The Executive Director

(1975 – 2013, Retired)

For the past 37 years, The John Howard Society of Niagara has been fortunate to have Jim Wells as its Executive Director.  When Jim joined JHS Niagara in 1975, he embarked on what has become a tireless campaign to improve the surrounding community and the lives of its residents.

Jim has his Masters in Psychology, as well as a lifetime of professional and volunteer experience.  Prior to his work at The John Howard Society of Niagara, Jim worked with the Adult Rehabilitation Center, Family and Children’s Services and the Addictions Research Foundation.

In the beginning, JHS Niagara was a very small organization; consisting only of Jim, a secretary and an operating budget of approximately $35,000 a year.  To date, Jim has helped implement many successful programs run by the Society, such as Project Turning Around, Project REWIND, The Non-Residential Attendance Center and the Niagara SNAP for Schools program.  He also oversees the delivery of numerous community, bail and employment services.  And just as the Society has grown over the years, so has its local impact.  With Jim’s guidance, JHS Niagara has helped restore the Morning Star Mill, The Rodman Hall Gardens and The St. Catharines Rowing Club.

Today The John Howard Society of Niagara has over seventy employees with three locations throughout the Region and an annual operating budget of approximately $10 million dollars.  This is much to the credit of Jim Wells, who has certainly achieved his original goal of helping his community.