Our History
The Men's Centre's legacy is rooted in the unwavering support of our community, and continues to grow.
Our journey began with a desire to help, and that desire has shaped decades of service. From humble beginnings, we've grown into a vital resource for countless men and families.
Join us and become part of a story that honors our past and builds a brighter future for all.
Our first men’s group met at Bethlehem Retreat Centre – the father’s support group met weekly to discuss the challenges of being a father and how to stay connected to their children.
2000
2001
Incorporated the ‘Nanaimo Men’s Resource Centre’ (NMRC) as a legally registered BC non-profit society.
First significant grant and partial current office space rented.
2002
2004
First Father’s Day Celebration. Thanks to Jonathon van der Goes’ efforts, the first Father’s Day in the Park was held at the Bowen Park Picnic Shelter. 12 people attended that first celebration, and it subsequently grew in attendance to over a 1,000 participants at Maffeo Sutton Park.
First Parental Alienation Workshops delivered.
2004
2004
Charitable status granted by CRA.
First Family Court Workshops delivered.
2005
2006
Dealing with the Dragon – first rendition of this workshop started January 2006 and was then called ‘When Anger is in Control’, which later became ‘Calming Your Anger’, which became ‘Dealing with the Dragon’. The course is still running as of 2026.
Parental Alienation video created and has over 166,000 views on YouTube as of 2026 and is still a very relevant and educational video.
2006
2011
The City of Nanaimo presented The Men’s Centre with the "Excellence in Social Development Award".
‘The Men’s Centre’ (TMC) name was added to Nanaimo Men’s Resource Centre title and protected as an official legal operating name to reflect the provincial nature of our services and clients.
2014
2020
The COVID pandemic started and everything needed to be moved online as physical contact was severely restricted. Converting workshops and communication systems to allow for home access made for a very challenging time. Various levels of government did make things easier by creating financial support for such transitions.
Our Executive Director Theo resigned after 20 years, and we transitioned to a new ED and strengthened our board.
2021
2024
Strategic visioning completed and re-branding launched to appeal to a broader audience and diversify our revenue sources.