WEST END SENIORS' NETWORK HISTORY
On August 15, 1979, a meeting was held at the local office of the Provincial Ministry of Human Resources, comprised of representatives of government, the Vancouver Health Department and West End seniors. In this meeting, they examined the findings of a field-study conducted by the undergraduates of UBC’s School of Social Work on the needs of senior citizens. As a result, the West End Seniors' Council selected an executive body to discuss and find solutions to the current needs of this community.
Funded by a Federal New Horizons Program grant, an Information and Referral Centre was opened in 1982, operating 3 days a week and staffed by Senior Volunteers working under the direction of a paid, part-time Coordinator.
Furthermore, application for a non-profit society status was applied for and granted under the name of the West End Seniors' Network in July, 1984. Currently, there are over 700 members of the Network, 8 paid of members of staff and 200 active volunteers who contribute over 40,000 hours a year.
The West End Seniors’ Network now operates from 3 different locations. In Denman Place Mall we run a thrift store, Clothes and Collectibles, an Information and Referral centre, Kay’s Place. WESN’s main offices are located in Barclay Manor, a space dedicated by the city of Vancouver for seniors, where it works co-operatively with the West End Community Centre to provide a variety of programs and activities.