The Salvation Army, Canada

Last updated
The Salvation Army in Canada
Classification Christian
Orientation Holiness movement
Governance The Governing Council of the Salvation Army in Canada [1]
Associations Canadian Council of Churches; World Communion of Reformed Churches; World Council of Churches
Region Canada (plus Bermuda)
Headquarters2 Overlea Blvd, Toronto, Ontario
Origin1882 (in Canada)
Branched from The Salvation Army
Members15,743 soldiers
30,115 adherents
Ministers 611 active officers
Places of worship 285 corps (community churches)
Official website salvationarmy.ca

The Salvation Army in Canada (nicknamed "Sally Ann") is the Canadian territory of a Christian church that is known for its charity work, with a motto of Giving Hope Today. The Salvation Army was formed in 1865 in London, England, and it began working in Canada in 1882. Today, it operates in 400 communities across Canada and in Bermuda. [2] The Salvation Army Archives are in Toronto, and the Salvation Army's Training College (formerly in Toronto) is in Winnipeg.

Contents

Governance

The Salvation Army in Canada is an administrative unit of The Salvation Army that serves Canada and Bermuda. The territory is divided geographically into divisions – Alberta, Bermuda, British Columbia, Maritime, Newfoundland and Labrador, Ontario Central East, Ontario Great Lakes, Prairie, and Quebec. Each division is headed by a divisional commander, who is responsible to the Territorial Commander. In turn, the Territorial Commander is responsible to International Headquarters (IHQ) in London, England.

The Territorial Commander (TC) and Chief Secretary are appointed by the General. Their role is to oversee and administer the work of The Salvation Army within their territory. They are assisted by various other Secretaries (departmental heads) who are, in turn, responsible for overseeing their various branches of Army activity.

The Territorial Commander is responsible for the territory's overall operation and mission, and the Chief Secretary is responsible for the territory's administration and daily operations. Senior executive officers are, on the recommendation of the Territorial Commander, also appointed by the General. All other officer appointments within a territory are the responsibility of the Territorial Commander and the Cabinet.

The Salvation Army in Canada is a non-governmental direct provider of social services in the areas of homelessness, poverty and addiction, and a continuing support for programs in developing countries. In addition to mobile programs such as disaster relief, and homeless soup lines, the Salvation Army in Canada currently operates permanent facilities including corps community centers (churches), Social Services Centers, summer camps, Adult Rehabilitation Centers, and thrift stores.

History

1st Salvation Army meeting in Canada Plaque, Stayner's Wharf, Halifax, Nova Scotia GeorgeScottRailtonPlaqueHalifaxNovaScotia.jpg
1st Salvation Army meeting in Canada Plaque, Stayner's Wharf, Halifax, Nova Scotia

En route to England, George Scott Railton stopped at the port of Halifax, Nova Scotia, and held the first Salvation Army meeting in Canada on March 24, 1881. He was so engaged in his sermon that he missed his boat to England. He preached in Halifax for the following week at various Halifax churches, and a year later, the Salvation Army was officially established in Canada.

The Salvation Army began operating in Canada in 1882. Brigadier Gideon Miller (1866-1949), Staff Architect for the Salvation Army in Canada from April 1906 until 1931, designed meeting halls (often called 'citadels'), hospitals and hostels in cities and towns across Canada. [3]

In 1886, only four years after it had come to Canada from England, the Salvation Army built its Territorial Headquarters for Canada and Bermuda. It also housed the Toronto Temple, built in 1886 and demolished in 1954.

Arnold Brown (December 13, 1913 June 26, 2002), the 11th General of The Salvation Army (1977–1981), served as Territorial Commander in 1974. Brown compiled a history of the first 50 years of Salvation Army ministry in Canada, entitled What Hath God Wrought?.

Canadian Staff band

The massed bands of the Salvation Army, Canada performed at Massey Hall in Toronto in 1910 In Memoriam King Edward VII InMemoriamKingEdwardMasseyHall.jpg
The massed bands of the Salvation Army, Canada performed at Massey Hall in Toronto in 1910 In Memoriam King Edward VII
Canadian Sailors serving HMCS Toronto sort Hurricane Katrina disaster relief supplies at a Salvation Army warehouse US Navy 050916-N-1512O-055 Canadian Sailors assigned to the patrol frigate HMCS Toronto (FFH 333) sort boxes of relief supplies at a Salvation Army warehouse managed by the Federal Emergency Management Agency (FEMA).jpg
Canadian Sailors serving HMCS Toronto sort Hurricane Katrina disaster relief supplies at a Salvation Army warehouse

Beginning in the 1880s, Salvation Army brass bands began to be established in Canada, copying similar trends in the United Kingdom at the time. In 1888, Territorial Commander Thomas Coombs issued an advertisement for Salvation Army bandsmen to form a "Household Troops" band, which would eventually become the first Canadian Staff Band. [4] :4–6

In May of 1914, the Canadian Staff Band departed Toronto for an International Congress of The Salvation Army in London, England. The band was travelling on the RMS Empress of Ireland when it sank in the Saint Lawrence River shortly after its departure from Quebec City. [4] :28 While a group of survivors briefly attempted to reform the band in 1917, the band eventually ceased to exist. [4] :35

In 1969, the Canadian Staff Band was revived under the leadership of bandmaster Major Norman Bearcroft. [4] :40-41 The band participates in most major territorial events, has recorded many albums, and frequently visits local Salvation Army churches across Canada and Bermuda, and abroad. [4] :105

Canadian members

Salvation Army buildings

Alberta

British Columbia

Maritime

Newfoundland and Labrador

Ontario Central East

Toronto Grace Hospital Toronto Grace Hospital.JPG
Toronto Grace Hospital

Ontario Great Lakes

Prairie

Salvation Army Saskatoon Temple (Church), Main Street, Saskatoon, SK. Salvation Army Church.jpg
Salvation Army Saskatoon Temple (Church), Main Street, Saskatoon, SK.

Quebec

See also

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References

  1. The Governing Council of the Salvation Army in Canada, Charities Directorate – Government of Canada.
  2. Our Organization, The Salvation Army.
  3. Brigadier Gideon Miller
  4. 1 2 3 4 5 Pavey, Stephen (2019). In His Time.