For over 45 years Fernie House has provided residential care for children and youth in Ontario.
1964 to 1970
o First residence established by the Presbyterian Church in Canada in 1964
o Original home was located on Spadina Road in Toronto, provided residential care for 16 to 18 year old boys funded by Ministry of Corrections.
o Incorporated as a not for profit charity in August 12, 1970 and we are named after the first Chairman of the Board, Mr. George Fernie
1970 to 1980
o The home temporarily moved to Oakville as we looked for a permanent location.
o In mid 1972, the home situated at Rosebank Road South, Pickering, was opened to serve up to ten youth.
o In April 1976, we added the Island Road residence. This large two story house became a home for up to fifteen teenage boys.
o In 1978 a large country estate in Pefferlaw Ontario as a home occupied by house parents and five teenage boys.
1980 to 1990
o In 1984 the Government of Ontario introduced the Child and Family Services Act that replaced a collection of old acts into one new act.
o In the same year, the Young Offender’s Act was passed federally replacing the historic Juvenile Delinquency Act (1904).
o In 1987, the Pefferlaw home was closed down, then in 1989 was revived as a dedicated Young Offender facility in York Region. .
1990 to 2000
o Fernie House now operated under the jurisdiction of the Ministry of Community and Social Services (now known as the Ministry of Community, Family and Children’s Services (MCFCS)) of Ontario.
o In 1996, the Pefferlaw home was closed and sold.
o In September 1997a section 23 classroom opened in the Island Road program sponsored by the Toronto District School Board.
o In July 1998, the Island Road home became a dedicated Young Offender Open Detention Facility.
o In October 1998, a new program opened at 1008 Dunbarton Road, Pickering dedicated to the service of Child Welfare agencies.
o In July 1999, Fernie House acquired 2 Cedar Brook group homes from St. John’s Training School. These homes originally began in 1970 and 1983.
o In July 1999, Fernie House purchased a home at 212 Twyn Rivers Drive in Pickering dedicated to the service of Child Welfare agencies.
o In September 1999, Fernie House, with the Durham District School Board established a section 23 classroom at Dunbarton High School
o In 1999 the Rosebank house was then renovated and re-licensed as a co-ed home for ten children between the ages of seven and twelve.
2000 to 2010
o In January 2001, Fernie House entered into an agreement with Rosebank Rd. Public School to established a section 23 classroom
o In 2003 the Young Offender’s Act was replaced with the Youth Criminal Justice Act redefining Youth Justice Detention and Custody.
o In 2005 one of the Cedar Brook youth justice homes was closed.
o In 2007, Fernie House purchased a home at Tidefall Ave. in Scarborough dedicated to the service of Child Welfare agencies.
o In 2008 the Tidefall program was closed and sold.
o In June of 2008 the new Executive Director assumed from the retiring Executive Director after 28 years.
o In April of 2009 the Youth Justice Transitions program started with 5 staff working to support the other regional custody and detention facilities.
Fernie House today has 5 residential facilities and serves up 34 children and youth and a community support team in Youth Justice. We look forward to growing our services to meet the emerging needs of the children and youth. We are a charitable non-profit society with a board of directors and a staff of over 100 dedicated child and youth care providers and administrators.
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