Our Mission

Our Mandate:

The Association acts as a consumer-advocate group on behalf of the Deaf community. GVAD has gone to governments, private agencies and businesses whenever important issues relating to Deaf people have come up.

Our Mission:

• To promote all matters of welfare of the deaf;

• To foster the social, cultural, educational, and recreational activities of the deaf;

• To affiliate and serve with provincial, regional and national organizations of the deaf and hard of hearing;

• Create better access to facilities/services that are taken for granted by persons with normal hearing; and

• To ensure that the activities of the society always be intended to contribute positively to the Greater Vancouver area or to any other district within the society’s areas of operation.

About GREATER VANCOUVER ASSOCIATION OF THE DEAF

The Greater Vancouver Association of the Deaf (GVAD) is an organization of the Deaf, hard-of-hearing, Deaf-Blind, parents of deaf children, hearing people and friends. Everyone is welcome to apply for membership. There are many categories of membership, which cover different age groups and types of supporting roles.

Founded in 1926 as the Vancouver Association for the Deaf Adults (VADA), GVAD is the oldest advocacy organization for people with disabilities in British Columbia. Through the years, the association has had a number of name changes and locations within the city of Vancouver. It was finally incorporated under the BC Societies Act as the Greater Vancouver Association of the Deaf in 1980. It is currently located in the Kitsilano area of Vancouver and continues to pursue its goals and objectives: serving the Deaf community members in the Greater Vancouver region.

For questions, please contact GVAD office at gvadoffice@gmail.com