Archives Timeline
BC/Yukon Area 79 Archives Timeline
1941
The Beginnings
Preface from : THE BOTTLE BOOK: ALCOHOLICS ANONYMOUS comes to the BC/YUKON AREA It was a strange combination of events and people that brought Alcoholics Anonymous to British Columbia. First there was the expert in films and slides in Victoria who wrote the A.A. office in New York in 1941,..Read More
1942
DECEMBER 18, 1942 – OUR EARLIEST KNOWN CORRESPONDENCE
DECEMBER 18, 1942. LETTER FROM BILL M. IN VICTORIA, TO NEW YORK IS THE EARLIEST PIECE OF CORRESPONDENCE ON FILE IN THE ARCHIVES. ACCORDING TO THE DATE STAMP IT TOOK 12 DAYS TO REACH NEW YORK. THIS IS THE FIRST RECORD OF ACTIVE AA IN BC.
1944
THE CANDY MAN A NON ALCOHOLIC
The Candy Man was Charlie Welch a non alcoholic who’s life had been marked by tragedy. His wife a top notch candy maker on which they established their business was an alcoholic. Her fight against the illness had ended only with her death in the late 1930’s. From agonizing over..Read More
CHARLIE B. FIRST A.A. MEMBER IN BC/YUKON AREA 79
Charlie B. was a jobless salesman living in a skid row room in Vancouver. The Oxford Group had helped but the war made it difficult for him to continue to attend meetings. Charlie continued to drink and things seemed hopeless. In the summer of 1944 he received a visit from..Read More
FIRST A.A. GROUP IN BC/YUKON AREA 79
VANCOUVER CHAPTER 1 Held in the beautiful home of Charlie Welch 4 men were present at the first meeting after 6 months there were 41 members 9 months later – New Westminster had it’s first meeting 1 year later there were 1341 members The meeting moved from Charlie Welches home..Read More
CHARLIE W. IS RECOGNIZED
CHARLIE WELCH, A NON-ALCOHOLIC AND THE MAN WHO WAS MOST INSTRUMENTAL IN BRINGING AA TO VANCOUVER WAS NOMINATED AND ELECTED A LIFE MEMBER OF THE VANCOUVER CHAPTER IN THE CAPACITY OF HONORARY VICE-PRESIDENT. CHARLIE PAID FOR THE NEWSPAPER ADS IN THE EARLY YEARS UNTIL AA BECAME SELF-SUPPORTING.
FIRST CONTACT TO CHARLIE B.
NEW YORK WROTE CHARLIE B. A LETTER OF ENCOURAGEMENT AND SUPPORT IN RESPONSE TO HIS CORRESPONDENCE TO THE SACRAMENTO, CA GROUP REQUESTING PERSONAL HELP AND ASSISTANCE TO START A GROUP IN VANCOUVER. MEMBERSHIP AT THAT TIME WAS ESTIMATED TO BE 12,000.
A.A. ADVERTISEMENT PLACED IN THE VANCOUVER SUN AND PROVINCE 1944
WE REACH OUT
CORRESPONDENCE FROM EVERETT G. REQUESTING HELP. THE FIRST REPLY RECEIVED IN RESPONSE TO THE ADVERTISEMENT THAT HAD BEEN PUT IN THE VANCOUVER SUN & PROVINCE NEWSPAPERS. EVERETT WAS THE FIRST SECRETARY FOR THE LOWER MAINLAND CHAPTER OF AA.
ALCOHOLICS SEEK HELP DECEMBER 1944 – MARCH 1945
Many letters were received following the advertisement placed in the Vancouver Sun and Province. This was the beginning of Alcoholics Anonymous Chapter 1 in Vancouver