Image via ThinkStock. The federal government estimates that in 2014 Canada welcomed over 240 000 permanent newcomers. Immigrants bring enrichment to our country in ways not limited to manpower, purchasing dollars, knowledge and skills, and cultural variety. For newcomers, their experiences can be as varied as the newcomers themselves. Some find a welcoming community with jobs, new relationships, and...
Geoff Zakaib presents some of the DataThon's findings during presentations held on May 31, 2015. Data for Good Calgary and Distress Centre Calgary teamed up over the May 29-31 weekend for a DataThon, organized by Data for Good. Over 50 data volunteers analyzed over 1.25 million records of Distress Centre’s calls, 211 contacts, chats and texts,...
Keeley Davidsen (left), ConnecTeen volunteer and winner of the 2015 YODA for Peer Support, with Jerilynn Daniels of RBC, the organization that sponsored the category. Keeley Davidsen's experience with ConnecTeen began when she was going through her own issues and used our ConnecTeen services. When a high school project provided her with the opportunity to promote ConnecTeen...
George and Donna Coutts have been happily married for 46 years since meeting on a blind date in Estevan, Saskatchewan. For most of their married life they have been globetrotting the world working and living in 13 countries over 35 years. They both hail from Saskatchewan, but only George is a Saskatchewan Roughrider fan! George and Donna...
Kindness Matters volunteers spread cheer as they hand out wellness packs. Photo courtesy of Kindness Matters. Once a year for the last three years, Suzana Rymak has hit the streets of Calgary with a group of volunteers to pass out what she has dubbed as “wellness packs.” The packs, 200 of which were given out this year alone,...
Robyn Romano (middle left) at our 2015 Calgary Hitmen game is support of ConnecTeen. When Robyn Romano, Contact Centre Supervisor at Distress Centre, thinks about what drove her to pursue social work, she recalls back to when her mother was in palliative care and she observed the home care nurses who cared for her. “I realized I...
Mental health is an important topic to local potter, Callie Beller Diesel. Growing up there was a lot of substance abuse and stress in her family. “It’s not always easy to find somebody that you can reach out to,” Callie says. “A lot of the time your family and friends may not be actually equipped to...
In October 2004, Lee Horbachewski was on the brink of taking her own life. She was suffering from post-partum depression after the birth of her second daughter and felt she could not go on. She sealed herself in her bedroom with bottles of prescription pills and, crying hysterically, began to open each one.* In a moment...
The Wild Elms were one of six bands that performed at the event. Hundreds came out to Dickens Pub on August 23 to attend Listen Up! Calgary and enjoy live, local music while supporting Distress Centre. All proceeds from ticket sales, the silent auction and a 50/50 raffle went directly to Distress Centre and totaled over $4000! The money...
Lynda, Basic Needs Coordinator at Distress Centre, has assisted Anne* in many ways, but says it's up to the clients to make change in their lives. Anne* called our 211 line in June, 2013 looking for housing assistance. She needed to find a place for herself and her young child to live by July 1, 2013 and...
