1986

• July 22, 1986 - Founded by a small group of parents, NACL was formed under the Society Act of British Columbia.

• Fall 1986 - NACL's first program, Lakeside Development Centre (later renamed Options Day Program) began in September; Access Day Program started a short time later.

• Late 1986 - Options and Access Day Programs moved to 3057 Barons Road.

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1988 - 2002

• 1988 - NACL's first two residential programs, Hammond Bay Home and Jingle Pot Home, were launched.

• Early 1989 - NACL constructed Metral Drive Home.

• August 1989 - Horizons Day Program was launched.

• 1990 - Four new programs were launched:  North Island Adult Support (NIAS) Program, Kennedy Home, Departure Bay Home (which eventually moved to Portsmouth Road Home), and Morningside Home.

• 1999 to 2002 - NACL operated the 2-bed respite service known as Shoreline Drive Home.

• Early 2000 - Additional bedroom was added to Kennedy Home to provide respite services.

• November 2000 - Board launched major building project to house NACL's day programs and administrative services.

• July 2, 2001 - NACL moved into its new space at 26 Commercial Street.

• April 2002 - Access, Options, and Horizons Day Programs were merged into one - called Actions Day Program.

 

2003 - 2005

• 2003 - Metral Drive Home was proposed to be closed, but instead remained open under the name Turner Connection Home.

• 2005 - NACL's property at 26 Commercial Street was expropriated by the City of Nanaimo for its new conference center.

• June 2005 - NACL received its first 3-year accreditation from the Commission on Accreditation of Rehabilitation Facilities (CARF).

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2006 - 2008

• February 1, 2006 - NACL's administration services and Actions Day Program moved to 83 Victoria Crescent/96 Cavan Street.

• July 22, 2006 - NACL celebrated 20 years of service, amidst major renovations at 83 Victoria Crescent/96 Cavan Street.

• January 2007 - NACL purchased Caspers Way Home, where service had commenced the month before.

• Spring 2008 - NACL's employment initiatives program, NACLWorks! (now NACL Employment Services), was launched.

• June 2008 - NACL received its second 3-year accreditation from CARF.

• Late 2008 - NACL's Snoezelen Room, one of the first permanent multi-sensory environments of its kind on Vancouver Island, was launched.

• December 2008 - NACL acquired the use of McCauley Drive Home.

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2010 - 2015

• April 2010 - Morningside Home closed, with all residents moving to other NACL programs.

• Spring 2010 - NACL's new Home Sharing Program was launched.

• June 2011 - NACL received its third 3-year accreditation from CARF.

• July 22, 2011 - NACL celebrated 25 years of service.

• January 2012 - Acquired property on Uplands Drive for future housing development.

• October 2012 - Actions Expansion (Life Long Learning) Program was launched.

• June 2014 - NACL received its fourth 3-year accreditation from CARF.

• Fall 2015 - Launched ongoing fundraising campaign through Value Village/Inclusion BC.

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2016 - 2020

• Spring/Summer 2016 - Introduced two pilot project contracts with the Ministry of Children and Family Development (MCFD) for children's services.

• July 22, 2016 - NACL proudly celebrated 30 years of service.

• Fall 2016 - Acquired property at 2278 Maxey Road in Nanaimo as a future replacement for Hammond Bay Home.

• December 2016 - Completed construction of a 2-suite carriage house on the Jingle Pot property, with first resident moved in.

• June 12-14, 2017 - NACL completed its fifth CARF accreditation survey.

• July 2017 - NACL received its fifth 3-year accreditation from CARF.

• September 2017 - Acquired Hecate Street Home (rental property) for a youth in service.

• September 2017 - Renovations completed and persons served moved into Maxey Road Home.

• November 2018 - Purchased a duplex on Hammond Bay Road, which was used to expand into new opportunities in mid-2019 (one side being Nottingham Home, the other Sherwood Home).

• July 2019 - Hosted a formal groundbreaking ceremony for the Uplands Drive Housing Project.

• November 2019 - Formalized the purchase of the property next door to our Uplands Drive Housing Project, enabling further future capacity.

• January 2020 - NACL received our first WorkSafeBC Certificate of Recognition (CoR) for our health and safety-related protocols/initiatives/culture.  

• May 2020 - Acquired the use of Westwood Lake Home for children's services.

• October 2020 - Uplands Drive Housing Project opened and all tenants moved in.

• December 2-4, 2020 - NACL completed its sixth CARF accreditation survey - its first virtual one.

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2021 - Present

• January 2021 - NACL received its sixth 3-year accreditation from CARF.

• January 2021 - NACL received its second WorkSafeBC Certificate of Recognition (CoR) for our health and safety-related protocols/initiatives/culture.

• July 22, 2021 - NACL proudly celebrated 35 years of service.

• December 15, 2021 - In partnership Ballenas Housing Society (formerly Nanaimo Affordable Housing Society), NACL commenced outreach services for several apartments in the Nanaimo region.

• April 2023 - With CLBC's support, acquired property in Coombs for specific outreach services.

• June 7-9, 2023 - NACL completed its seventh CARF accreditation survey - its second virtual one.

• July 2023 - Outreach services with Ballenas Housing Society further expanded into Parksville.

• July 2023 - NACL received its seventh 3-year accreditation from CARF.

• August 2023 - Acquired a 52-acre farm in South Wellington to further advance housing, employment, educational, community inclusion, and self-sustainability opportunities. 

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Along with continuing to provide quality service in its existing programs, NACL looks forward to pursuing innovative, exciting opportunities in the future that reflect the wants and needs of people with diversabilities in our community.