Our history

From one woman’s compassion to a community movement

The Bloom Group began in 1961 as the St. James Community Service Society. It was founded by May Gutteridge and volunteers from St. James Anglican Church at Cordova and Gore in Vancouver’s Downtown Eastside.

May was a determined community leader who inspired our work to help people in need live with safety, dignity, and respect. Guided by her vision and compassion, we created new kinds of services that changed lives across the city. For example, we founded May’s Place, the first hospice in the Downtown Eastside specializing in end-of-life care for individuals with mental health and addiction issues.

What began as one woman’s mission to help her neighbours has become one of Vancouver’s most respected and enduring community service organizations.

• 1971: Santiago Lodge opens. It’s the first supported housing program for people living with mental health challenges.
• 1975: Victory House opens. It offers licensed home care for people with ongoing mental health needs.
• 1976: Powell Place opens. It’s Vancouver’s first shelter for women.
• 1980: May receives the prestigious YWCA Woman of Distinction Award.
• 1981: May is inducted into the Order of Canada.
• 1990: May’s Place opens. It’s the first free-standing hospice in Western Canada and the only one in the Downtown Eastside. May again receives the YWCA Woman of Distinction Award.
• 1998: Adult guardianship program launches. It helps at-risk seniors manage their finances.
• 1999: Cottage Hospice opens. It provides end-of-life care in a home-like setting.
• 2002: May passes away. The society continues her advocacy.
• 2003: Springhouse opens. It’s Vancouver’s only shelter for women and their male children over age 12.
• 2013: We are renamed The Bloom Group Community Services Society. Our new name reflects continued growth and renewed focus on helping people thrive.
• 2015: The View opens. It provides affordable housing services to people on fixed or low-incomes and at risk of homelessness. The site, a former remand centre, was transformed by our partnership with ACCESS-BladeRunners and all three levels of government: the Province of B.C. and BC Housing, the Government of Canada and the City of Vancouver.
• 2016: New affordable housing projects expanded support for residents in the Downtown Eastside and Vancouver’s West End.
• 2021: Our 60th anniversary. To celebrate, we host the 60 years in Bloom virtual event, premiere our video May and the Golden Flower and raise funds in our House to Home campaign.

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