PSAM History

PSAM : History

A written History

The Pentecostal Sub-Arctic Mission received its start in 1949 when Rev. Ken Gaetz pioneered a mission work in Hay River. The construction of the Hay River Pentecostal Chapel in 1950 was the first Pentecostal church to be started in the Northwest Territories. The work began to take hold as Pastor Gaetz labored and in 1952 he was ready to help establish a mission outpost in Fort Resolution. In 1953 a small nursing station was established in Hay River, the first such medical service offered by the Sub-Arctic Mission. A mission outpost was started in Fort Simpson in 1956 at the same time a Dene mission was started in Hay River.

The financial structure of the mission came into effect in 1957 when the first hospital was opened having six active treatment beds. The hospital proved to be too small and in 1959 it was expanded to twelve beds. Fort Norman came on stream in 1959 and in 1962 a mission station was established in Fort Good Hope. The town of Hay River relocated as a flood devastated Vale Island in 1963. With the relocation of the town a new twenty-two bed hospital was built there in 1965.

The first Inuit mission was started in Coppermine in 1967. This work is located on Coronation Gulf which joins to the Arctic Ocean. 1968 marked the pioneering of a work in Fort Providence. Fort Smith started a mission work in 1972, and Pine Point joined the mission work in 1974.

Again the hospital was proving to be too small. Thus a modern fifty bed hospital was opened. The government of the Territories entered into a long term agreement with the Pentecostal Sub-Arctic Mission to operate this new facility. This necessitated the Pentecostal Sub-Arctic Mission becoming chartered under the Societies Act of the Northwest Territories. After thirty-two years of ministering in the North, Rev. Ken Gaetz resigned as Executive Director of the Mission. While he pioneered the work in Hay River he established other works in the North and set up the Pentecostal Sub-Arctic Mission.

The work of the Mission is still ongoing. In 1983 a mission office was built by adding on to the existing medical clinic. A full fledged Bible College was started in Fort Smith in 1985. The Sub-Arctic Leadership Training (S.A.L.T) provides training for those desiring to minister in Canada's North. The vision of the mission is ongoing as we seek to spread the gospel to all the North.

Time Line

1949 Founded by Reverend Ken Gaetz who arrived in Hay River.
1950 First Pentecostal Church was constructed in Hay River.
1952 a mission was established in Fort Resolution, and a self-supporting church was established in Yellowknife.
1953 a small nursing station, the first such medical services offered in the NWT, was established by the Pentecostal Sub-Arctic Mission.
1956 a mission station was begun in Fort Simpson, and a Dene mission was started in Hay River.
1957 Pentecostal Sub-Arctic Mission opened and operated the NWT's first hospital having six active treatment beds.
1958 mission station was started in Tulita (Fort Norman), and the first Sandy Creek Camp meeting was held.
1959 The hospital expands to twelve beds.
1962 mission station at Fort Good Hope was established.
1965 The Pentecostal Sub-Arctic Mission built a new twenty two bed hospital.
1967 Our first Inuit mission was established in Kugluktuk (Coppermine).
1972 A mission work in Fort Smith was started.
1974 The pine point church was established.
1976 A modern 50 bed hospital was opened in Hay River. It was run by the Pentecostal Sub- Arctic Mission.
1977 The Fort Providence mission, was reopened after it's initial opening in the sixty's.
1980 An autonomous Dene congregation was established in Hay River.

November. Ken Gaetz resigned as Executive Director of the Mission.
A mission office is built in Hay River.

1986 The Sub-Arctic Leadership Training College began its Bible School Program at Fort Smith.
A mission work was established at Holman Island.
1995 The operation of the hospital in Hay River was turned over to the GNWT and the headquarters for the Pentecostal Sub-Arctic Mission was moved to Fort Smith.