About Us

On Belonging

When the canary in the coal mine ceases to sing it tells the coal miner that something is wrong with the air. There is a toxic environment or a lack of oxygen and, unless fresh air is introduced, there will be disaster. Something needs to change. Similarly, when the woman in the nursing home is lonely, the man struggling with mental illness is homeless and the young woman comes to the point of selling her body on the streets, they are no longer “singing.” I suggest that individuals are Society’s “canaries.” And many have lost their song.

Too quickly we tend to look for diagnoses such as “dysfunction” or “pathology” when we see people in these circumstances. We don’t always address the heart of their silence.

Psychologist Abraham Maslow, in his research and discovery about the human psyche, identified that the need to belong is fundamental to humanity. We are created for connection to family, to friends, to a group and to a culture.

As an organization we have chosen a name, Communitas, which expresses this relationship, this belonging. “Communitas” describes an ideal society where there is an intense community spirit, the feeling of great social equality, solidarity, and togetherness. Our calling is to connect with people, with an ear tuned especially to hear the needs of others. By bringing together the voices of those in our community, we discover the value of each individual and the great gift that each one brings.

We are called to work together to offer peace and solace and a sense of security to those around us. Each of us has a part to play in this call.

And so, on behalf of all of us in Communitas, I welcome you in this New Year to join us in exploring and experiencing more of what belonging is all about. I welcome you to this website. I invite you to explore, to get to know us, to share with us who you are and, yes, to belong.

Happy New Year!

Steve Thiessen
CEO
January 2010

Welcome

Communitas Supportive Care Society (Communitas) is a non-profit, faith-based social services agency providing care for communities in the Fraser Valley, North Vancouver Island and Okanagan. We are affiliated with the Mennonite Central Committee in British Columbia.

We provide various resources to persons living and dealing with mental, physical and/or emotional disabilities. We are advocates on behalf of those we serve.

We believe all human life is created in the image of God and we strive to show God's love to all persons, serving them with dignity and respect.

Accreditation

Communitas Supportive Care Society has been accredited through the Council on Accreditation (COA) since 2005. COA’s program of quality improvement is designed to identify providers that have met high performance standards and have made a commitment to their stakeholders to deliver the very best quality services.

This accreditation is in accordance with the B.C. Government's policy related to contracted service providers.

Communitas is proud of our commitment to the pursuit of quality improvement in the service of our community.