Punjabi Community Health Services was founded on July 5, 1990. It was incorporated as a not-for-profit community based agency on October 25, 1995. It became a registered charitable organization on April 1, 2010.
How has PCHS grown over the years? Click on a year from the chart below and find out!
Established Punjabi Community Health Project – 5 July 1990
Operated out of the Peel Health Office at 199 County Court Blvd. Work started with seniors.
Two research projects started “to determine the extent of alcohol use in the Punjabi community” and “Sikh Community and Gaps in Social services in the GTA, July 1992”
Organized four conferences on the topics of “Anti-Racism”, “Career Choices” and “Leadership for Youth” and “Seniors Well-being”
Final Report of the Punjabi Community Health Project released in December 1993.
Pilot project – Sahara Men’s Group started
Video developed – Dealing with Alcohol: It’s effects and treatment
Incorporated as Punjabi Community Health Project and Logo developed
Print resources developed – Parenting manuals
Video developed – Parenting in Canada in Punjabi language
South Asian Men’s Project developed in DPNC
1st year – SAHARA Men’s Group
PCHS partnered with CAN-Sikh Cultural Centre to educate the community around addictions, mental health and parenting issues.
PCHC developed two health promotion projects “Punjabi Women and Health Promotion – May ’96 and Punjabi Parent Development Project – July ’96”. In addition, two research studies were also undertaken “Tobacco Use Amongst Punjabi Youth, Sept. ’96 and Enhancing Access to Prenatal Classes, Oct. ’96”.
A video was also developed, titled “Dying for a Cigarette” in Oct. ’96.
Research Study – “Health Project for Seniors” released in March 1997.
PCHC developed a one year Health Promotion project with South Asian Seniors in partnership with Council of Agencies Serving South Asians (CASSA) and South Asian Women’s Centre (SAWC).
Two conferences were organized on “Health and well-being of Seniors and Women" and “Intergenerational issues (Youth) in partnership with Can-Sikh Cultural Centre”.
United Way of Peel Region funded a one year project on HIV/AIDS South Asian Youth Education Research Project.
PCHS helped organize the first ever blood donor camp organized in the Sikh community.
PCHS started Parenting Sessions at Mississauga Gurdwara (Sikh Temple).
Family Violence Project with COSTI was also started.
Unforgettable Memories (a forum for seniors) and Violence Against South Asian Women workshop in partnership with PCAWA was also undertaken.
PCHS, in partnership with Inter-Cultural Neighbourhood Social Services (ICNSS) organized “the Body Image Problems amongst South Asian Girls in Peel Region” project. It also started the one hour radio program (Tuhadi Awaz – Your Voice) on 1320 AM.
An innovative project with Victim Services of Peel (VSOP) “South Asian Family Violence Volunteer Response Team Project” was initiated.
PCHS received a half-hour television program from Sur Sagar Television
Ontario Trillium Foundation funded the Community Neighbourhood Co-operative Cluster project through which PCHS was given an office space at ICNSS office – January 2001.
ICNSS and PCHS were jointly funded by the Region of Peel to run the Youth project.
Ontario Trillium Foundation funded a joint project of PCHS with VSOP for 5 years called “Mentoring For Change”.
PCHS supported Can-Sikh Cultural Centre to organize the 11th World Kabbadi Cup in Brampton.
Project to enhance the ‘SAHARA’ group initiated in partnership with William Osler Hospital – Withdrawal Management Services
PCHS receives funding from Ontario Trillium Foundation for four years to “Develop Social Capital in Peel”
1st year – ‘SAHARA’ women’s group started at the Gurdwara “SAHARA” seniors group started at ICNSS 1st Annual Fundraising dinner successfully completed
PCHS organized the following projects and activities:
PCHC starts a television program called “Youth ConneXion” at Sur Sagar television.
PCHC launches an Eco Action project. This project develops awareness on the environmental issues within the Punjabi community.
One year United way funded project launched – Training Sikh Priests towards enhancing understanding of women abuse issues.
Drinking and Driving research amongst South Asian youth findings released in November.
Research study in partnership with Centre for Addictions and Mental Health in the areas of Addiction, Mental Health and Barriers to Access completed.
Translation projects undertaken using the 9 step guidelines.
Peel Heart Health Network allocated funds to the PCHC develop awareness of heart disease in the Punjabi community.
Drinking and Driving report released October 2002.
10th Anniversary of the SAHARA Women’s group celebrated
IWD celebrated and PCHS invited Dr. Harshinder Kaur from India
Partnered with Human Endeavour on EPIC Social Enterprise model
Film – Malton United by MCBP project
Partnership with Heart Health Hospice on Palliative Care for the South Asian community
Partnership with St. Michaels Hospital, Peel Health to explore the reasons for low Cancer Screening rates for South Asian women in the Region of Peel.
Supported Youth Troopers for Global Awareness to become a sustainable organization.
Video on Senior Abuse created.
PCHS started participating in Service Delivery Network – PNSG
Cultural competence workshops for organizations
PCHS participates in SA Heritage Day celebration by Human Endeavour
10th International Women’s Day celebration organized
Funding for one case manager received under the
Narcotics Strategy
Funding received under Behavioural Services Ontario to hire a Psycho-Geriatric Resource Consultant
Moved in the new office in Malton – Great Punjab Business Centre on Drew Road
Cloud system installed on PCHS computers
Research on Diabetes compiled by PCHS
Senior abuse project – with Social Services Network in York Region
Heart and Stroke Foundation project on youth
Diabetes project with Canadian Diabetes Society
Community ConneXion TV program
Health Links initiative started in CW LHIN
PCHS Participates in Lohri for Her event – 1st time
Cultural competence workshops for organizations
PCHS participates in SA Heritage Day celebration by Human Endeavour
5th Anniversary of the Health Mela celebrated
Partnership with SEVA Food Bank developed
Open House for Malton Office (moved in December 2012)
In January 2013 – parenting sessions at Baitul Islam Mosque in York Region
Preparation for CARF ACCREDITATION
Partnership with Heart House Hospice – South Asian Palliative Project
Community Hub discussions started by United Way
Second Annual Multicultural Health Conference – Immigrant and Refugee Mental Health
Centre for Israel and Jewish Affairs – Ethno-specific Services
South Asian Action Council
11th IWD organized
Community ConneXion continued
Brampton Springdale Network started at Louise Arbour Secondary School
SSN 3rd annual abuse conference
PCHS Calgary discussions started
Narcotics program started at PCHS
June 26, 2013 – SA Executive Director’s meeting started
PCHS becomes paymaster for Dixon Community Services
Imagine Canada accreditation work started
SEVA Food Bank moved into Malton location
In India – work started on PCHS Punjab
PCHS receives United Way of Peel funding
PCHS – 1st annual Cultural competence conference
Cultural competence workshops for organizations
IN STED program funded by CW LHIN
PCHS participates in SA Heritage Day celebration by Human Endeavour
PCHS participates in Malton Youth Centre with Rapport Youth Services
Parenting session in Montreal
PCHS participates in CAMH Services Collaborative Project
SA ED’s Forum continues to meet 4x a year
PCHS receives a donation from McDonalds at Walmart
Sandy Milakovic, ED of CMHA Peel, retires – a friend of PCHS
PCHS Calgary becomes a reality
PCHS – 2nd annual Cultural competence conference
Exploring “Social Enterprise” at PCHS as a medium for fundraising
12th – IWD celebration
PCHS participates at 25th ASAAP anniversary celebration
4th SSN conference on violence prevention
PCHS participates in SA Youth Empowerment conference by United Way of Peel
Cultural competence workshops for organizations
PCHS participates 1st time in United Way fundraising campaign
The Canadian Consul general, Rajani Alexander, visits PCHS office in Malton
PCHS participates in SA Heritage Day celebration by Human Endeavour
PCHS client, Prashant Tiwari, committed suicide at WOHS metal health ward
PCHS hired an event Planner to help organize IWD event
PCHS participates in Data Collection Capacity workgroup at United Way
PCHS registered for Connecting GTA expansion project with MOHLTC
SA Justice Partner’s committee started at PCHS with Probation and Parole office
Community Hub meetings continue to make small progress
PCHS Calgary formally established
PCHS participated in the Health Equity conference organized by CASSA
PCHS started a collaboration with Erin Oaks
Lease for the new office in Brampton signed. Tentative move in date is February 2015.
PCHS was invited to participate at the MH LHIN’s SIGMHA meetings
Moved from 11730 Airport. December 31, 2014 was the last day at 11730 Airport Road office. We had moved into this office in 2004 to 2014. We stayed there for a total of ten years.
13th IWD celebration
Eleven new staff joined PCHS on January 2, 2015. This was the largest number of hiring at one time.
New Respite program was started on January 2, 2015.
Caregivers program was expanded on January 2, 2015.
PCHS reorganized into Team Leads (Supervisors). This process is created as we do not have the funds to hire supervisors.
25th anniversary of PCHS celebrated at Royal Banquet Hall along with AGM.
PCHS receives funding from MH LHIN to hire one addictions case manager and one Peer Support Worker to serve South Asian population in MH LHIN area.
PCHS is engaging Central LHIN to discuss the possibility of funding for Addictions and Mental Health in York region.
1st PCHS Youth Leadership Training Program on 13th September 2015
New program started – Peer Support Program
14th IWD celebration
PCHS Ottawa formed
PCHS Calgary – 1st fundraising event held successfully
Board retreat in February – decision taken to implement
