History
The Beta Sigma Phi Society hosted the first organizational meeting on June 10, 1955 at the YWCA for parents, friends and individuals interested in seeing an Association formed. Their motto was “Don’t let a retarded child become a discarded child”. The Rotary Club of Woodstock and the Knights of Columbus were first to each give $25.00 donations to support this Association.
- Reg Hill became the President
- Garfield Slemmon became the 1st Vice-President
- Les McKerral became the 2nd Vice-President
- Nancy Campbell became the Recording Secretary
- Doris Baker (Beta Sigma Phi) became the Corresponding Secretary
- Ruth Hill became the Treasurer
Also, Harry Henderson, Chairperson of the Rotary Crippled Children’s Committee was on the Ways and Means Committee. Classes were organized for children with developmental disabilities to start in September at the Moose Lodge.
On November 1, 1958 the Rotary Club took on the project of raising funds for a new school. The Agency was incorporated in October 1959 as Woodstock and District Association for Retarded Children. In April 1960, the Nash property north of Devonshire Avenue was purchased for the school, with the official sod turning ceremony taking place on March 9, 1961. The Rotarians supplied transportation for in-town pupils, driving over 1,000 miles a year until the School Board took over in 1969. Volunteers from the Rotary Club were still driving for the Nursery School until the end of 1971.
WDDS has grown over the years in response to the needs and wishes of people with a developmental disability, their families and the community.
Historical Timeline
| Month | Year | Fact |
|---|---|---|
| June 10 | 1955 | Formation meeting for the Local Association - Woodstock & District Association for the Mentally Retarded (W.D.A.M.R.) |
| September | 1955 | First class for trainable children established in the Moose Hall. |
| October | 1959 | Incorporated as Woodstock and District Association for Retarded Children |
| September | 1961 | Opening of Blossom Park School. |
| September | 1963 | Opening of A.R.C. Industries. |
| September | 1967 | Oxford County Board of Education became responsible for Blossom Park School. |
| March | 1974 | Opening of W.D.A.M.R. Adult Residence at 373 Blossom Park Road 19 beds. |
| May | 1976 | Opening of W.D.A.M.R. Adult Residence at 373 Huron Street - 7 beds. |
| April | 1978 | Opening of ARC Industries Plant #2 at 1057 Parkinson Road. |
| April | 1980 | Opening of ARC Industries Plant #3 in Ingersoll. |
| August | 1980 | Opening of the Apartment Support Program (as of April 1983, the S.I.L. (Supported Independent Living) Program. |
| October | 1980 | Opening of the Developmental Centre. |
| September | 1983 | Opening of the C.A.P. (Community Activity Program) operated at ARC Industries - Plant #1 |
| October | 1983 | Opening of Townhouse Program (Adult Residence) at 6-125 Bay Street - 4 beds. |
| September | 1985 | Oxford County Board of Education became responsible for Developmental Centre for school age children; W.D.A.M.R. continues to operate preschool program. |
| May | 1986 | Opening of Retirement Program funded by the Ministry of Health for 5 persons residing in Homes for Special Care. |
| September | 1986 | W.D.A.M.R. offices, ARC Industries, Plant #1 and #2, CAP and Retirement Programs move to their new facilities at 212 Bysham Park Drive, following a 2-year fundraising campaign |
| September | 1987 | Pre-school program incorporated in a generic day care program. |
| September | 1987 | Vocational Alternatives Program (V.A.) established. |
| November | 1987 | Family Support Program was established, serving all of Oxford County. |
| May | 1988 | Name changed from Woodstock & District Association for the Mentally Retarded to Woodstock & District Developmental Services. |
| June | 1988 | Name changed from Woodstock & District Association for the Mentally Retarded to Woodstock & District Developmental Services. |
| January-June | 1988 | SIL Program expanded to include 6 additional residences, encompassing all the residents from Blossom Park and six residents from ORC (Oxford Regional Centre) |
| June | 1988 | Blossom Park residence closed; sold to Oxford County Child & Youth Services. |
| August | 1989 | 4 additional houses added to SIL Program; 14 February 1990 people admitted from ORC. |
| September | 1989 | Workshop in Ingersoll closed. All individuals placed in community jobs or bused to ARC Industries in Woodstock. |
| November | 1989 | Support Services (Intake, V.A., Leisure, SIL 1 and Family Support) and Core Services (ARC, CAP, Retirement, Residential, Building and Property) Divisions were created. |
| April | 1990 | Support Services moved to new office at 524 Dundas Street, Woodstock. |
| September | 1990 | Co-ordination of Literacy/Numeracy Program with Oxford County Board of Education. |
| June | 1991 | Retirement Program closed. |
| August | 1991 | Opening of Support Services office in Ingersoll - 175 Thames Street South, Ingersoll. |
| September | 1992 | C.A.P. addition built |
| April | 1992 | School to Work Employment Program initiated. |
| March | 1994 | 5 barrier free homes built and added to SIL. - Nine people admitted from ORC. • Now own eleven SIL homes, and operate 17 SIL homes in total. |
| April | 1994 | Closure of Huron Street group home - individuals moved to one of the new SIL homes. Transferred ownership of all agency homes to WOODMAR Non-Profit. |
| May | 1994 | Dissolve Support Services into Leisure, Accommodation and Employment. - Leisure Program with C.A.P. - Employment Support with A.R.C. - Accommodation Support with S.I.L. |
| October | 1994 | Extended employment services to include Recycling; an independent numbered company serving the city. Individuals employed are shareholders |
| November | 1994 | Huron Street renovated and converted to a SIL home. |
| January | 1995 | Downtown office moved to 40 Wellington Street. Employment Support moved to the Main Building. |
| November | 1995 | Teens Needing Teens social group started. |
| July | 1996 | Teen Summer Camp offered. March Break Camp approved. |
| April | 1997 | Opened Parent Relief location (James Street). |
| August | 1997 | Change ARC Industries from Sheltered Employment to Work Pool |
| September | 1998 | External leisure options being provided at home and the C.A.P. focusing on Day Program activities. |
| October | 1998 | Closed Parent Relief location (James Street). Employment Support office moved to Community Employment Services (CES) and Ingersoll Learning Education Resource Centre (ILERC) |
| December | 1998 | Family Home Program initiated. |
| April | 1999 | Leisure Program renamed Community Activity Program (CAP) |
| June | 1999 | Linking with friends initiated in Accommodation |
| December | 1999 | Family Home Program closed. |
| February | 2000 | Employment Support renamed as Job Links. |
| May | 2000 | Incorporate Agency Ambassador for FOH Campaign |
| April | 2001 | Closing of the 40 Wellington Street Office |
| May | 2001 | Purchase of 104 East Park Drive Property |
| June | 2001 | Incorporate Les McKerral Award |
| January | 2002 | Closing of Unit #26-879 Parkinson Road |
| January | 2002 | Opening of 106 East Park Drive |
| February | 2002 | Opening of 104 East Park Drive |
| April | 2002 | Linking Program (Trillium Grant) |
| November | 2002 | Closing of Unit #1-863 Parkinson Road |
| January | 2003 | Closing of 436 Ojibway |
| July | 2003 | Renovations to main building 12 additional offices |
| June | 2003 | Core Services was restructured to create 2 new Divisions: Support Service (Accommodation, SIL and Community Access Supports) and Employment (ARC and Job Links) |
| January | 2004 | Community Access Supports restructured to include Senior and Active Areas |
| March | 2004 | Linking Program ended (Trillium Grant finished) Purchase of 15 & 16 Parrott Place ILERC office in Ingersoll closed |
| February | 2005 | Opening of 511 Parrott Place, Closing of 47 Silcox |
| March | 2005 | Opening of 507 Parrott Place |
| March | 2005 | Closing of 373 Huron Street |
| April | 2005 | Restructuring of Parent Relief, now Respite Program |
| April | 2005 | New Logo for WDDS |
| July | 2005 | Renovations to main building – new roof |
| January | 2006 | 373 Huron Street reopened after renovations |
| September | 2006 | Rosemary George, Executive Director retires after 37 years of services; John F. Bedell joins WDDS as new Executive Director |
| November | 2006 | “Transitions” program began |
| January | 2007 | “Taste of Woodstock” Catering Social Enterprise began |
| February | 2007 | New Vision and Mission Statement for WDDS |
| March | 2007 | “Safe Space” built at 373 Huron Street residence |
| March | 2007 | New Value Statements for WDDS |
| May | 2007 | “Transitions” program moves to 225 4B Bysham Park Drive |
| May | 2007 | 25th Anniversary of Sports Celebrity Dinner Decision to dismantle Sports Celebrity Committee and reflect on new fundraiser – partner with Woodstock-Oxford Rotary Club through their Fish Fry |
| October | 2007 | Building of two (2) Greenhouses at 212 Bysham Park Drive |
| January | 2008 | Opening of 242 Buller Street |
| January | 2008 | Setup Student Bursary-Rosemary George Award |
| April | 2008 | WDDS partners with the Woodstock-Oxford Rotary Club Annual Fish-Fry Fundraiser |
| September | 2008 | Incorporation of Bysham Park Housing Corporation |
| January | 2009 | WDDS 50th Anniversary Celebration begins |
| March | 2009 | Received three (3) year Accreditation from FOCUS Standards for Human Service Agencies (3rd Agency to receive) |
| June | 2009 | 50th Anniversary Community Picnic |
| June | 2009 | YardBasics Social Enterprise |
| October | 2009 | 50th Anniversary Gala Dinner with Guest Speaker The Honourable, David C. Onley Lieutenant Governor of Ontario |
| February | 2010 | Ronald McDonald Grant for Adaptive Equipment Family Loan Program |
| September | 2011 | Purchase of 68 Young Street Property |
| April | 2011 | Opening of 846 John Street – Group Living |
| December | 2011 | WDDS assumes Annual Charity Curling Bonspiel in partnership with Woodstock Curling Club |
| January | 2012 | 212 Bysham Park washrooms are renovated to improve accessibility through the Government of Canada’s Enabling Accessibility Fund |
| January | 2012 | 8-plex Housing project for 68 Young Street, approved through Affordable Housing Fund for future housing project |
| March | 2012 | Achieve Re-Accreditation for an additional four year period, from March 2012 to March 2016 |
| March | 2012 | Capital Campaign planning to raise funds for Young Street and Downtown projects |
| April | 2012 | Alternative Supportive Housing Program in place |
| December | 2012 | 68 Young Street opens |
| December | 2012 | 1142 Cree and 589 Hatch Group Living Homes close |
| February | 2013 | Capital Campaign Official Launch |
| March | 2013 | Hatch Street Group Living re-opens |
| April | 2013 | Transitions Program – Renamed “Options” |
| April | 2013 | Purchase of lot 60 Young Street |
| July | 2013 | John F. Bedell, Chief Executive Officer retires after 7 years of services; Kathy Straus, is WDDS new Chief Executive Officer |
| November | 2014 | Construction on Addition/Renovations to 212 Bysham Park Capital Expansion project begins |
| June | 2015 | 60 Young Street Opens 225 Bysham Park closes; FS, SIL, Job Links moves to the 60 Young Street location |
| January | 2016 | Closure of ARC Industries |
| March | 2016 | Received four (4) year Accreditation from FOCUS Standards for Human Service Agencies |
| April | 2016 | Open House at 212 Bysham – opening ceremony of Toyota Community Rooms part of celebration, as well as new learning rooms and renovated kitchen |
| April | 2017 | 252 and 254 Clarke Street opens |
| September | 2017 | Construction on additions/renovations to 212 Bysham Park ends |
| September | 2018 | 4 Wendy Calder Place Opens |
| May | 2019 | 60th Anniversary Open House |
| September | 2019 | NEXUS Program opens at 60 Young Street |
| September | 2019 | Kathy Straus, CEO retires after 16 years of dedicated service to WDDS (CEO for the past 6 years/10 years as the Director of Operations); Belinda Burger joins WDDS as new CEO |
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