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Focus on the Family (Canada) Association
TypeNGO
106845969 RR0001
Legal statusCharitable organization
Purposeadvocate and public voice, educator and network
HeadquartersLangley, British Columbia.
Official language
English
French
President
Terence Rolston
AffiliationsFocus on the Family.
Websitefocusonthefamily.ca

Focus on the Family Canada (French: Focus Famille), legally incorporated as the Focus on the Family (Canada) Association, is a Canadian affiliate of the American evangelical Christian organization Focus on the Family. It was founded in 1983, and is based in Langley, British Columbia.

The group's stated aim is to "encourage and strengthen the Canadian family through education and resources based on Christian principles".[1]

Ties to Focus on the Family USA

Focus on the Family Canada is operated and directed independently of Focus on the Family USA.[citation needed] However, some ties do exist between the two organizations. Between 2000 and 2003, the Canadian affiliate received $1.6 million in services from the larger American organization. Jim Daly, President and CEO of Focus on the Family in the United States serves on the board of directors of Focus on the Family Canada. Other than receiving financial support from Focus on the Family USA between 2000 and 2003, Focus on the Family Canada relies fully on donor support for its operations.

Activities

Focus on the Family Canada also provides care and support services for pastors, ministry leaders and their families in the form of retreats, pastors' events, and the Clergy Care Network website.[2] In 2008, Focus Canada began the Kerith Creek ministry retreats for married couples and ministry leaders near Calgary, Alberta.

In the fall of 2009, Focus on the Family Canada launched a parenting website called "Kids of Integrity: Tools for Growing Godly Character." The website provides over 20 lesson plans intended to help parents, grandparents, caregivers and others develop positive character traits in children - traits such as honesty, generosity, respect and self-control. The lessons are designed to engage children ages three to ten and can be downloaded from the Kids of Integrity website free of charge.

Also in 2009, the organization announced plans to erect its own building under the fundraising campaign called "Building Families, Building Hope":

We feel that God is leading us to establish a permanent home that will allow greater opportunities to share His blessing with Canadian families. Not only will this home serve as the cornerstone of the ministry for years to come, but it will also save as much as $400,000 annually in rent, which we will use to reach even more families with practical advice and Biblical truths.[3]

Operations in Canada

The organization has funded efforts in the courts and in its media broadcasts to help "preserve traditional values and the institution of the family."[4] It is opposed to same-sex marriage, LGBT adoption (and LGBT rights in general), abortion, pornography and premarital sex. Focus on the Family promotes child discipline and supports the continued legality of spanking as a form of discipline for children.

Focus on the Family Canada has also established the Institute of Marriage and Family Canada/Institut du Mariage et de la Famille Canada (IMFC). The IMFC is located in Ottawa, Ontario, near Parliament Hill, where the staff conduct and compile social policy research from Canada and around the world. The IMFC's mission is "to positively influence public opinion and promote public policy that values human life, the pre-eminence of marriage and the institution of the family."[5] Its involvement in social issues is not limited to activism, as it has intervened in court cases such as one case in 1999 where it supported denying same-sex couples the right to apply for alimony from one another.[6] The organization had intervenor status in the precedent setting case of Canadian Foundation for Children, Youth and the Law v. Canada (Attorney General),[7] in which the Supreme Court of Canada upheld the legality of child spanking in Canada.

In addition, the organization publishes Today's Family News, a monthly e-newsletter that provides family-related news stories, research and analysis making headlines across Canada.

Organization

Presidents of the organization include: Bruce Gordon (?–1998), one time Deputy Chief of Staff to PM Harper, Darrel Reid (1998–2004),[8] Terence Rolston (2004–present).

A former member of the board of directors of Focus on the Family Canada is Sharon Hayes, who from 1993 to 1997 was a Member of Parliament belonging to the Reform Party of Canada.

References

  1. ^ "Focus on the Family Canada, About us". Archived from the original on 2010-09-23. Retrieved 2010-01-21.
  2. ^ Focus on the Family Canada, Pastors
  3. ^ Building Families Building Hope Archived 2010-01-09 at the Wayback Machine
  4. ^ "Focus on the Family Canada, About us". Archived from the original on 2010-09-23. Retrieved 2010-01-21.
  5. ^ IMFC, About us
  6. ^ "Canada Rules 'Spouse' Includes Homosexuals - NYTimes.com". select.nytimes.com. May 21, 1999. Retrieved March 8, 2011.
  7. ^ [2004] 1 S.C.R. 76, 2004 SCC 4, "Archived copy". Archived from the original on 2006-07-10. Retrieved 2006-07-09.{{cite web}}: CS1 maint: archived copy as title (link)
  8. ^ Gilgoff, Dan (February 19, 2009). "Focus on the Family's Growing Influence—in Canada - God & Country (usnews.com)". usnews.com. Retrieved March 8, 2011.
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