JHS Mission:
The John Howard Society of Durham Region (JHS) is a non-profit, social service agency in Ontario Canada. We are dedicated to servicing individuals and families, youth and adults with programs and services in areas such as relationships, counselling, employment, literacy, housing, eviction prevention, crime prevention, harm reduction, parenting and more. Most of our services are free. Please explore the options on the left menu to learn more.
Latest News: JUNE 2010
Changes to Employment Services
Employment Ontario is introducing a new and enhanced ‘Employment Service Delivery Model’ on August 1, 2010. The new model will make it easier for you as job seekers to find and access employment training and services, based on your interests and needs, all at one location. In addition to better accessibility, the new model is customer centered and is an integrated employment service delivery for job seekers and employers seeking to hire across Ontario.
READ MORE in the PDF file (will open in a new window)
What's Your Story?
Have you used one of our services since 1962? Where are you today? We'd love to know how you've moved forward in your life, and your shared experience could be an important peice to helping someone else move forward in theirs! We want to hear from you!
Whether you used our services 4 months ago, or 40 years ago, we're looking for YOUR success story. What did we help you with? You can share your full name, or just be anonymous if you prefer, but your experience can play a very important role in helping other people to find the help they need. Someone else could be experiencing the same kinds of challenges in their life right now that you once did. By seeing an example of how you made us work to your benefit, they could be inspired to access any one of our many free services to also get a hand where they need.
Tell us your story! Contact Paul Dobbs at myexperience@jhsdurham.on.ca with what you feel you would like to share, and thank you!
Older News
(For other previous new items, check out our Press page)
Communities with Brooms (April 2010)
On April 22nd, JHS joined with almost 300 other people to take part in the second annual cleanup day in downtown Oshawa. It was a great result, with hundreds of bags of rubbish removed, graffiti cleaned up, and community spirit spread to a whole new level. Thank you to everyone who participated, and we looked forward to even more of you out next year!
Ice Skate was GREAT!
![United Way Ice Skaters at the GM Centre [January 2010]](/images/2010/IceSkate.jpg)
Thank you to everyone who came out to share some of your Saturday afternoon with us on January 23rd, helping to raise funds for United Way. This was our best turnout yet in all the years we've done this, and once again we must say a big thank you to the folks at the General Motors Centre for giving us the time, sparing a few tables, and being all around great hosts.
Our skate was even better thanks to the donated time and efforts of Jacqueline Pashley of Bassline Jack, who not only DJ'd the event with excellent tunes,but also worked with Jason Callhan from Long & McQuad in Oshawa to have some speakers loaned free of charge.
It was also great to see our media friends out from the Oshawa This Week (who published this photo and others), KX96 who broadcasted live from the event on the day of, and the Journalism program from Durham College that came with camera to tape for the hot dcnews.ca website.
For the 2009/2010 United Way campaign, JHS Durham raised over $7400!
Baagwating Community Association Gives Again!
We have been invited to the annual community giving event of the Baagwating Community Assocation on December 14th! For the fourth year in a row, JHS will be receiving a financial donation from their board as part of the on-going effort to help a broad range of community services. This year Baagwating is giving JHS $2000! Thank you so much for your generous support once again.
Durham Home & Small Business Association
- Giving from the heart
On Wednesday December 2nd, the DHSBA held its Christmas meeting for their members at Cullen Park in north Whitby. Our connection with them began a few years back when the group began donating some non-perishable items to a small food program in our office. On this night, the group wanted to take their giving to a whole new level. So they brought in clothing, toys, and even donated proceeds from a silent auction to JHS! All night long throughout their presentations, the message was the same - give to charity, give to the need. We thank them for their generosity and sincere care towards making a difference in the community!
C.A.W. Donates to Christmas Hamper Program
As JHS ramps up it's annual Christmas hamper program for our clients, this being (we think) the 30th year we've done it, the Autoworkers Union has once again stepped forward to donate to the cause! To help out, they have donated $6000 to go towards items essential and appreciated by families we work with that have very limited resources for home this Christmas. Their genuine concern for the welfare of the community at large is greatly appreciated, and we thank the CAW for their continuing support!
50/60's Dance for United Way was GREAT!
Thank you to everyone who joined us for our first ever dance night to raise funds for the United Way! It was a fantastic time with great music, fun contests like a hoola-hoop-off, spot dances and more. A great big thank you to the Oshawa Lodge at 731 Wilson Road south (<-- click for the map) and Then & Now Sounds for donating the space and their time to this event!
Firehouse Fright Night - Great Success!
Thank you to everyone who came out to our third annual Fright Night event in Bowmanville, and a special thanks to the media for helping get the word out there (SNAP Clarington, KX96 FM Radio, Clarinton This Week, Rogers TV - Day Time).
We had 300 people turn out for the two and a half hours the event was on, and raised over $1000 for United Way. Everyone had a spooky good time, and we're already laying the groundwork for what we would like to do next year, which could include an even larger location to host it in!
JHS Employment Services - Reader's Choice Award!
Thank you to the people of Ajax and Pickering! You selected us as the Gold choice for employment service provider in the News Advertiser's annual Reader's Choice Awards. The special edition will be published in the Ajax/Pickering paper on Friday October 30th.
And congratulations to our hard working employment team, who do their very best to help each client to reach their employment goal. Your colleagues throughout the agency are proud of your achievement!
Group Programs Starting Soon!
Our Parenting and Young Adult Anger Management groups are starting up again in September! To access any of these excellent skills upgrading programs, call any of our offices to inquire! We recommend you act quickly as our groups fill up quickly!
Firehouse Youth Centre Golf Tournament!
The 2nd Annual Charity Golf Tournament is happening on Friday, September 11, 2009.
- Registration 12:30pm (Just $50 per person!)
- Shotgun Start 1:00pm
- WHERE: Cider House Golf Course (see this map link)
OPG, King's Court Catering, JR Freethy Architects, SMWIA Local 30, IBEW Local 894, Beyond Insurance, Judd Trucking, CIBC Newcastle, SNAP Clarington, Morris Funeral Chapel, John Howard Society, and Durham College.
WHAT:
There will be 9 holes of golf and two stations to challenge your chipping and putting skills. This will take place in a "shotgun format" which will include walking to your hole and starting once the horn blows at 1:00pm sharp. After the round is over there will be a delicious meal served by King's Court Catering sponsored by OPG. While the meal is taking place feel free to bid on any of the silent auction items and have a look through our prize table. Every golfer walks away with a prize and a full stomach thanks to our sponsors and all the business who donated items.
IN ADDITION: A special thank you to the Archibald's for the generous donation of their facilities and Cider House Golf Course. If you have any questions, comments, or concerns feel free to contact Brad Arbour at 905-626-1725
We Walked A Mile In Her Shoes
A team of JHS staff stepped up to the plate and helped raise over $600 for Bethesda House in their second annual "Walk a Mile In Her Shoes" event on a rainy June day. This video is an excellent presentation of how the event went, who the participants were, and its impact.
Thinking of Giving Something Different This Year?
If you or your organization are weighing plans for a gift this season, talk to us about helping you to make that plan hit home. We have information that could help you see more of that gift reach its target while realizing a tax deduction better than you might think. Contact paul.dobbs@jhsdurham.on.ca for more info.
