History

Gateway Society

Gateway Society is a non-profit organization with a 30 year history of supporting people with autism. It is governed by an elected Board of Directors, who meet a minimum of ten times a year.

Gateway House opened in 1976 in Ladner as a summer hostel and was operated by the Autism Society of BC (formerly the Pacific Association for Autistic Citizens). In 1977 the hostel became a fulltime residential care home for adolescents with autism.

Gateway House, 1983

Gateway House Society became a registered non-profit society and a provincial resource in 1978. In 1991, to better reflect our services and programs, our name was changed to GATEWAY SOCIETY – SERVICES FOR PERSONS WITH AUTISM.

Gateway Society, Today

Gateway Parents' Advocacy Group (G.P.A.G)

In 1997-1998, a group of parents came together to facilitate communication and networking, and to advocate for continuation of Gateway’s specialized services. In 1999, Gateway’s Board of Directors gave the group official recognition as the group representing the parents associated with the Society and invited the group to appoint two of its members to positions on the Board to officially represent Gateway parents. The group continues to work with the Gateway organization in the interests of Gateway families and their children receiving services.