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Family and Children's Services has come a long way, and its history goes as far back as the 1880's.

Scroll over each picture for some brief history.

MID 1880s
In the mid 1880’s, a man named John Kelso began discovering a vast number of children who were living on the streets of Toronto. Kelso, becoming more concerned, appealed to the Police Department and aided in the organization of Toronto’s Humane Society.

1870-1903
From 1870 to 1897, some forty-thousand orphaned children came to Canada from Britain. Between 1890 and 1903, all the children arriving in the Quarrier Home, located in Brockville but was later called the Fairknowe Home, came form Scotland. During this period, over four thousand children found homes through Fairknowe.

1989-1995
The ongoing investigation into child sexual abuse in Prescott and the surrounding area, dubbed Project Jericho commenced in October of 1989 up until 1995. The total number of victims were 275 and the total number of perpetrators were 119. The conviction rate was 93% with average sentence between 2 and 3 years.

1888	Concerned citizens in Ontario were gathering momentum to protect children. A controversy developed around the immigration of children from Britain to Canada. William Quarrier, who had operated homes for children in Scotland since the 1870’s founded homes for children in Brockville in 1888.
1890-1893	Children arriving in the Quarrier Home that was located in Brockville, and later called the Fairknowe Home, came from Scotland, and during this period, 4,418 children found homes through Fairknowe.
1897	The work of the Society reached outside Brockville and its name was changed to the Children’s Aid Society of Brockville and the United Counties of Leeds and Grenville.
1905	Society opened its first shelter in late 1905 or in 1906, and by July 1907 a committee of ladies existed that supported and had supervision over the shelter.
1911	A house was donated in Brockville, which was used as the Children’s Shelter until 1934.
1970’s	Worker Jack MacEachern becomes first probation officer in Leeds and Grenville. Christine Simpson-Taylor forms the first Big Brothers and Big Sisters organization in Leeds and Grenville.
1993	Family and Children’s Services moves from Highway Two location to building on Laurier Boulevard
1994	Family and Children’s Services celebrates 100 years of service.
2004	Family and Children’s Services opens a sub-office in Kemptville to accommodate the growing population.
2006	Family and Children’s Services opens a second sub-office in Gananoque.