About Us
Mission
The mission of the Westcoast Genesis Society is to actively promote the physical, psychological, emotional, and spiritual well-being of persons who are socially marginalized due to factors such as:
- Homelessness
- Problematic substance use
- Emotional and mental health issues
- Fetal Alcohol Spectrum Disorder (FASD)
- Involvement with the criminal justice system
- Aboriginal status
People
The Westcoast Genesis Society employs staff who practice a personal commitment to:
- Its mission of promoting the well-being of marginalized adults
- Respect for the dignity and worth of each individual
- Professional standards of work
Staff need to be properly qualified through education and/or experience. The Society provides ongoing, relevant training and support so that staff can better achieve the Agency’s mission.
Organization
Westcoast Genesis Society, a non-profit charitable organization established and incorporated in 2000, is governed by a dedicated Board of Directors. Andrew Boyd is the founder and Executive Director.
Gordon Thomson is House Manager for Genesis House and Pamela Sesk is House Manager for Maria Keary Cottage. Each has House Supervisors and a Cook reporting to them. Pamela also has a Case Manager at Maria Keary Cottage primarily for the FASD Offender Program. Both House Managers report directly to Andrew Boyd along with Business Manager Robert Chesterman and professional program staff.
Boyd served as President of the New Westminster Downtown Residents Association (NWDRA) for several years and currently remains on the Board. He also co-chaired the New Westminster Homelessness Coalition for two years. The Coalition, with members from all levels of government and from local human service agencies, comes together to develop and implement effective strategies for meeting the needs of chronically homeless people in New Westminster. Boyd also serves as a member of the New Westminster Inter-Agency Council. He strives always to maintain positive relations with local neighbours, the broader community, elected officials and senior City staff.
Andrew Boyd has extensive experience as an Alcohol and Drug Counsellor with the Salvation Army’s Harbour Light Centre in Vancouver’s Downtown Eastside, where he built and became Director of their first Correctional Service of Canada (CSC) residential program for federal offenders. Before opening Genesis House in July 2000, he worked for CSC as one of their Program Delivery Officers for Correctional Programs. He is recognized for his entrepreneurial skill, his ability to work with staff and with very high-need clients, and his dedication to working with offenders to help ensure they reintegrate successfully into the community.
(Main entry at rear off Dickenson Street, one block north of Carnarvon)