THE WESTSIDE STORY began in November, 1978 and continues to the present! ********************************************************************

The Academy opened with about 50 students. It was also in September, 1982 that the first church services commenced in the Westside building Bruce and Gwen Stratton gave leadership in the pioneering of that new congregation.It was in February, 1983 that the building housing the academy and the church was gutted by a fire lit by an arsonist. In view of the severity of the fire, considerable structural changes were made to the building. During the nine months of reconstruction, the congregation met in a rented school gymnasium, and the academy relocated to Pentecostal Tabernacle at 5^th and Ospika.

Church services started again in the reconstructed building when it was reopened in December, 1983. Academy classes returned to the Westside building in September, Bruce and Gwen Stratton came from Peterborough, Ontario after Bruce graduated from Eastern Pentecostal Bible College. Bruce came to serve in a pastoral internship in Prince George Pentecostal Tabernacle. This came about because of the relationship that had been developed between them and Arlo and Glenna Johnson while all of them lived in Peterborough, Ontario. After the internship was completed, Bruce and Gwen took on the oversight of developing a new congregation in the Westside building Bruce and Gwen concluded their pastoral work at Westside in the early summer of 1984. Marlo Johnson was given leadership responsibilities for the Westside congregation. Dale and Alberta Cummins commenced their school preparatory work in the spring of 1982 when Dale and Alberta, Glenna and Arlo went to Texas for training in the A.C.E. Program of Education.They moved to Prince George during that summer, and the academy opened in September, 1982. Dale concluded his work as principal of the Academy at the end of the 1985 school term. It was in the summer of 1984 that the Westside congregation became a separate entity from the congregation of Prince George Pentecostal Tabernacle. At the same time the Westside congregation accepted administrative and financial responsibility for the academy. During this time period, the Westside church changed its’ name to Westside Family Fellowship, and the academy became known as Westside Academy. Pastors Arlo and Marlo shared the joint leadership of the church and the academy.

Expansion and Additions

Westside Family Fellowship buildings have increased over the years from 1986 to 2010. In May, 1986 an adjoining lot of one and one-half acres was purchased to allow an 1800 square foot expansion on the west part of the original building.In 1987 another 800 square foot expansion was added to the previous addition. At the same time a double wide portable was moved to be joined to the south part of the original building.In 1991 the parking lot was paved. In 1993 a major addition was made across the front and east side of the building providing increased office space as well a large student locker area.Then in 2001 three portables were moved on to the east side of the property for school classrooms. In 2009/10, a two storey expansion added considerable classroom and storage space.

Marlene Beck commenced working as a volunteer at the academy in September, 1984. In September, 1985 she volunteered as a secretary for the academy and the church.Her volunteer position, along with her gifting and training in the secular work force, prepared her to come on staff as Church Secretary and Administrative Assistant. Marlene Beck is in her 23rd year in this position at Westside Family Fellowship. Her contribution over this period of time has been of great value to all of us in the church and the academy.In January, 2000 Shannon Dimler assumed responsibilities for the academy, and Marlene continues in her work for Westside Family Fellowship.

The leadership of Westside Family Fellowship and Westside Academy has not always been clearly defined. In 1991, Marlo became the principal of the academy, and Arlo assumed increased responsibilities for the church. In 1994 Danny and Donna Legault joined the staff of Westside Family Fellowship.In 1999 Robert and Sharon Tower joined the staff of Westside Academy to transition Westside Academy from an A.C.E. school to a Group One Independent School under the British Columbia Ministry of Education.

Marlo Johnson was inducted as the Senior Pastor of Westside Family Fellowship, in 2002, after his father, Arlo Johnson stepped down as senior pastor.It was at this time that Robert Tower was inducted as Principal of Westside Academy, and Danny Legault accepted an invitation to plant a new church congregation in Oneonta, New York. Arlo Johnson continues to base his ministry out of Westside Family Fellowship in Prince George. He serves among the eldership of this local church. He is the chairman of the Board of Emmaus Place Society which gives oversight to Emmaus House that provides supportive housing for senior men and women. He serves various churches throughout British Columbia as a pastor to pastors. He also leads an annual Missions Ministry to the nation of Sri Lanka. The major thrust of the Missions Ministry is to provide teaching conferences on a Trans-denominational basis for the pastors and leaders of the Body of Christ in rural regions of Sri Lanka.