Abbeyfield Canada
 Bob McMullan and Arnold Edinborough founded the Canadian national society, Abbeyfield Houses Society of Canada, which was registered in 1985. At about the same time, three or four local communities were about to develop houses and became affiliated societies.
Abbeyfield Canada is federally registered. Local societies are provincially incorporated with their own charity status. They are affiliated to Abbeyfield Canada and agree to abide by the guiding principles.
There are now 40 local societies in Canada, with 29 operating houses and 11 planned or under construction. Over 20 are in British Columbia where expansion continues. There are now societies in most provinces and houses also in Ontario, Saskatchewan, Alberta and Nova Scotia.
Most of the national office's funding has come from charity bingo in the past, but new avenues are now being sought. Local societies arrange their own funding with advice and financial support when possible from the national society. Some of the first houses were fully funded by government; societies without government support have developed inspired and creative ways to raise money. For example, in one case they purchased a house with faith that money would be available and in another, the owner gave his house for conversion into an Abbeyfield House for ten residents and lived in it himself for the rest of his life.
Abbeyfield Canada's future plans include expanding to all ten provinces, seeing growth of funds in the Abbeyfield British Columbia Foundation, and starting Abbeyfield societies to meet the needs of ethnic minorities.
For further information contact:
Mr Robert McMullan
Abbeyfield Houses Society of Canada
Box 1
427 Bloor Street West
Toronto
Ontario M5S 1X7
Canada
Tel: (1) 416 920 7483 Fax: (1) 416 920 6956
e-mail: info@abbeyfield.ca
Website: www.abbeyfield.ca
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