Ray-Cam Centre has adopted a Community Development Model using Community Capacity Building principles as the basis for organizational style and program delivery.

Capacity Building: the model of delivery we are using is based on community capacity building as defined by the Aspen Institute (1996).

“ People live in communities but the real importance of ‘living in a community’ is that people and groups of people develop the ways and means to care for each other, to nurture individual talents and leadership that enhances the quality of community life, and to tackle the problems that threaten the community and the opportunities which can help it.

When people do these things, communities become healthy; when they do not, communities deteriorate. Communities that have the ways and means to undertaken challenges demonstrate ‘capacity’. Without capacity, communities are merely collections of individuals acting without concern
for the common good; they are really not communities in any meaningful sense, but have given way to negative conditions like apathy, poverty, or ineptitude.”

Ray-Cam Centre’s started as a 9,500 sq. feet building. In 1987, Ray-Cam expanded and added 10,000 sq. feet. This expansion included a full size gymnasium, weightroom, dark room, games room, seniors lounge, increased office space and administration front counter. With this addition Ray-Cam was able to increase programs, resources and opportunities to a growing community.

In 2001, Ray-Cam added a 2nd floor to the building. This increased space of 5,000 sq. feet was the effort of a group of dedicated parents who came together because of their ongoing frustration of lack of affordable, available and accessible children for children living in the Downtown Eastside Strathcona area. The 2nd floor is designated childcare and family space which includes a licensed childcare room, secured patio, family room, kitchen facilities, office space and meeting rooms.

In 2002, Ray-Cam completed its final phase of renovations. Another 600 sq. feet has been added and renovations have occurred in the youth area with increase office space, separation of teen & pre-teen rooms and computer room.