About Us

Serving our community

Since 1928

Chilliwack Community Services (CCS) is a registered charitable society, governed by the BC Societies Act and its own constitution and bylaws. We provide a wide range of programs to people from “twinkle to twilight" living within Chilliwack and surrounding neighbourhoods.

There is no cost for service unless specifically noted, and confidentiality is assured. As a long-standing member of the community, CCS has played a leading role in contributing to strategic social service planning for the area. It has solid relationships with virtually all not-for-profit organizations, government societies, service clubs, church groups and community resources. At the regional/provincial level, CCS is a contributing member of several social service networks and associations.

Funding sources come from contracts with provincial, federal and municipal governments, grants, fees for service and local service organizations. Personal donations, memberships, earned revenue and various fundraising efforts comprise 10% of our total budget.

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Our Mission

We partner with people and the community to create opportunities to enrich lives.

Our Vision

To be an innovative community partner empowering people to share, grow and belong.

Our Values

Share. Grow. Belong.

Our History of Helping

What began in 1928 as a neighbour helping her neighbour….

1928​

Started  as “Chilliwack Community Chest” with the mandate “to discover and look into needful and pitiful cases,” CCS relied on donations for hampers of clothing and food, even through outreach and providing railway tickets for families to reach needy relatives.

Old CCS location, Young & First
A staff member by our old sign

1942 & the Depression

The arrival of the military base added to the client list, especially when paychecks were delayed. by 1960, the Mayor was approached for assistance because the Chest outgrew its initial status. Without help, the agency would close by January 15, 1961.

April 1966

The Local Council of Women presented to the Centennial Committee a proposed Constitution for the continuing work of the Chest. By the following month, it became a registered society and hired its first employees. The mandate changed “to identify and attempt to meet the Chilliwack area’s unmet social needs.”

Immigrant Services using TESL
Old CCS Thrift Store

1974-1980​

The word “Chest” was dropped to emphasize the “Services” of the agency in 1974, and our first Executive Director, Marilyn Fane, was hired on September 1, 1977. We grew to include Senior Citizen Counsellors, Easter Seal Buses, Drug/Alcohol Counselling the Thrift Store, Tax Clinics, Big Sisters, Family Place, Daycare, and the Youth Activity Centre.

The 1990s​

We moved to our current Wellington Office location, and Family Place moved in. In 2005, Sardis Family Resource Centre opened its doors to the neighbourhoods on the southside of the community. Sardis Family Place now has a permanent home, with attendance reaching capacity on most days.

Family Place
A group activity

2008 to Current​

Our Mary Street location was purchased and renovated to accommodate Immigrant Services and Seniors Services. In 2011, our Youth Services relocated to The Village – a community partnership with BC Housing to provide supportive housing. In 2012, CCS partnered with GT Hiring to provide employment services through the Work BC Initiative.

Continuing to Grow

We can never be certain of our future but we can remain confident that if we diligently ensure that the team is competent, the agency will be able to respond to the community’s needs. The Society has approximately 120 employees and 200 volunteers who work within 40 programs to deliver services.

Our old location, now Cyrus Centre

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