Guest post: Roxanne Cote, Resource Development Manager at Distress Centre (DC), started at DC in 2008. She planned and executed the first Lend An Ear in 2011 (then under a different name) and has led the planning and execution every year since. Image: Roxanne Cote (right) with keynote speaker Tom Jackson at Lend An Ear 2015....
Since we can’t gather in person for Lend An Ear’s 10th Anniversary, we’re spending the month celebrating 10 years of Lend An Ear by remembering the laughter, tears and inspirational moments we’ve experienced since 2011. We’ll be sharing stories, videos and other content to lendanearyyc.com all month long, but things will really start rolling on September...
In the sixth month of our COVID-19 response, we continue to support Calgarians by providing 24/7 crisis and 211 phone support, daily chat and ConnecTeen text support. Counselling sessions are being conducted by phone and video. If you need help, please reach out. Since our last update, we experienced an unmanageable increase in contacts from people...
See this update as a video! Hello and good day everyone! I hope you are able to take some time to enjoy the summer weather, despite not being able to venture too far from home this year due to the COVID-19 pandemic. As we move into the fifth month of the pandemic, I want to encourage...
As the COVID-19 pandemic first unfolded, we remained hopeful that we would still be able to celebrate our 10th Anniversary of Lend An Ear on September 23rd, as well as our 50th Anniversary on May 13th. Unfortunately, COVID-19 restrictions have forced us to cancel both events. We are hoping to officially celebrate our 50th Anniversary sometime...
Image: Created from the graphic used in Annual Reports to report on the Men's Line. As the Board and management were looking to broaden services in the early 1990s, clients experiencing potential and actual family violence were requesting counselling in increasing numbers. In 1997, a proposal for a Men’s Domestic Crisis Line was put forward by...
In Week 25 of our COVID-19 response, we continue to support Calgarians by providing 24/7 crisis and 211 phone support, daily chat and ConnecTeen text support. Counselling sessions are being conducted by phone and video. If you need help, please reach out. We’re proud that we’ve been able to support Calgarians through such a difficult time....
The Shaw Charity Classic has unfortunately been cancelled this year, but Shaw is committed to continuing the tournament’s legacy of giving. They have generously launched a text-to-donate matching campaign - Chip in for Kids! Chip in for Kids today by texting KIDS084 to 30333 and help us support teens in distress through our ConnecTeen program. Shaw...
Image: Teen Line volunteers in 1996. The Teen Line was still going strong in 1990/91 with a new 264-TEEN phone number and almost 5000 calls being answered by 28 volunteers (average age 18.5). Public education delivered by staff and volunteers included youth and parent presentations, as well as school and mall displays. Krista Moroz, former Teen Line...
Image: From a newspaper in the early '90s. A second major focus for Distress Centre/Drug Centre leadership in the '90s came from both the Board and funders. In order to maximize the use of resources and eliminate duplication of services, collaboration between social support agencies in servicing clients needed to be demonstrated in order to receive...
