Our 50 Year History

50 Years of West Side Family Place

In 2023 West Side Family Place joyfully celebrated our 50th anniversary.

Established in 1973 by young mothers Ellen Leslie and Mary Lynn Burke, West Side Family Place was born out of community activism and dedication to address the shared frustration and isolation experienced by parents at the time.

We are so grateful for the collective efforts of dedicated volunteers, families and community partners who have embraced our vision of strong and resilient families.

Here are some highlights of from the festivities.

Our 50 Year Story in Video

Our 50th Anniversary Profiles project used interviews, film and photos to tell our story.
Thank you to the current and former users, funders, elected officials and other stakeholders who participated in this project.

West Side Family Place is 50!

We’re delighted to announce that 2023 marks the 50th anniversary of West Side Family Place!

This is How it Started

Meet Ellen Leslie, co-founder of West Side Family Place, alongside Mary Lynn Burke.

Changing Times

In the 1970s, the founders and staff of West Side Family Place, responded to the needs of mothers who felt lost after having children.

Early Programming

Meet Alix Segal, who was one of the first Playroom Coordinators at West Side Family Place back in the early 80s.

Benefits of Volunteerism

Thank you to all the wonderful volunteers over the past 50 years! West Side Family Place would not be what it is today without you.

Caregiving in the 1990’s

In the 1990s, the staff at West Side Family Place noticed an increase in the number of caregivers coming to the house.

Eva and Parenting

Thank you Eva for your dedication to West Side Family Place and the many families who have passed through the door.

Intro to the 2020’s – The Pandemic

During the pandemic, the WSFP staff-on-the-ground quickly adjusted programs to safely offer continued support during Covid.

Our 50 Year Legacy

In our 50th year, we embarked on a special social media campaign to celebrate this milestone.

50th Anniversary Open House

In June we invited families and caregivers who visited West Side Family Place at any time over the past 50 years to share memories and reconnect with cake, games, food and fun.

50th Anniversary Gala at the Hollywood Theatre

In September we celebrated 50 years of West Side Family Place at the Hollywood Theatre, with host Fred Lee and entertainment from The Live Ones. This was our most successful fundraiser ever and we are grateful to our generous sponsor, David Richardson and The Colour of Real Estate.
Please see the full list of event sponsors below.