERIOD COVERED: 1919-[no date] RECORDED: [location unknown], 1978-06-20 SUMMARY: TRACK 1: Jean McDuff landed in Vancouver 07-Jul-1919 from Scotland to join husband; stayed with Mrs. West; attended Mothers Meeting at Turner Institute; quilting there. Attended Fircom, First United Community House, at Georgia and Campbell; Miss Goddard taught gym classes there; deaconesses lived in White Shield social club there. First United Church: making stews for breadline from donated food. Roy Stobie (student minister) helped Rev. Roddan take food down to mud flats where men lived in cardboard shacks. She saw unemployed men marching on Woodward's and invading Hudson's Bay. Post Office occupation. Men invaded church while she was at camp. Roddan had invited Mayor McGeer to speak; McGeer had read riot act, so the men came in to protest. City Hall welfare handouts. More on HBC demonstrations. Men coming off trains came up to First United for stew. They fed perhaps 1,000 men a day. Mr. Redburn initiated Saturday Night Fellowship meetings; fed 200 men a night. Fellowship meetings started in late 1930s, still carried on. Early ministers at First United (post 1919): Craig, Roberts, McIntyre, Dr. Telford. Roddan came from Port Arthur because he'd heard of First United's welfare work. Family man, 7 children. Stayed for 20 years. Jolly personality. More on Roddan and Stobie carrying stew to the flats. Roddan made men write home to mothers. Present ministers' work. Church camp. TRACK 2: More on church camp: her cabin, using pump, improvements at camp, building Jubilee Hall, boat story. Life at camp, geography there. Describes buildings at Hastings and Gore in the 1920s. New church building erected 1936. Rev. Roddan's preaching style. Cooking at church and camp. Hobo jungle on flats again; another one under Georgia Viaduct. Georgia Street streetcar. Union Street became Adanac Street. Story of being looked for in Chinatown. Quilting women. Ladies' Aid: she vice-president, Mrs. Hunter president -- two big Scots women. (End of interview)

[Vander Zalm -- handicapped]

News item. Demonstration on Legislature grounds. Protestors wear signs reading: "Vander Zalm punishes the handicapped with unfair criteria." Human Resources Minister Bill Vander Zalm intends to give the handicapped more help with priorities like "shelter", but many other needs are not discussed.

[BC Human Resources Minister Bill Vander Zalm on new welfare ruling]

News item. BC Human Resources Minister Bill Vander Zalm speaks with the press about a new welfare ruling. In order to qualify for welfare in B.C., applicants must now prove that they have resided here for the past four months. Mr. Vander Zalm says this ruling is necessary because: "We now have probably the highest rate for social assistance in North America, and we certainly don't want to create a situation whereby we encourage great numbers of people to come from the Maritimes or Quebec or Ontario. . . ."

Adoption

Item consists of two 60 second television commercials on adoption, created by the Ministry of Human Resources in 1979 as part of the "Year of the child and family in B.C." program.

Tight rope walker

Item consists of 30 second television commercial created by the Ministry of Health in 1979 as part of the "Year of the child and family in B.C." program.

British Columbia. Ministry of Health (1976-2001)

Records of executive directors

  • GR-4254
  • Series
  • 1971 - 1980

The series consists of the Ministry of Human Resources executive director records created between 1971-1980 in British Columbia. The records relate primarily to child welfare and other related responsibilities within the Family and Children’s Services Division of the ministry. Some of the records were created and received by the ministry’s predecessor, the Department of Human Resources. The records document family support services, child welfare services, and the operation of three institutions that care for individuals with disabilities: Woodlands, Tranquille, and Glendale. The ministry’s service delivery model was organized on a regional basis, defined by geographic area. Records document the regional delivery of programs related to adoptions, foster homes, family support homemakers, and rehabilitation services for children. Records from other divisions in the ministry relate to income assistance, health care, rehabilitation and support services, and seniors’ services. Governing legislation includes the Adoption Act (RSBC 1986, c. 5), Protection of Children Act (RSBC 1967. c. 38) and the Social Assistance Act (RSBC 1973, c. 81), among others. Some of the records document the transfer of all property, functions, and employees of the Vancouver Resources Board (VRB) to the provincial government.

The series is arranged alphabetically by topic and some of the series is arranged by the executive director's initials: R.K. Butler; T.D. Bingham; R.J. Burnham; and S.G. Travers. Some of the records also contain an additional file code. The records consist of correspondence, reports, meeting materials, and program and policy documents. These records are covered under the Executive Records Schedule (102906).

British Columbia. Ministry of Human Resources

May Humphreys interview

CALL NUMBER: T2013:0001 SUPPLIED TITLE OF TAPE(S): Health care and social assistance PERIOD COVERED: 1928-1960 RECORDED: [location unknown], 1976-02-20 SUMMARY: TRACK 1: Brief personal introduction with a description of UBC in 1928 and the decision to go into nurses training at VGH in 1929; includes a description of courses, hours, and discipline; job shortages of the Depression years and the decision to study public health at McGill from 1931 to 1933; work in Family Services in Montreal; description of service; religious divisions, problems in Griffintown; juveniles and comparison with Vancouver; job offers and the return to Vancouver; out-patients at VGH in 1936, with a description of buildings, patients, dental clinic, staff, volunteers and cup of soup; joined the City Relief Department in 1937 and describes the staff under the direction of Dr. Jack Muscovitch. TRACK 2: Social workers and the medical section with mention of responsibilities and services; effects of the Depression on people, allowances, violent attitudes; reporters; unique service of medical section; doctors services and medical histories; post-war years; employment on the Sea Wall; mental assessments; placement program growth out of VGH overcrowding; problems in regulating; lack of staff; numbers of clients; anecdotes on persuading people to enter boarding homes; atmosphere at placement institutions; night school courses; private homes, problems associated with uprooting and adjustment of elder clients. CALL NUMBER: T2013:0002 SUPPLIED TITLE OF TAPE(S): Health care and social assistance PERIOD COVERED: 1935-1976 RECORDED: [location unknown], 1976-02-20 SUMMARY: TRACK 1: Conclusion of anecdote; role with alcoholics and Salt Spring Farm; hospital; drunk tank; need for a cleansing station; social life in boarding houses; sitting room regulations; recreation and; the role of volunteer organisations; effects of the Second World War and the reduction in staff; changes in public attitude; rise in young people on relief; increase in professional social workers; involvement in rationing and accompanying anecdote; changes in the services; dental plan; appliances; caseloads; increases in allowances; clothing allowances; nutrition services; referral resources; relationship with the Metropolitan Health Department; consultation, referrals, overlapping interests; geriatrics. TRACK 2: Gradual acceptance of geriatric centres; trends in services; attitudes of staff and public; customer orientation of building and furniture; medical aspects of the social assistance program; 60% of clients; promotes health problems; problems of single men; staff experiment living on an allowance; effects on social assistance and trend to younger people in the 1960s and 1970s; lessons learned about human nature with examples of New York and Sweden and the nature of Canadians; summary of medical program; services; abuse; payments.

Martha E. Moscrop interview

CALL NUMBER: T0211:0001 SUPPLIED TITLE OF TAPE(S): Martha Moscrop : a social worker cannot be a Socialist RECORDED: [location unknown], 1973-04-11 SUMMARY: Martha Moscrop was born in 1907 and was an adopted child. She attended Normal School and discusses sports; girls groups leading into social work; early Kitsilano; Joe -- English Bay lifeguard; WWI; chores; a tomboy; outdoor summers make child self-assured; never felt unequal to a man; reasons for not marrying; teaching in Alberta; teaching kindergarten at Japanese United Church; Rotary fresh air camp; teaching Pender Harbour Japanese fishermen; church camp leader; teaching in Kaslo and Invermere; putting on "The Mikado" in a community; Invermere; social work course at UBC; Family Welfare Bureau; integration of social work departments; evacuation of Japanese; services in Vancouver; social workers.

CALL NUMBER: T0211:0002 SUPPLIED TITLE OF TAPE(S): Martha Moscrop : a social worker cannot be a Socialist RECORDED: [location unknown], 1973-05-24 SUMMARY: Martha Moscrop discusses the evacuation of the Japanese; administered by General Motors men; some examples of her work; some good in the evacuation; disposal of their assets, etc.; terrible -- but no political involvement; Social Welfare Department of B.C. training supervisor; social welfare legislation; social workers in-service training programs in B.C., Malaya, Hong Kong; England and Israel; presently (1973) writing a book on adult education.

Bill Bennett : [Gary Bannerman interview, CKNW, August 18, 1978]

CALL NUMBER: T1707:0139 SUPPLIED TITLE OF TAPE(S): Bill Bennett: On the Gary Bannerman program (part 1) SUMMARY: TRACK 1: In a radio interview on Gary Bannerman's hot line program on CKNW, 18 August 1978, Premier Bill Bennett discusses the Canadian economy, constitutional change in Canada, federal/provincial relations, attitudes to the monarchy in Canada, public service employee cut backs, labour relations in BC, the Dease Lake extension of the BC Railway, social service allowances. TRACK 2: Bennett discusses unemployment in BC, road construction, the first BC Summer Games, strikes at BC breweries, the creation of a BC ombudsman, proposals for a new sports stadium at Vancouver, urban transportation in BC.

CALL NUMBER: T1707:0140 SUPPLIED TITLE OF TAPE(S): Bill Bennett: On the Gary Bannerman program (part 2) SUMMARY: TRACK 1: Continuation of a radio interview with Premier Bill Bennett on Gary Bannerman's hot line program on CKNW, 18 August 1978. Subjects discussed include: small business in BC, immigration policy and BC, cable TV in BC, cabinet changes, and the timing of the next election. [TRACK 2: blank]

Vancouver Resources Board records

  • GR-2921
  • Series
  • 1953-1975

The series consists of records of the Vancouver Resources Board include some records of the Children's Aid Society of Vancouver, the Vancouver City Welfare and Rehabilitation department and a very small number of files from the Hastings Sunrise Community Resource Board and the Grandview Woodland Community Resource Board.

Vancouver Resources Board

Webster! : 1987-01-21

Public affairs. Jack Webster's popular weekday morning talk show. Guests and topics for this episode are: Jack starts the show with Darlene Marzari, NDP MLA Vancouver-Point Grey, and Joan Smallwood, NDP MLA Surrey-Guildford-Whalley. They are horrified by Claude Richmond’s latest threat to remove children from parents, if parents receiving welfare benefits do not take jobs. They discuss Social Credit’s track record and their policies. Then a story about cochlear implants with Dr. Patrick Doyle, Head of Otolaryngology, St. Paul’s Hospital and Dr. Dietrich Schwarz, Otolaryngology Research, UBC.

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