Aunt Leah's Place Aunt Leah's Place
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About Us

Who We Are

For 30 years, Aunt Leah’s Place has been helping kids in foster care and young mothers achieve a better future. We do this by providing guidance, supported housing, job training and coaching on essential life skills. We believe every individual deserves to feel safe, cared for, and have a sense of belonging. Unfortunately, this is not a reality for many teens in the foster care system. When they “age out” of government care at 19, they find themselves completely alone. Aunt Leah’s often provides the only thread of care and continuity for youth whose lives are marked by abuse, neglect, abandonment and multiple foster home placements. Over the years, we have seen how support at this critical time can help these young people realize their potential while becoming resilient, independent adults.

Aunt Leah’s Place helps prevent children in foster care from becoming homeless and mothers-in-need from losing custody of their children. To support them on their journey to self-sufficiency, we provide supported housing, job training, and coaching on essential life skills.

Aunt Leah’s has a strong foundation firmly in place, due to its social purpose real estate partnership with Central City Foundation at our main Youth Resource Hub and Head Office. We are located at 816 Twentieth Street, New Westminster, BC. Learn more about this partnership >>

 

Our Values

All behaviour has meaning and is the human tool for communication.

Success is fragile and must be tended to and supported with care.

An individual’s artistic/soulful centre must be expressed and appreciated.

Celebration is essential to a successful life.

Community building ensures that we all have a place to go when we need support.

Entrepreneurial spirit builds individuals and organizations.

History of Aunt Leah’s

Who is Leah?

Aunt Leah’s Founder, Gale Stewart, was the first grandchild born on a hundred-acre farm in southern Ontario. With that position came the good fortune of being the special granddaughter to Leah, her paternal grandmother. From a very early age, Gale developed a keen sense of love, loyalty and passion for this influential person.

In 1988, when Gale and other founding members began discussing and writing the vision and mandate for their new organization, Leah came quickly to mind. Leah represented what the organization would attempt to be for children and youth that needed an alternate caregiver. Over the years, Leah became Aunt Leah, and the organization has become a tribute to Gale’s memories of her. In return, Leah, in some strange and magical way has imparted to the organization a warm, vital and creative energy that allows it to support the many children and youth who come in need of our programs. Many of these young people have suffered the loss of family and community. We attempt to become that strong alternate caregiver that Leah represents.

Meet Gale Stewart

Aunt Leah’s Founder, Gale Stewart

Gale Stewart is the Founder of Aunt Leah’s Place.  Gale has demonstrated a commitment to her community, particularly marginalized youth, for over 30 years. Having been a foster parent herself, Gale knows where the gaps in service are and has worked on programs and services designed to fill these deficiencies.

Gale founded Aunt Leah’s House – a licensed residential home for pregnant and parenting teens in 1988. Her caring and understanding of issues are the essence of the many groundbreaking programs and facilities for youth she has established, linking communities and forming connections.

Gale is a social change agent, who believes in justice and in changing the thinking of those who misunderstand the issues of youth and women. Great initiative enables her to pursue her vision: keeping Aunt Leah’s a viable social service by creating business ventures to sustain the work of the society.

Learn about our Services