Our history
How it all started
Dignity Seniors Society was originally the Dignity House Advisory Committee (DHAC) which was founded as a Master of Social Work practicum of Alex Sangha in September 2012. The Progressive Intercultural Community Services (PICS) Society was a non-profit partner during our infancy and early establishment.
The initial mandate of the DHAC was to develop affordable housing for Gender and Sexual Minority (GSM) seniors and allies in Vancouver. In 2018, the DHAC applied for/secured society status under the BC Society Act forming Dignity Seniors Society.
The Board of the Society worked hard through 2017-2018 to develop a strategic plan that would be effective over the short term, and target the long-term goals of the organization, such as developing 2SLGBTQIA+ seniors’ housing projects.
The DSS Team at its humble beginnings. The Dignity Seniors Society was founded in Vancouver on April 2, 2016. The founding members of the Board of Directors are in the above photograph and listed below.
Back row, left to right:
- Adriaan de Vries
- Patrick Aubert
- Alex Sangha
Front row, left to right:
- Cherese Reemaul
- Jude Morrison
- Emily Beam
- Christina Bradley
- Josh Soronow
DSS would like to thank all the people and organizations (see Partners) that have generously given their time and resources over the years to make DSS possible.
Read:
our August 2012 founding report by Alex Sangha;
our inaugural letters of support; and
our seed funding for DHAC.
Our need and demand study - published June 2014 - was conducted for the Dignity House Advisory Committee (DHAC) by Lumina Services Inc., and Terra Housing Consultants (now Terra Social Purpose Real Estate). That marketing study identified that the 2SLGBTQIA+ communities in Vancouver's Lower Mainland had sufficient demographic and income strength to support a variety of seniors' housing options.
Read the Dignity House Market Study, and our Executive summary.
The emblem concept is very simple. It features a stylized home surrounded by a rainbow. The doors are open in a gesture to welcome everyone. The purple color signifies seniors and elders.
The logo was created and generously donated by local award winning graphic designer, Vinay Giridhar. Vinay completed the Digital Graphic Design Program at Vancouver Community College and a Diploma in Classical Animation at Vancouver Film School. You can contact Vinay at vinayg2007@gmail.com.
