News
The Rogens
In week 11 of our 50th-anniversary story, we speak with Sandy, Mark, and Danya Rogen, the family of talented...
Kitsilano – WSFP, a cornerstone in the community
A snapshot of life in Kitsilano in the 1980s - We all know Kitsilano is a special location with its mountain...
Introduction to the 80s – Climate, Activism, Austerity
Moving through our timeline to the 1980s, we highlight the words of parents and staff from West Side Family Place in a...
Family Place Model Expands
Once West Side Family Place was established, word spread, and many parents travelled across Vancouver to this new kind of facility for young families. Enjoying the experience, it wasn't long before parents took the idea back to their own neighbourhoods. In Vancouver...
Toy Lending Library
In the early days of Family Place, a toy lending library was introduced, and it remains popular! We owe the continued success of the toy library network in BC to the work and dedication of Val Fronczek who sadly passed in 2013. Val had a long and distinguished...
Early Supporters
This week, we remember Dr. Alan Cashmore, a child and family psychiatrist and early...
Early Programming…
When WSFP opened, the goal was to have a place for parents and children to come together in a safe environment, but the founders sought to offer more in the way of programming. The team experimented with many ideas over the decades and some of them stuck while...
Changing Times….
In the 1970s, Vancouver was a vibrant city with a strong desire for change. This momentum was embodied by the founders...
Location, Location…
Location, location… In 1973, West Side Family Place opened its doors on West Broadway at Dunbar, where the @SPCA Thrift Store is...
This is how it started…
This week, we introduce Ellen Leslie, who is co-founder of West Side Family Place alongside Mary Lynn Burke. It was a privilege...