Our History

DCLS has provided excellent services to hundreds of individuals for over 40 years. In 1963, DCLS began operations under the name "Variety Farm" on the site of our current Resource Centre. In those days, parents were generally encouraged by doctors to place children with developmental disabilities in dismal institutions. The alternative was for families to provide care at home with almost no support.

Motivated by the vision of a better life for his own son, Tony Schmand organized the purchase of a 10-acre property in East Ladner for the new society, founded to provide people with developmental disabilities with a home, a caring community and a place to work. Originally, people from all over the province came to live at Variety Farm, although today DCLS primarily serves the population of Delta.

Over time, residents at the Variety Farm have moved into group homes, family care through the Independent Care Network or into semi-independent living arrangements in the community. Between 1986 and 1996, the government closed the provincial institutions, and DCLS expanded its services to provide community living for many more people as a result.