Image: Joan Roy speaking at our 2014 Lend An Ear Breakfast. The unfortunate passing of Executive Director Carol Oliver brought a period of leadership instability to Distress Centre, until the Board appointed 25-year staff member Joan Roy to the ED position in June 2013. Joan recalls the offer: [caption id="attachment_20871" align="alignleft" width="385"] Joan Roy in 2001.[/caption] “I moved...
Distress Centre continues to support Calgarians by providing 24 hour crisis and 211 phone support, daily chat and ConnecTeen text support. Counselling sessions are being conducted by phone and video. With new cases and restrictions increasing, you may find your stress level are increasing as well. If you need help, please reach out. Up-to-date information is...
Image: The 2018-2019 Board of Directors at our 2018 Annual General Meeting. Over the last decade Distress Centre’s Board has kept to its governance role, with a focus on strategic planning. They defined the organization’s primary role as crisis intervention, and with support from major funders FCSS and United Way, they advocated that Distress Centre’s crisis...
Image: On June 2, 2017, SORCe was honoured with a Community Justice Award from Alberta Justice and Solicitor General. The award recognizes excellence and innovation in community partnerships, in the areas of victims’ services, youth justice, restorative justice and other crime-prevention efforts. In 2013, Distress Centre returned to its 1970 street-level roots by offering a walk-in...
Image: Riverfront Avenue in Calgary after the 2013 flood. Photo by Ryan Quan. In 1970, the idea of a two-day concert with accompanying sex, drugs and rock and roll was considered enough of a pending disaster to cause the formation of the Drug Information Centre. In 2013, Calgary faced an actual disaster, with major flooding...
Some people know from early in their lives what they have passion for. The vast majority however, discover which areas interest them through experience and exploration. For Romit Panesar, a crisis line and leadership volunteer at Distress Centre, an unexpected introduction to mental illness is what drove him to find his passion in life. Romit spent...
Image: Distress Centre staff at the 2019 United Way Parade. Distress Centre has always depended on corporate, government and private funders in order to fulfill their mandate in the community. In 2019, for example, 40 organizations provided major funding to DC, many of them long-term partners. To list all those who contributed over 50 years would...
Image: Distress Centre counsellors in 2017. 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 web form which was created...
Distress Centre continues 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. At Distress Centre, we know how important self-care is, especially as we head into winter. See Jerilyn Dressler's Q3 update...
Image: Jerilyn Dressler (middle) accepting the City of Calgary Award for Community Advocate Organization in 2018. With Mayor Naheed Nenshi (left) and Ward 10 Councillor Ray Jones. Photo courtesy of the City of Calgary. At the start of 2010, no one could have predicted that Distress Centre would be delivering services off-site during a pandemic in...
