History

Clay Tree Society is a local, Nanaimo based non-profit agency that has been providing support to children and adults with developmental disabilities since 1957.

The History Of Clay Tree Society in Nanaimo

  • 1957

    Clay Tree Society is a non-profit agency that was incorporated

    Clay Tree Society is a non-profit agency that was incorporated as a society on May 3, 1957.  At that time there were no school programs for the children with developmental disabilities and a group of concerned parents together formed the Christopher Robin School.  Once the school was set up and operating, the parents concentrated on providing a place for adults to attend.  The School Board offered a piece of land for lease and gave the group permission to build on the land.  There was no government funding at that time and the Society relied on volunteers and donations to provide services.

  • 1965

    Clay Tree Society officially opens

    Clay Tree Society officially opened on May 15, 1965.  There were six participants at that time.  The space soon became too small and the first of four additions were completed in 1972.  Everyone chipped in, shoveling gravel and hammering nails.

    1965

  • 1973

    Clay Tree receives government funding

    Clay Tree started receiving government funding in 1973.  The focus was on producing wood products; ceramics and wedding decorations to be sold at craft fairs and charity bazaars.  At that time the programs were referred to as Clay Tree Enterprises.  The programs were then referred to as sheltered workshops, as people had jobs and were paid a stipend.  By 1985, Clay Tree was operating five program areas and a retail store in a local mall.  In 1986, a parent donated a large sum of money to be used to complete more renovations and additions.

  • 1998

    Day programming & community inclusion

    The sheltered workshop concept was discouraged and with the introduction of a new Employment Standards Act that mandated all people to be paid minimum wage for employment by 1998, the Clay Tree programs moved away from the “work” concept and in the direction of day programming and community inclusion.

    1998

  • 2003 & 2004

    Name change & mission statement

    Between 2003 and 2004, Clay Tree underwent two major changes:  the mission statement was changed and adopted; and the name was changed from Nanaimo Association for Mentally Handicapped People to Clay Tree Society for People with Developmental Disabilities.

  • 2004

    3-year accreditation (CARF) award

    In 2004, Clay Tree Society was successfully awarded its first 3-year accreditation (CARF). In 2014 a new mission statement was developed to include diversity.  In 2015 we were operating 8 programs.

    2004

  • 2017

    Celebrating Our 60th anniversary

    In 2017, the Society celebrated its 60th anniversary of providing services to people with developmental disabilities in Nanaimo and surrounding areas.

During the tenure of the present Executive Director (2014-2020), Clay Tree Society has evolved from its core being just recreational and social to becoming one of the largest day programs in the area providing a service to over 120 clients that fulfills the 8 domains that provide a quality of life that everyone should have access to.

This includes (but is not limited to):

  • pre-employment,
  • life skills,
  • training,
  • education,

Also the Society has expanded its services to provide service directly to clients in their homes.

The old style of programming would finish at 3:30 p.m. but with the new style we provide after hours service also.

After 62 years of leasing the land that Clay Tree stands on from the School District, the present Executive Director was able to secure the purchase of 6 acres of residential building land that was mortgage free in May 2019. This potential is huge, not only for the security of the Day Centre and its participants but the potential to develop this large plot of land is boundless. Focus groups have already started to look at what would benefit the community.

Over the last 5 years, many partnerships have developed with local businesses and community leaders, and many fundraising events have taken place that has placed Clay Tree well and truly on the map in Nanaimo.

Clay Tree Society is located in the heart of our community, giving people with developmental disabilities an opportunity to lead fulfilling and worthwhile lives that in the past might not have been available. The future is looking bright for the participants and staff of this longstanding agency.