Gamma Beta Lambda Fraternity, also commonly known as Gammahouse, is a men's fraternal organization founded on October 2, 1963. It is an autonomous, non-IFC/NIC fraternity that operates on a regional-local rather than college-local operational plan. Gamma Beta Lambda operates in Vancouver

Vancouver

Vancouver is a coastal seaport city on the mainland of British Columbia, Canada. It is the hub of Greater Vancouver, which, with over 2.3 million residents, is the third most populous metropolitan area in the country,...

, British Columbia

British Columbia

British Columbia is the westernmost of Canada's provinces and is known for its natural beauty, as reflected in its Latin motto, Splendor sine occasu . Its name was chosen by Queen Victoria in 1858...

, Canada

Canada

Canada is a North American country consisting of ten provinces and three territories. Located in the northern part of the continent, it extends from the Atlantic Ocean in the east to the Pacific Ocean in the west, and northward into the Arctic Ocean...

.

Founding philosophy

Gamma Beta Lambda tradition began as a ‘secret’ society of postgraduate college and university men. Its founding philosophy was simple: To provide a secure and supportive network environment to a group of honorable gentlemen.

Originally a blending of ideals from its Aboriginal

Aboriginal peoples in Canada

Aboriginal peoples in Canada comprise the First Nations, Inuit and Métis. The descriptors "Indian" and "Eskimo" have fallen into disuse in Canada and are commonly considered pejorative....

 and European-Canadian founders, Gamma Beta Lambda promoted a "Fraternity with a difference" philosophy right from the start. Gammahouse's Founders relied little on the traditional college fraternity model, and instead focused on the needs of "warrior scholars" in a "real world" environment.

Backgrounds

Gamma Beta Lambda seeks men from a variety of cultural, spiritual

Spirituality

Spirituality can refer to an ultimate or an alleged immaterial reality; an inner path enabling a person to discover the essence of his/her being; or the “deepest values and meanings by which people live.” Spiritual practices, including meditation, prayer and contemplation, are intended to develop...

 and academic backgrounds. The fraternity has never discriminated against potential brothers based on race, religion

Religion

Religion is a collection of cultural systems, belief systems, and worldviews that establishes symbols that relate humanity to spirituality and, sometimes, to moral values. Many religions have narratives, symbols, traditions and sacred histories that are intended to give meaning to life or to...

, culture or sexual preferences.
Gammahouse considers men of all ages and walks of life -- including non-traditional, part time and even non college men.
Gamma Beta Lambda does not focus on any particular philanthropy, preferring to serve its own membership.

Present day

By the 1970s, Gamma Beta Lambda had shed much of its secret society image, but it was not until the end of the 20th Century that members began to be recruited from several Vancouver college campuses. However, Gammahouse remains primarily an "off campus" fraternity.

Gammahouse Facts

• Fraternity Type: Men's Social Fraternity
• Founded: October 2, 1963
• Organization: Regional-Local
• Headquarters: Vancouver, BC, Canada
• Motto: "Semper Vigilans"
• colors: Black & Gold
• Symbol: Grizzly Bear Skull and Crossed Hammers
• Flower: Black Rose