On Wednesday, May 11th, we were pleased to unveil our new 2022-2025 Strategic Plan at our Annual General Meeting. The plan has been developed on the underlying themes of strengthening, adapting and transforming our people, programs and the broader system in which we operate for a stronger crisis and navigation hub that connects empowers people...
2021 was another challenging but exciting year for Distress Centre Calgary. Though we faced, and continue to contend with, the difficulties brought on by the COVID-19 pandemic, we also experienced growth, transformation and were able to celebrate some substantial achievements. As we move forward into a new year, we wanted to take a moment to reflect...
This is part two in our multi-part series exploring Distress Centre’s response to the COVID-19 pandemic, one year after we first activated our business continuity plan and went remote for the safety of our staff and volunteers. Read part one on the lead up to the pandemic and our crisis program response. This story looks at our...
Image: Our 2020 staff and volunteer photo, taken in December. Like the rest of the world, 2020 was one of the most challenging years we’ve had in our 50 year history. Thanks to the support and hard work of our staff, volunteers, partners, donors, and supporters, we got through 2020 and are poised to take on...
Image: Distress Centre counsellors in 2017. Read - 50 Stories Part 41 The professional qualifications for Distress Centre counsellors have increased over 50 years, as has the complexity and number of clients they see. Less than 300 sessions in 1970 became 1,650 in 2010 and 2,900 in 2019. The majority of referrals now come from an online...
Image: Counsellors at a team building event in 2000. Read - 50 Stories Part 33 Counsellors in the first half of the 2000s continued providing face-to- face meetings, referrals, volunteer training and volunteer supervision, practicum student guidance, as well as the administration of the Instrumental Needs Fund for families in financial crisis. Addressing changing needs Blair Collins, Counsellor responsible...
Read - 50 Stories Part 20 Client confidentiality has always been foundational to Distress Centre’s work. Occasionally callers or counselling clients choose to make their stories public, to increase awareness of the service, or help with fundraising. It seems important to include at least one client story, as clients represent the heart and purpose of the...
Read - 50 Stories Part 19 Counselling and public education continued to be a significant part of the Distress Centre/Drug Centre's (DC/DC) services. Fred Burns was Clinical Supervisor, and Suzanne Rosebrugh the Drug Counsellor. Along with five crisis counsellors they saw a variety of clients, usually within the week of them calling the crisis line. 1991 recorded 3900 hours of counselling offered, with 25% of a counsellor’s time spent in support of volunteers and 20% in public...
Image: Dakota Douglas, Crisis Team Lead, working remotely from home. As the severity of the COVID-19 pandemic became undeniable in March, the Distress Centre leadership team and Board had a decision to make. For the safety and health of our volunteers and staff, we decided to completely close our office on March 17th, 2020. Behind the scenes,...
Read - 50 Stories Part 15 Counselling continued to be a key aspect of the Distress Centre/Drug Centre services. At the 10th anniversary reception, Jeanette noted that there were 1000 counselling and referral calls coming in a month, along with 65 drop-ins. On-site counselling had increased 32% over 1979. The Centre was still the only agency...
