Six years after Focus on the Family began in the U.S., Focus on the Family Canada opened in a one-room office in Vancouver, BC, eventually growing as an independent partner in one of the largest family ministries in the world.
Controversy
Focus on the Family Canada has established the Institute of Marriage and Family Canada/Institut du Mariage et de la Famille Canada (IMFC) which has intervened in family law court cases. In H v. M (1999) the organization unsuccessfully supported denying same-sex couples the right to apply for alimony from one another.[1] In 2004 it was successful in the precedent setting case of Canadian Foundation for Children, Youth and the Law v. Canada (Attorney General),[2] in which the Supreme Court of Canada upheld the legality of child spanking in Canada.
Organization
Current president is Jean-Paul Beran (2021-present). Former presidents of the organization include: Geoff Still (1986-1995), Bruce Gordon (1995–1998), one time Deputy Chief of Staff to PM Harper, Darrel Reid (1998–2004),[3] Terence Rolston (2004–2021).[4]