Brief History

Brief Highlights in the History of Family and Children's Services of the District of Rainy River

The January 26, 1961 issue of the Fort Frances Times reported that the Children's Aid Society was operating in the District as early as 1914. Earliest official record was a letter received by Mr. Alexander MacKenzie, secretary of the Children's Aid Society, on December 29, 1924.
The Society was incorporated under the jurisdiction of the Provincial Secretary, then the Honourable Harry Nixon, on November 25, 1935.
Mrs. Florence Tibbetts was appointed President on March 1, 1937 and the office of the Children's Aid Society was established in her home on Nelson Street in Fort Frances, ON.
In 1937, the Society received its first grant for $100.00 (very liberal for the times). A drive for funds campaign was soon established as an annual event and continued until 1964.
By 1943, the Children's Aid Societies were only deriving 20% of the funds from private sources. The largest portion, 80%, was paid by the municipalities. Each municipality appointed one counselor to provide general welfare assistance.
1946, The Children's Aid Society was the only social service agency in the District.
In the Society's fiscal year, March 31, 1946 to March 31, 1947 Mrs. Tibbetts handled 200 cases and there were more then 100 children in care.
An amendment was made to the Child Protection act in 1949, which allowed for the province to reimburse local municipalities 25% of their maintenance expenditures.
In January of 1954, Mrs. Tibbetts died, leaving Mr. C.E.P. Thompson to take over the position of Local Director.
In 1956, Rene Charbonneau was appointed Local Director.
In April of 1957, an agreement was signed with the Department of Citizenship and Immigration which allowed for the Society to give the same service to the Treaty Indians as to other citizens.
The branch office in Atikokan was established in 1958.
In 1965, the child welfare act was revised and the new legislation allowed the Agency to increase its services to the public. The Province assumed responsibility for funding both prevention and protection work of the Agency.
In 1973, the society under G.H. Antram as Local Director, started a policy whereby a social worker would be on twenty-four hours a day through the LaVerendrye Hospital Answering service.
In January of 1975, Mr. Ron W. King succeeded Mr. Antram as Local Director.
In 1978, the Agency adopted a progressive philosophy in that, when a child was apprehended, a case was opened on the child as well as the family. Hence, in 1977 the society changed its name to Family and Children Services of the District of Rainy River.
In 1981, discussions opened up regarding Family and Children's Services taking responsibility for the development of a Children's Mental Health Program for the District of Rainy River.
In August of 1982, a formal document creating a Children's Mental Health Service under Family and Children's Board was signed.
In April of 1984, the Adult Protective Services Program was brought into the corporation.
In September of 1984, the Agency moved into the Integrated Service building at 450 Scott Street in Fort Frances.
In 1985, the Child and Family Services Act was proclaimed. It replaced the Child Welfare Act. This "integrated" Act seemed to prove that "Integrated Services" made sense.
On January 10, 1985, Weechi-it-te-win Family Services Incorporated held the Ceremonial Accord which officially sanctioned their agency as a mandated "Child Welfare Agency" for native people.
On September 2, 1987, Weechi-it-te-win Family Services received its charter as a mandated Child Welfare Agency.
In February of 1990, the Atikokan staff relocated to new quarters on 214 Main Street. They had, until this time, been located in a house at 21 Hematite which was donated to the Agency in the 70's by the Steeprock Mining Company.
In February of 1990 as well, a program called Family Relief was launched in Fort Frances. The goal was to provide much needed relief for families with handicapped children.
In 1991, the Supervised Access Program was added to the Agency's services. The funding for this program would come from the Ministry of Attorney General.
The early nineties were filled with terms such as, "fiscal constraint," "budget cuts," and "social contract" and "amalgamation."
In 1993, the Rainy River office opened with a single staff member and was located in the basement of the Rainy River Clinic. The office then relocated to the former CN station, followed by a house at 321 First St. where a Teen Drop-In Centre was established. The house was eventually closed, and the office was relocated to the mall at 321 River Avenue.

For further information please contact one of our offices.


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Earliest official record was a letter received by Mr. Alexander MacKenzie, secretary of the Children's Aid Society, on December 29, 1924. The Society was incorporated under the jurisdiction of the Provincial Secretary, then the Honourable Harry Nixon, on November 25, 1935. Mrs. Florence Tibbetts was appointed President on March 1, 1937 and the office of the Children's Aid Society was established in her home on Nelson Street in Fort Frances, ON. In 1937, the Society received its first grant for $100.00 (very liberal for the times). A drive for funds campaign was soon established as an annual event and continued until 1964. By 1943, the Children's Aid Societies were only deriving 20% of the funds from private sources. The largest portion, 80%, was paid by the municipalities. Each municipality appointed one counselor to provide general welfare assistance. 1946, The Children's Aid Society was the only social service agency in the District. In the Society's fiscal year, March 31, 1946 to March 31, 1947 Mrs. Tibbetts handled 200 cases and there were more then 100 children in care. An amendment was made to the Child Protection act in 1949, which allowed for the province to reimburse local municipalities 25% of their maintenance expenditures. In January of 1954, Mrs. Tibbetts died, leaving Mr. C.E.P. Thompson to take over the position of Local Director. In 1956, Rene Charbonneau was appointed Local Director. In April of 1957, an agreement was signed with the Department of Citizenship and Immigration which allowed for the Society to give the same service to the Treaty Indians as to other citizens. The branch office in Atikokan was established in 1958. In 1965, the child welfare act was revised and the new legislation allowed the Agency to increase its services to the public. The Province assumed responsibility for funding both prevention and protection work of the Agency. In 1973, the society under G.H. Antram as Local Director, started a policy whereby a social worker would be on twenty-four hours a day through the LaVerendrye Hospital Answering service. In January of 1975, Mr. Ron W. King succeeded Mr. Antram as Local Director. In 1978, the Agency adopted a progressive philosophy in that, when a child was apprehended, a case was opened on the child as well as the family. Hence, in 1977 the society changed its name to Family and Children Services of the District of Rainy River. In 1981, discussions opened up regarding Family and Children's Services taking responsibility for the development of a Children's Mental Health Program for the District of Rainy River. In August of 1982, a formal document creating a Children's Mental Health Service under Family and Children's Board was signed. In April of 1984, the Adult Protective Services Program was brought into the corporation. In September of 1984, the Agency moved into the Integrated Service building at 450 Scott Street in Fort Frances. In 1985, the Child and Family Services Act was proclaimed. It replaced the Child Welfare Act. This "integrated" Act seemed to prove that "Integrated Services" made sense. On January 10, 1985, Weechi-it-te-win Family Services Incorporated held the Ceremonial Accord which officially sanctioned their agency as a mandated "Child Welfare Agency" for native people. On September 2, 1987, Weechi-it-te-win Family Services received its charter as a mandated Child Welfare Agency. In February of 1990, the Atikokan staff relocated to new quarters on 214 Main Street. They had, until this time, been located in a house at 21 Hematite which was donated to the Agency in the 70's by the Steeprock Mining Company. In February of 1990 as well, a program called Family Relief was launched in Fort Frances. The goal was to provide much needed relief for families with handicapped children. In 1991, the Supervised Access Program was added to the Agency's services. The funding for this program would come from the Ministry of Attorney General. The early nineties were filled with terms such as, "fiscal constraint," "budget cuts," and "social contract" and "amalgamation." In 1993, the Rainy River office opened with a single staff member and was located in the basement of the Rainy River Clinic. The office then relocated to the former CN station, followed by a house at 321 First St. where a Teen Drop-In Centre was established. The house was eventually closed, and the office was relocated to the mall at 321 River Avenue. For further information please contact one of our offices.
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Brief History

Brief Highlights in the History of Family and Children's Services of the District of Rainy River