Over 50 Years of Caring
Community Counselling and Resource Centre (CCRC) has been a valuable part of the Peterborough community for over 50 years.
Our founding agencies date back to 1956, when the Catholic Social Service Bureau was created and 1971 when Volunteers and Information Peterborough was formed.
Both agencies were started by groups of concerned local citizens to provide needed services.
The Catholic Social Service Bureau was formed by community leaders, clergy and citizens to support and strengthen life for families and individuals in the Peterborough area. It became Family Counselling Services in 1963.
Volunteers and Information Peterborough was formed from the kitchen tables of a group of local women who visualized a need for voluntary services in the Peterborough community.
In October 1998, Family Counselling Services and Volunteers and Information Peterborough joined together to become one agency. Our name was changed to Community Counselling & Resource Centre in June, 2001.
Since 1956, thousands of people have contributed their time, skills and expertise as volunteers, Board members and staff. We thank them for their passion and compassion in strengthening people’s lives and promoting community well-being.
CCRC by the Years
| 1956 | Catholic Family Services Bureau formed to "promote, maintain and strengthen sound family life" through educational lectures, courses and counselling. |
| 1963 | Catholic Family Services changed name to Family Counselling Services (FCS) and moved to 385 George Street North. |
| FCS opened branches in Belleville, Oshawa, Kingston and Lindsay. | |
| 1971 | Peterborough and District Information Centre and Volunteer Bureau created to match volunteers with community agencies. |
| 1973 |
Credit Counselling Service formed. |
| 1975 | Credit Counselling Service became part of Family Counselling Services. |
| 1978 | Peterborough and District Information Centre and Volunteer Bureau piloted Community Service Orders program. |
| 1980s | Peterborough and District Information Centre and Volunteer Bureau opened The Driving Service and the Friendly Visiting Program. |
| 1980s | Peterborough and District Information Centre and Volunteer Bureau initiated a consumer information program. |
| 1984 | Family Counselling Service becomes a service provider (counselling services) partner in Family Service Employee Assistance Programs. |
| 1989 | Housing Resource Centre opened by Peterborough and District Information Centre and Volunteer Bureau |
| 1990s | Peterborough and District Information Centre and Volunteer Bureau piloted the Kawartha.net project, eventually taken over by Nexicom. |
| 1992 | Peterborough and District Information Centre and Volunteer Bureau changed its name to Volunteers and Information Peterborough (VIP) |
| VIP developed a “people out of work hotline”. | |
| Credit Counselling Services expanded to offer services in Haliburton, Cobourg, and Minden. | |
| Family Counselling Services co-located with Peterborough Youth Services at 459 Reid Street. | |
| Provincial government withdrew funding from credit counselling programs across Ontario. | |
| Credit Counselling Services entered a new partial funding arrangement with creditors arranged through the Ontario Association of Credit Counselling Services. | |
| 1995 | Housing Resource Centre closed after provincial government cut funding for housing help centres across Ontario. |
| 1996 | Transferred The Driving and Visiting Service to Community Care Peterborough. |
| 1998 | Family Counselling Services and Volunteers and Information Peterborough amalgamated |
| 1999 | Housing Resource Centre reopened with funding support from the City and County of Peterborough. |
| 2001 | FCSVIP changed name to Community Counselling and Resource Centre (CCRC). |
| Initiated Family Shelter as a pilot project. | |
| Closed Project Wheels program due to lack of funds. | |
| Transferred Victim Witness program to provincial government. | |
| Opened 3rd office at Charlotte St. and began search for one office for whole agency. | |
| Adopted tagline, “Believe in you. Believe in your community". | |
| Received Trillium grant for capacity building and volunteer and information services. | |
| 2002 | Initiated National Child Benefit Fund in partnership with City of Peterborough and Peterborough Social Planning Council. |
| Adopted strategic plan with commitment for greater community involvement, including partnerships, education and advocacy. | |
| Developed new approach to Employee Assistance Programs with services provided by agency staff and process initiated to hold our own contracts. | |
| Ended agency involvement in Grandview program. | |
| Partnered with a number of agencies in search of shared space. | |
| 2003 | Received 5 year accreditation from Family Services Ontario and the Ontario Association of Credit Counselling Services. |
| Transferred parts of the Volunteer and Information Services to the United Way, other components closed due to lack of funds. | |
| 2004 | Celebrated 25th anniversary of Community Service Orders program. |
| Transferred the Family Shelter program to the Brock Mission. | |
| Assumed responsibility to sponsor the coordination of the Domestic Assault Response Team (DART). | |
| Co-sponsored two conferences on domestic violence. | |
| Initiated Housing Social Worker program with support from City and County of Peterborough. | |
| Expanded emergency fund programs run by Housing Resource Centre, including new FUSE program funded by Peterborough Utilities Services. | |
| 2005 | Celebrated 50th anniversary of CCRC, including Community Consultation, annual meeting featuring Mississauga Mayor Hazel McCallion. |
| Launched Juke Box Mania fundraising event. | |
| Launched new branding and marketing materials, including new logo, “Helping turn things around". | |
| Expanded Community Service Order program to include youth ages 12 and up. | |
| Hosted Ontario Housing Help Centres annual meeting. | |
| Co-sponsored conference on domestic violence featuring Dr. Peter Jaffe. | |
| Hosted session with Ellen Roseman on financial and credit management. | |
| Gained capacity to bid on local Employee Assistance Program contracts. | |
| Extended counselling services to include Aphasia program. | |
| 2006 | Initiated work on agency commitment to anti-poverty and advocacy work. |
| Launched Erica Cherney Inspiration Fund. | |
| Launched housing website, www.housingpeterborough.com. | |
| Co-sponsored conferences on Energy, National Housing Day, Grief in the Workplace, and domestic violence. | |
| Received Trillium grant for Public Education and Communications. | |
| Expanded fundraising for Emergency Fund with Home for the Holidays event. | |
| 2007 | Received 5 year accreditation from Family Services Ontario and the Ontario Association of Credit Counselling Services with top ratings. |
| Expanded public education work through Trillium grant, including assisting in developing a Housing Workers’ Network. | |
| Received finalist rating in Chamber of Commerce Awards of Excellence Awards. | |
| 2008 | Added Sexual Assault program to Counselling Services. |
| Hosted Pardons Canada information session. | |
| Assisted initiation of the Housing Help Association of Ontario’s provincial conference. |
