History
In 1990 The Salvation Army started a small church plant here in Maple Ridge called Mountain View Community Church. The first pastors were Lieutenants Russ & Judy Holland – their first church after their ordination – and they were here for five years building up the church. They opened a small store front as a church office, where they gave out emergency hampers, and on Sundays they worshiped in Harry Hooge Elementary School.
In 1995 Russ & Judy were re-appointed to Richmond, BC and in their place came Captains Ken & Colleen Rankin. In two years the church grew and subsequently moved to 119th Ave with a Thursday Night Live outreach ministry and a Tuesday lunch program.
1997 Ed & Kathie Chiu were appointed to Mountain View and worked with the congregation to expand the social ministry. They moved the church to Dewdney Trunk Rd where the first Caring Place was opened with an expanded Family & Community Ministries and daily lunch program. In 2000, The Caring Place operated its first Seasonal Emergency Shelter using a small room at St. Andrew’s United Church. Then in 2001, with a grant from the federal government’s Supporting Communities Partnerships Initiative, our current building was purchased. With further fundraising and grants from The Vancouver Foundation, The Real Estate Foundation, Canada Housing and Mortgage Corporation and The Salvation Army BC Division, the building was renovated to house an Emergency Shelter, a Transitional Housing program and a large dining room for the Community Meal Program.
On April 5, 2003, The Caring Place celebrated its grand opening with a small amount of funding to operate a 14 bed shelter for men women and families. There were 5 independent living suites for the transitional housing program as well.
It took a lot of people and a lot of effort to bring The Caring Place to where it is today. With God’s help we have been able to be a transforming influence in our community.
For a more detailed history of The Salvation Army please go to the following website:
http://www.salvationarmy.org/
For a history of The Salvation Army in Canada, please go to the following website:
http://www.salvationarmy.ca/history/
