American Sign Language

In 1980, a group of concerned people met in the St. Albert Church in Oshawa to talk about the need for Deaf Services and a Sign Language course to be offered in the area. It was from this meeting that the seeds of Durham Deaf Services, then known as the Oshawa Deaf Centre (ODC), were sown. Fred Walker was co-founder and first Executive Director of the ODC, along with Iva (Arenburg) Lethbridge, the other co-founder of the ODC. They worked jointly in establishing the Sign Language course “Speak in Silence” at Durham College.

Many of those taking the course were parents of Deaf and Hard of hearing children. These parents began pressing for other services to be offered in Durham Region. It was in March of 1981 that ODC opened its door offering services from a tiny bachelor apartment on Fredrick Street, close to the Oshawa General Hospital. Due to the lack of space and residential zoning, the agency eventually changed locations.

By the time the ODC received its “incorporation” status in May 1982, they had moved “up” to share the main floor of a small house on Simcoe Street with two Doctors who occupied the south rooms. It was the friendship between the Oshawa Central Lions and the Oshawa Deaf Centre which made the location at 750 King Street East possible. Through various fundraising activities, this century-old home was donated by the Lions in 1984. Through the ODC, services previously unavailable in the Durham Region became available, such as counselling, technical devices, job placement, and the establishment of a summer camp in 1982 for Deaf and Hard of hearing children.

Founder Fred Walker was Executive Director from 1981-1986 as well in 1988 and Ray Richer was the Executive Director in 1987 and 1989.Betty McPhee was the Executive Director from 1990 until 1993 and in April 1990. David Kerr was Executive Director from 1994-1996. Armand Brennan was Executive Director from 1997- 1999.In 1991, Oshawa Deaf Centre created its first mission statement.In 1992, Oshawa Deaf Centre created its Statement of Values.In 1995 the Oshawa Deaf Centre (now Durham Deaf Services) revised their mission statement to include their new name.