"Bethesda" comes from John 5 in the Christian Bible:

Now there is in Jerusalem near the Sheep Gate a pool, which in Aramaic is called Bethesda and which is surrounded by five covered colonnades. Here a great number of disabled people used to lie - the blind, the lame, the paralyzed. One who was there had been an invalid for thirty-eight years. When Jesus saw him lying there and learned that he had been in this condition for a long time, he asked him, "Do you want to get well?" "Sir," the man replied, "I have no one to help me into the pool when the water is stirred. While I am trying to get in, someone else goes down ahead of me." Then Jesus said to him, "Get up! Pick up your mat and walk." At once the man was cured; he picked up his mat and walked.

In the manner that Jesus showed mercy and compassion, the founding parents of Bethesda wanted to embrace Jesus' act of kindness in helping individuals with disabilities and their families - this central theme continues to be a focus of workers at the agency. 

Primarily, Bethesda supports individuals who have developmental disabilities. 

Quick Facts

• 260 Individuals and Families receive support

• 3008 Members throughout British Columbia

• 12 Board Directors

• 354 Employees and 369 Volunteers provide support

Governance

Elected by the Membership, Bethesda's Board of 12 Directors govern the Association. Each Director serves for a 3 year period and can be re-elected for one more 3-year period. A Self Advocate also serves on the Board and is appointed by the Directors.

The Board meets regularly with its manager, the Executive Director, to review such information as necessary to ensure that the mission of Bethesda is being carried out throughout the agency. The Board is also involved in quality improvement initiatives, futures planning and highly values the input of individuals receiving services and their families.