Bissell Centre

Bissell Centre began as a Methodist mission in 1910, founded by the Reverend William Pike and his wife Florence. They worked from a storefront office on the Northwest corner of 96th Street and 103A Avenue, where the Fire Station No. 1 now stands. The mission offered a Sunday school, social groups, and a Ukrainian Sunday service to help Ukrainian im... migrants settle into their new community. Before long, the mission was also providing a Ukrainian-language newspaper, English lessons, and a reading room. In 1919, the Pike Mission decided to work cooperatively with a newly-founded Presbyterian Mission called the McQueen Institute. After the United Church was formed in 1925, this cooperative effort was officially sanctioned and became known as the All People's mission. The Mission operated a camp, a Young People's Group, children's programs, and a Women's Auxiliary. It also ran church services in the Institute and at nearby churches. The programs of the Mission were partially funded by the Red Feather Appeal, a predecessor of the United Way. Throughout the 1920s, the needs of the people changed, and the All People's Mission responded by offering new services. Funded jointly by the Methodist and Presbyterian Churches (and later the United Church), youth programs, a kindergarten, a mother's group, summer schools, and a summer camp began operation. As the Mission's services expanded, so did the number of people using them.Read More