About Us

Vision Statement

We envision a Durham Region where everyone contributes to a safe, healthy and just community.

Mission Statement

To reduce the impact of crime and its causes by providing a spectrum of effective prevention and intervention programs.

Core Values

People have the right to live in a safe and peaceful society, as well as the responsibility implied by this right to respect the law.
All people have the potential to become responsible members of our community.
Every person has intrinsic worth and the right to be treated with dignity, equity, fairness and compassion without discrimination.
Communities are stronger and safer when the root causes of crime are addressed through programs and services that are based on community needs and priorities.

Strategic Plan 2021-2024 (PDF)

JHS Durham Strategic Plan 2021-2024

Accessibility

<p>The John Howard Society of Durham Region is dedicated to fostering diversity, promoting social inclusion, and fulfilling our responsibilities under Ontario’s Accessibility for Ontarians with Disabilities Act, 2005 (AODA). This commitment involves creating accessible environments that uphold the rights of everyone.

Multi-Year Accessibility Plan – 2023-2028

We invite you to give us your feedback through either of the following means:

Phone: 905-579-8482

Email: accessibility@jhsd.ca

History of JHS Durham Region

The first official meeting of the John Howard Society of Oshawa-Whitby was on October 23, 1962. This assemblage was made possible, largely through the efforts of Mr. Keith Couse, Executive Assistant of the John Howard Society of Ontario.

Due to the increase in the services the Society provided, the need to move from a lay branch to a staffed branch was identified and the appointment of a branch coordinator was made possible through the support of the United Way. The first appointment was made in November 1974 followed shortly thereafter in September 1975 by a move to appoint Mr. William Fry as the organization’s long serving Executive Director. Mr. Fry served in this role until January 2012 (37 years), followed by Brian Sibley (Sept. 2012 – Dec. 2013), and then Dianna Eastwood (Jan. 2014 to present).

Due to the expansion of services and funding over the years, several name changes have been necessary to indicate the area served: for instance, The John Howard Society of Oshawa-Whitby-Newcastle in 1983.

In 1984 funding was made available from the Ajax/Pickering United Way to create a sub-office in this community. Our final name change came following the expansion into the Ajax area serving Ajax/Pickering resulting in a final name change to The John Howard Society of Durham Region. In October 1985 a residence for young people opened in Whitby followed closely by a second residence in Oshawa.

In July 2017, funding reductions left us no choice but to close our full-time Ajax office on Commercial Avenue. For the next 3 years, Ajax/Pickering area services ran from a shared space at 520 Westney Road South, thanks to Cross Roads Community Church. In July 2020 we left the shared space, and through the pandemic of 2020-2022 have been providing service to Ajax/Pickering through virtual tools, and through some local partnerships such as with the Welcome Centre.

In 2018 our youth centre program in Clarington (Called the Firehouse Youth Centre) which had been running since 1998, added a second site in Courtice (called “The Loft”). It grew again in 2019 with the addition of a Newcastle location (called “NYC”), all three thanks to the support of the Municipality of Clarington.