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In 1951, when the Fourth Degree of Chatham was chartered, the Assembly chose the name Father James, after this dedicated priest Rev. James Archinger.

HISTORY: Father Archinger, pastor of St. Joseph's parish, Chatham, was one of the scholarly men of Chatham, and was a native of Cincinnati, Ohio. He was born there on August 20, 1863, of German ancestry. His father, George A. Archinger, was born in Germany in 1814, and in his native country learned the trade of carriage making. In 1834 he emigrated to the United States, settling in Cincinnati, Ohio, where he followed his trade.

In 1849 he married Elizabeth Boeh, who was born in 1826 in Germany, of which country her father, Albert Boeh, was also a native. To this marriage ten children were born, of whom Father Archinger was the only survivor in 1904, three years after he came to Chatham. When he had reached the required age, growing up in Cincinnati, James Archinger entered St. Xavier College, in Cincinnati, and pursued his studies for four years. He then entered St. Francis College, in Cincinnati, where he graduated in 1882. Deciding to become a priest, he entered the Franciscan Order. His studies continued, until 1889, when he was ordained a priest by Archbishop Elder, of Cincinnati.

After ordination, Father Archinger was located at St. Francis parish, Cincinnati for two years. He was then transferred to Wichita, Kansas for two years. For the next eighteen months he was pastor of St. Mary's parish at Kansas City, Missouri. He was then transferred to Emporia, Kansas, where he remained for five years. He was a well-travelled priest before he came to Chatham. In 1918, Father James was recalled back to Cincinnati at age 55.

In 1901, twenty-three years after the first Franciscans came to Chatham, Father Archinger was placed in charge of St. Joseph's parish in Chatham, at that time with 600 families. He also looked after the spiritual needs of the Ursuline Convent in Chatham. In 1909, when Our Lady of Beauraing Council 1412 was chartered, Father James became its first Chaplain.

In later years, Father James suffered the loss of his sight, and spent his retirement at the Franciscan Friary in Cincinnati, where he died in 1948, and was buried in the Franciscan Cemetery. [courtesy of S.K. Victor Miller]

CHARTER OF FATHER JAMES ASSEMBY #0867: In 1916, Father James was instrumental in having the twin towers completed on the front of St. Joseph's Church, which were not part of the original church. In 1951, when the Fourth Degree of Chatham was chartered, the Assembly chose the name Father James, after this dedicated priest, who was a very devout man, highly educated and well read, and possessed of great executive ability. The people of St. Joseph's were devoted to him, as he took a deep interest in their welfare and bringing to them the great truths of the Church. As the Father James Assembly, Fourth Degree, celebrates its 50th anniversary, many Catholic men and Knights have been proud to have been members of this Assembly. [courtesy of S.K. Victor Miller]

WKG Foundation raises awareness for disability inclusion, promotes wkgfoundation.com, enrolls mentors, builds partnerships across the globe, and books speaking engagements. The Foundation creates free courses with subject-matter experts and mentors to help people with disabilities build careers, freelancing, and entrepreneurship skills.

ACCESS CREATES, OPPORTUNITY,OPPORTUNITY CREATES CHANGE.

We believe that when you remove the barriers to entry, you unlock the potential of the next generation of innovators, creators, and problem solvers.

Empowering the next generation

Breaking down barriers to education, nourishing growing minds, and building a stronger community together.

Founded in 2023, the STEAMACCESS Initiative was born from a clear and urgent need: to ensure every child has the opportunity to explore, build, and innovate, regardless of their financial circumstances. We saw that while technology shapes our world, the tools to master it remain out of reach for too many families.

To bridge this gap, we partnered with Engineering for Kids Windsor–Chatham. This strategic alliance allows us to deliver world-class, hands-on learning experiences directly to youth in our community. By combining our community-driven mission with their expert curriculum and instructors, we create engaging, high-impact environments where children can thrive.

More than education

We know that a child cannot focus on coding a robot or solving an advanced math equation when they are hungry. True access requires holistic support.

That is why our mission extends far beyond the classroom. We are deeply committed to supporting food security initiatives and providing essential resources to ensure our students are nourished, healthy, and ready to learn. By addressing these foundational needs, we remove the invisible barriers that hold children back.

BrightPath Community Outreach works with volunteers, local partners and community members to support people facing everyday challenges.

Programs include food support, youth mentorship, seasonal drives, community events and practical assistance for individuals and families.

BrightPath believes stronger communities are built when people have both the support they need and meaningful ways to contribute.

A sanctuary located on the Bay of Fundy, encircled by Maine, New Brunswick and Nova Scotia.

Safe Steps Alabama Community Connections is an Athens, Alabama based survivor led nonprofit dedicated to making systems and resources easier to navigate. We focus on resource navigation, systems awareness, community education, advocacy, and meaningful collaboration. Rather than duplicating services that already exist, we help individuals and families better understand available resources, identify next steps, and connect with organizations that can meet their needs.

Through community partnerships, outreach, educational initiatives, events, and the Safe Steps Community Connections Crew, we bring nonprofits, businesses, service providers, volunteers, and community members together to strengthen the communities we serve.

Our work is rooted in lived experience and a simple belief that guides everything we do: Safety is a Human Right.

Dawson Creek Food Bank Society (formerly known as St. Mark’s Food Bank)

We are proud members, as we have been the only official registered food bank under both Food Banks BC and Food Banks Canada since 2012 (14 years).

Working toward full accreditation with Food Banks Canada meeting the National Standard of Excellence—targeted completion by 2026

What does this mean for our community?

· Accountability & trust: We meet Provincial and National standards for safe, ethical, and transparent food distribution.

·        Food safety first: Strong policies for food handling, storage, and client safety.

·        Consistent service: Reliable access to food support for individuals and families.

·        Community confidence: Recognition as Dawson Creek’s official food bank.

·        Continuous improvement: Ongoing work to meet and exceed National best practices.

St. Mark’s Food Bank has deep roots in the Dawson Creek community, beginning around 1986 as a modest “food cupboard.” Created to respond to weekend emergencies, it was established by local church members who noticed an increasing number of people in need—particularly when other services were unavailable.

By the late 1990s, calls for food assistance were becoming more frequent. In response, a more structured food bank began operating around 1998. With the support of dedicated community volunteers and financial contributions from local churches such as South Peace United, Grace Lutheran, Notre Dame, and St. Mark’s Anglican Church, the service steadily expanded.

What started as a small cupboard grew into a full-time food support program, offering groceries and emergency assistance multiple days a week. Over time, volunteers and donors have remained at the heart of the food bank’s operations, making regular donations of time, funds, and food.

While there was once consideration of merging with the local Salvation Army’s food services, it was ultimately decided that operating independently would allow both organizations to better address a wider range of community needs. Though our policies and approaches may differ, we share a common mission: to serve those facing food insecurity with compassion and respect.

At St. Mark’s Food Bank, we prioritize dignity and discretion. Our growth has largely been through word-of-mouth and trusted community relationships, rather than widespread promotion. We treat everyone who walks through our doors with care and kindness.

Today, we continue to serve Dawson Creek with the following:

·        Monthly food hampers tailored to household size

·        Flexible access for emergency food needs

·        Written records to help ensure fairness and consistency

·        Operate independently yet remain deeply connected to the community

In addition, our food bank includes a soup kitchen that provides hot meals to those in need. This service is supported by generous donations from local grocery stores, businesses, restaurants, farmers, schools, community members, and other organizations. The food bank also shares dry goods, meat, and produce with the soup kitchen and purchases essential supplies to keep the program running smoothly.

St. Mark’s Food Bank stands as a testament to what community can do when compassion leads. With continued support from volunteers, donors, and the people of Dawson Creek, we remain committed to ensuring no one in our community goes hungry.

This history is based in part on a letter written by A. Sones, Chair of the St. Mark’s Ecumenical Food Bank, dated October 20, 2005.

Dawson Creek Food Bank Society serves individuals of all ages, races, ethnicities, nationalities, citizenships, colours, religions, sexes (sexual orientations), income sources, and mental or physical abilities.

I could share countless stories of how we have impacted our clients, but one that

stands out is that of a mother with 5 children who came to us in tears, seeking

assistance. Her life had taken an unexpected turn, and she had no source of

income. Another memorable story is that of an elderly woman who was crying and

she felt ashamed when she approached us for help.

We urgently need a larger space to accommodate the continuous growth of our food bank. Our current location has stairs, which makes hauling food up and down difficult and physically demanding for our volunteers. Securing a new space with an accessible, single-floor layout is a priority. We share our food bank centre with the soup kitchen and dining area. Currently, our waiting room can only accommodate 15 people at a time, yet we serve up to 60 visitors in a single day. This overcrowding creates challenges for both our visitors and the handicapped, leading to the urgent need for a larger, more functional space. Once we have secured a suitable location, we plan to invest in essential equipment such as a floor scale and walk-in coolers and freezers to better store and manage our food supplies as well as a warehouse area.

Volunteers are essential for the smooth operation of our food bank, and we have a continuous need for their support. To better serve our community, we would like to extend our operating hours to accommodate individuals who need access to the food bank after 3 PM and possibly on Saturdays.

We rely on donations to sustain our efforts, as we procure all the items for our food hampers. Contributions help us provide essential food supplies to those in need.