Our History
The DSS Team at its humble beginnings. The Dignity Seniors Society was founded in Vancouver on April 2, 2016.
Back row, left to right: Adriaan de Vries, Patrick Aubert, Amar Sangha Front row, left to right: Cherese Reemaul, Jude Morrison, Emily Beam, Christina Bradley, Josh Soronow
Queer Aging BC, formerly 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 Actforming 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.