Helping Albertans With Disabilities Since 1963

Goodwill Industries of Alberta History

1902

Goodwill was founded in 1902 in Boston by Rev. Edgar J. Helms, a Methodist minister and early social innovator. Helms collected used household goods and clothing in wealthier areas of the city, then trained and hired those who were poor to mend and repair the used goods. The goods were then resold or given to the people who repaired them. The system worked, and the Goodwill philosophy of “a hand up, not a handout” was born.

1950

Edmonton Physically Handicapped Association formed and registered as a nonprofit organization; its mandate: social visits and entertainment

1957

Board President Dr. R. Henderson introduced the donated goods concept and visited several USA Goodwills (first recorded contact with Goodwill Industries of America).

1961

Alberta Tartan designed and woven at the Centre; approved and adopted by the Alberta Legislature.

1963

First Goodwill Store opens in Edmonton.

1978

Edmonton Tartan designed, registered with Consumer & Corporate Affairs, Canada.

1983

Accredited by Commission on Accreditation of Rehabilitation Facilities (CARF) for the first time.

1991

Administration and Community Training Centre moved to 51 st. Avenue in Edmonton. Kensington and downtown stores successfully converted to Community Training Centres

1995

Power of Work” program scheduled to serve 150 in first 12-month period. Fifth consecutive CARF three year accreditation.

1996

Name change of Goodwill Rehabilitation Services of Alberta to Goodwill Industries of Alberta in June.

2001

Goodwill Industries of Alberta celebrates 50th Anniversary. Goodwill opened three stores in Calgary and launched the Training Centre in Grande Prairie.

2003

Goodwill opened 12 Goodwill Good Neighbour Centres or Attended Donation Centres. The results of these centres was not only an increase in donations but also jobs for 200 Albertans with disabilities and barriers to employment.

2007

Our agency was awarded the ninth consecutive three year CARF Accreditation.

2008

Persons served by Goodwill volunteered 15,290 hours to their communities. 14,800,000 pounds of household goods were diverted from landfill.

2017

Goodwill opens its first Impact Centre in Edmonton. The 100,000 sq. ft. facility is the first of its kind in Canada. It is home to an outlet store where everything is sold by the pound, a community engagement space, our Commercial Services division, furniture outlet, donation centre and, a warehouse and centralized recycling area.

2023

In 1963, the Edmonton Rehabilitation Society (ERS) officially adopted the name Goodwill at a Board of Directors meeting in October of that year.

2023 marks 60 years of Goodwill in Alberta.