The Clubhouse Movement

​CLUBHOUSE INTERNATIONAL

CLUBHOUSE CANADA

The Clubhouse Movement started in 1948 by a group of people living with mental illness in New York City who engaged in a dynamic recovery model.

Social worker John Beard saw potential in a group of people living with mental illness and engaged them to help with the renovation of a building as a part of their recovery process. As the program developed, the work and needs continued to evolve. All the tasks became opportunities that provided the group with a sense of purpose and meaning in their everyday lives. This group became the first members of an entity which later became known as a Clubhouse.
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This new recovery model for mental illness enabled members to take charge of their own lives, help themselves by helping the Clubhouse, and join staff side-by-side to run the Clubhouse. The Clubhouse model has since become an internationally accredited psychosocial rehabilitation method. In this dynamic working relationship, members felt they were truly wanted, needed, and expected by their community.

To learn more, please visit the Clubhouse International website.
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Clubhouse Canada is dedicated to the recovery of people living with mental illness. We promote, assist and strengthen Clubhouse development across Canada, in accordance with the philosophy and standards of Clubhouse International.

Mandate:
To promote the Clubhouse International approach to recovery
To support the development of new Clubhouses
To support the enhancement of existing Clubhouses
To facilitate networking,  knowledge exchange, and promotion of best practices within the  Clubhouse Canada network

Vision:
To ensure Clubhouses across Canada are accessible to everyone living with mental illness so that they can achieve their potential and are respected co-workers, neighbours, and friends in their communities.

To learn more, please visit the Clubhouse Canada website. 

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Clubhouse Standards

Clubhouse Standards define the internationally accredited recovery model. The principles expressed in these standards are at the heart of the community’s success. They also act as a “bill of rights” to members and ensure that the Clubhouse is a place which offers respect and opportunities for everyone.
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Principles of the Standards include:
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• Membership: Ensures members their participation is fully voluntary and they can access all the opportunities available to them at Progress Place


• Space: Emphasizes the importance of creating a dignified and respectful environment


• Work-Ordered Day: Describes the structure of the day-to-day activities within Progress Place with members and Staff working side-by-side, organized to help members develop self-esteem, confidence and friendships, which make up the foundation of the recovery model


• Employment: Ensures that Progress Place offer members organized and effective strategies for moving into and maintaining meaningful employment


• Functions of the House: Addresses the basic requirements for meeting members’ needs, such as community support, housing, and social recreation


• Funding, Governance and Administration: Describes requirements for overseeing and managing the Clubhouse

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Please click here to download a PDF version of the Clubhouse Standards.

​With new Clubhouses appearing on virtually every continent, it became clear that the Clubhouse community needed a formal Clubhouse accreditation process, accredited Clubhouse Training Centres, and an international organization of Clubhouses to be responsible for managing it all. The International Center for Clubhouse Development (ICCD) was created in 1994 to meet these needs.
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Progress Place is proud to be one of 10 international Clubhouse Training Centres currently serving over 400 Clubhouses worldwide in 30 countries. The Clubhouse community is now 55,000 members strong, and continues to be a leader in the field of recovery from mental illness.

Interested In Clubhouse Training?

We're NOW BOOKING:

April 27 - May 9, 2025 
October 26 - November 8, 2025

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Please contact Dimitra Garbis at  (416) 323-0223 for more information.
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To download a PDF of the Clubhouse Training application, we require the following information.

*Required information