Fifty Years of Making a Difference: The Youth Services Bureau of ...

Fifty Years of Making a Difference:
The Youth Services Bureau of Ottawa
1960-2010
For the past 50 years, the Youth Services Bureau of Ottawa (YSB) has been there for young people
in our community. Often meeting them when they are at a fork in the road, YSB’s dedicated staff
members have given tens of thousands of young people support on their journey. We’ve innovated
over the years, but we’ve continued to offer professionalism, passion for our work, and new
opportunities for youth to be engaged.
A BIT OF HISTORY
The YSB was founded in 1960 by the Welfare Council of the City of Ottawa to “promote the general
welfare of youth” and to act as a clearing-house for youth needs and services. Community concern
had been galvanized by two gang-related deaths of young men.
Besides studying the problem of gangs, the YSB’s first tasks were to educate the community about
youth issues, train adult volunteers, and by 1961, hire a Detached Worker to reach out to “hard to
reach” youth. The first executive director was Maurice Egan, who had supervised probation
services in Cornwall. He was hired by then magistrate Livius Sherwood, the founding chair of the
Board of Directors of YSB, who recruited one of YSB's earliest volunteers: the young Lorry
Greenberg, later president of the Board and Mayor of Ottawa.
By 1965, YSB had been incorporated as an independent charity with a mandate to meet needs in
the community, from shelter to mental health support.
HIGHLIGHTS
• 1960: YSB created by the Welfare Council of the City of Ottawa with a $20,000 grant.
• 1962: Detached Worker pilot program.
• 1965: YSB incorporated as a charity.
• 1967: Citizens’ Committee campaign raises $41,000 for a Girls’ Residence. President Lorry
Greenberg states, "No child should be sent to training school until all community resources have
been exhausted."
• 1968: Opening of Boys' Residence and first official office
• 1970: Opening of Girls’ Residence, supported by advocate Evelyn Horne, member of Quota
Club and later president of YSB Board.
• 1971: Project 500 starts up, YSB's first employment program. Drug abuse prevention programs
for 9- to 10-year-olds.
• 1972: Post-15 program works with older youth faced with addiction and homelessness.
• 1975: First education programs for students who can’t fit into regular classrooms.
• 1976: Detached Worker program expands to Vanier.
• 1978: Fire at Parkdale Residence leaves clients without a roof. Intrepid staff team takes
displaced clients on a trip to Florida.
• 1979: First funding for Francophone services in Vanier.

• 1980: Policy developed on supporting lesbian and gay youth; staff awareness training and first
programs for LGBTQ clients started.
• 1982: Centre 313 opens on Bank St., a street-friendly drop-in.
• 1983: Opening of 8-bed observation and detention unit as an alternative to training schools.
Youth Employment Assistance Program established.
• 1985: YSB opens two new residences to provide supportive living environments.
• 1987: Development of AIDS Outreach Program for young, at-risk adults.
• 1992: Alumni apartment project: first non-profit and co-op housing project.
• 1994: Youth centre opens at 147 Besserer St.(still the location of YSB’s Downtown Drop-in).
Offers drop-in and employment programs.
• 1994: New programs for Aboriginal youth, young women survivors of sexual abuse, anti-racist
education and needle exchange program.
• 1995: Young women’s emergency shelter opens. Rainbow Youth Coalition created.
• 1997: A Central Youth Advisory Committee develops youth perspectives group.
• 1998: Over 300 youth participate in first Youth Forum on Parliament Hill.
• 1999: YSB takes on management of the William E. Hay Centre (secure custody facility). First
Summer Jobs Service program. First GLBTQ needs survey.
• 2000: YSB has a $9 million budget and 200 full- and part-time staff as it celebrates its 40th
anniversary. YSB offers first program in Francophone school boards.
• 2001: YSB sets up a mobile crisis unit.
• 2002: First annual youth recognition awards night. New employment programs include
Pathways to Apprenticeship and Breakaway for street-involved youth.
• 2003: YSB is accredited by Children's Mental Health Ontario.
• 2006: Emergency shelter for young women moves to brand-new 30-bed facility, dedicated to the
memory of Evelyn Horne.
• 2007: First emergency shelter for young men opens (30 beds). Launch of targeted youth
summer jobs program for high-need neighbourhoods, and Employment Services celebrate 25
years.
• 2008: YSB works with partners to establish Youth Mental Health Court. The 24-hour Crisis Line
expands to cover Eastern Ontario, and partnership wins the Diamond Award at Showcase
Ontario.
• 2009: Start of Ethnocultural Outreach Program. William E. Hay Centre expands to 40 beds. New
health clinic for street-involved youth opens at YSB’s Downtown Drop-in, bringing together
medical, mental health and addictions care.
In 2010, YSB serves youth at 20 locations throughout Ottawa offers expert services from youth and
family counselling to youth justice programs. Its staff members serve 3,000 youth and families every
month and provide immediate help to 5,000 callers a year through a 24-hour Crisis Line and mobile
crisis team. They help thousands of young people find jobs, succeed in school and make positive
choices for their physical and mental health. In 2009, YSB provided 20,000 individual nights of
shelter to young men and women needing a safe place to stay.
Media inquiries:
Eva Schacherl
Director of Communications
Phone: 613-729-0577 ext: 1215
Cell: 613-266-5104