Ontario's first large-scale gambling facility opened May 14, 1994 in Windsor. At the same time gaming was spreading at a rapid rate throughout Canada and the world. Foreseeing social problems from this new commercial enterprise, the Rev. Bob Tschanz organized Iona College's first courses to train counsellors of victims of problem gambling. Upon retiring, the Rev. Tschanz left Iona College a rich heritage of involvement with gambling issues.
In December of 1997, under the leadership of the Rev. Dr. David Galston, the Iona College Problem Gambling Institute (ICGI) was founded. In founding the institute, Dr. Galston sought to continue the work of the Rev. Tschanz by promoting quality and consistency in the practices of accreditation. Dr. Rose van Es was appointed its first Director in the Spring of that year.
Under the leadership of Dr. van Es, the ICGI has grown to become one of the leading training centres in Canada. It has worked in partnership with the Canadian Council of Professional Certification, the Addictions Intervention Association, and the Michigan Council on Problem Gambling to achieve this status. The Institute has attracted students from Canada, the United States and many other countries.
The ICPGI has also taken its program to other countries. During April 2000 a special workshop was presented to the Ktunaxa/Kinbasket Tribal Council of Cranbrook, B.C. Several workshops on “Understanding and Managing Problem Gamblers” were also presented to the Police Department of Hong Kong.
In August 2005, Averil Spence-Clarke was appointed as the Program Director. In collaboration with Windsor Regional Hospital Problem Gambling Services and many other professionals in the field, it was decided that the scope of the programs warranted expansion to meet the growing and changing demands of the field. The restructured programs have started in October of 2006.
The mandate of the Iona College Problem Gambling Institute has always been to provide quality education to both the professional and the general public. Through its newly restructured programs, on-going seminars and conferences, the ICPGI continues to foster communication
between professional, academic, government and community organizations.
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