CISV Fredericton was founded in 1993.

In 1990, while preparing for a sabbatical year and a move to Toronto, Judy Coates discovered an old CISV Waterloo pamphlet. Having participated in a Rotary Exchange as a youth, Judy was keen to offer her children similar opportunities. She contacted CISV Toronto, and her son Tim became a delegate to a Village in Finley, Ohio. The experience left Tim more confident and globally minded, and the Coates family was impressed by CISV’s focus on peace education and leadership.

Interested in the possibility of bringing CISV to Fredericton, Judy attended CISV Canada’s National Board Meeting in Kitchener in the fall of 1991. She returned with an invitation for Fredericton to send a delegation to a Village in Biloxi, Mississippi in 1992. This meeting was pivotal, sparking the formation of a local steering committee dedicated to establishing a chapter.

“We were inspired by the maturity and global perspective of the young people we met,” Judy recalls. In January 1992, local volunteers, including Tim, helped introduce CISV to Fredericton families. By April 1993, the Fredericton chapter was officially founded with Judy Coates as Chair.

CISV Fredericton hosted its first Village in Oromocto in July 1996, and continued to build on that success and has since hosted several International Programs and sent over 900 delegates to programs around the world. Although the 2020 pandemic and related restrictions led to a decline in membership, a dedicated group of volunteers and youth kept our chapter active via online events. Since our transition back to in-person activities in 2022 our focus has been on rebuilding a strong and vibrant chapter. 

We remain committed to fostering cross-cultural understanding and leadership. Despite the challenges, the positive impact on youth and adults alike reaffirms the value of our work.