The Salvation Army, Canada

Governance

The Salvation Army Canada is an administrative unit of The Salvation Army that serves Canada. The territory is divided geographically into divisions, Alberta, Maritimes, British Columbia, Newfoundland and Labrador, Ontario Central-East, Ontario Great Lakes, Prairie, and Quebec. Each division is headed by a divisional commander, who is responsible to the National Commander. In turn the National Commander is responsible to International Headquarters (IHQ).

The Territorial Commander (TC) and Chief Secretary are appointed by the General, their role is to oversee and administer the work of The Salvation Army within the Territory, they are assisted by various other Secretaries (departmental heads) who are, in turn, responsible for overseeing their various branches of Army activity.

The TC is responsible for the Army's overall operation and mission, and the Chief Secretary is responsible for the territory's administration and daily operations. Senior executive Officers are, on the recommendation of the Territorial Commander, also appointed by the General.

All other Officer appointments within a Territory are the responsibility of the Territorial Commander and The Cabinet. The Salvation Army Canada is a non-governmental direct provider of social services in the areas of homelessness, poverty and addiction and a continuing support for programs in developing countries. In addition to mobile programs such as disaster relief, and homeless soup lines, the Salvation Army Canada currently operates permanent facilities including corps community centers (churches), Social Services Centers, summer camps, Adult Rehabilitation Centers, and thrift stores.

History

En route to England, George Scott Railton stopped at the port of Halifax, Nova Scotia and held the first Salvation Army meeting in Canada on March 24, 1881. He was so engaged in his sermon he missed his boat to England. He preached in Halifax for the following week in various Halifax churches and a year later the Salvation Army was officially established in Canada.

The Salvation Army began operating in Canada in 1882. Brigadier Gideon Miller, (1866-1949), Staff Architect for the Salvation Army in Canada from April 1906 until 1931, designed meeting halls (often called 'citadels'), hospitals and hostels in cities and towns across Canada.

In 1886, only four years after it had come to Canada from England, the Salvation Army built its Territorial Headquarters for Canada and Bermuda. It also housed the Toronto Temple, built 1886, demolished 1954.

Arnold Brown (General of The Salvation Army) OC (December 13, 1913 – June 26, 2002), the 11th General of The Salvation Army (1977-1981) served as territorial commander in 1974. Arnold Brown compiled a history of the first 50 years of Salvation Army ministry in Canada, entitled What Hath God Wrought?.

Staff band

Like other Salvation Army brass bands, the Canadian (Canada and Bermuda) staff band, which is sponsored by a territorial headquarters, travels and records on a regular basis.

Canadian Members

Alberta

British Columbia

Abbotsford: The Salvation Army in Abbotsford operates Cascade Community Church at 35190 DeLair Rd., The Center of Hope at 34081 Gladys Ave. Additionally, in the city of Mission, BC we have an additional Thrift Store at 7221 Park St. For more information please call The Center of Hope at 604 852 9305

Maritimes

Ontario Central-East

Ontario Great Lakes

Prairie

Quebec