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Distress Centre Calgary sees spike in crisis contacts due to COVID-19

2020-05-06T13:02:21+00:00

CALGARY – Distress Centre Calgary is reporting a rising number of crisis contacts related to COVID-19, a caseload that is expected to continue growing over the coming months and even years as the pandemic, and its long-term effects, continue to impact Albertans. The Centre received its first COVID-19 related call on January 26, and as of April 28 received over 37,000 contacts on its 24 hour 211 and crisis lines, [...]

Distress Centre Calgary sees spike in crisis contacts due to COVID-192020-05-06T13:02:21+00:00

50 Stories Part 17: Celebrating the 20th Anniversary

2020-05-05T15:50:21+00:00

Read - 50 Stories Part 16 Happy Anniversary! Twenty years after its beginnings as the Drug Information Centre, Calgary Mayor Al Duerr proclaimed Distress Centre/Drug Centre week, March 18-24, 1990. Jeanette commented on various highlights over time. After 20 years, staff with higher qualifications were being hired, responding to much broader crises concerns, and offering [...]

50 Stories Part 17: Celebrating the 20th Anniversary2020-05-05T15:50:21+00:00

Q1 Update from our Executive Director, Jerilyn Dressler

2020-05-04T18:36:44+00:00

See this update as a video! This is not the quarterly update I planned on writing. When I thought of looking back on the first quarter of 2020, I wanted to tell you that our team had successfully moved 115 staff and 200+ volunteers from 1010 8th Avenue to 999 8th Street SW. I wanted [...]

Q1 Update from our Executive Director, Jerilyn Dressler2020-05-04T18:36:44+00:00

How does Distress Centre manage a fully remote contact centre?

2020-04-30T15:58:28+00:00

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 [...]

How does Distress Centre manage a fully remote contact centre?2020-04-30T15:58:28+00:00

50 Stories Part 16: More Than a Warm Heart: Counselling in the 80s

2020-04-28T17:36:40+00:00

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 [...]

50 Stories Part 16: More Than a Warm Heart: Counselling in the 80s2020-04-28T17:36:40+00:00

April 24 Update: Distress Centre’s response to the COVID-19 pandemic

2020-04-24T12:28:23+00:00

Our office remains closed but all of our services are still available by phone or online, including our crisis line, online chat, ConnecTeen, 211 and counselling services. We are continuing to put measures in place to ensure that continuous crisis and 211 support is available in the coming weeks and months so that we can [...]

April 24 Update: Distress Centre’s response to the COVID-19 pandemic2020-04-24T12:28:23+00:00

50 Stories Part Story 15: Taking care of business

2020-04-21T18:18:29+00:00

Image: Volunteer in a 1982 newspaper. Read - 50 Stories Part 14 During the 80s, The Board of Directors was able to move slowly towards more of a governance-only role. Funding and fundraising were the exceptions; that remained hands-on. As noted in the 1981 Annual Report: “Financial management for the coming year will be a [...]

50 Stories Part Story 15: Taking care of business2020-04-21T18:18:29+00:00

April 17 Update: Distress Centre’s response to the COVID-19 pandemic

2020-04-17T12:37:40+00:00

On March 17th, for the safety of our staff and volunteers, we closed our office. Within a week, we mobilized 80 staff to continue 24 hour support to our community remotely from home. Altogether, we mobilized 115 staff to work remotely from home.   All of our services are still available by phone or online, including our crisis line, online chat, ConnecTeen, 211 and [...]

April 17 Update: Distress Centre’s response to the COVID-19 pandemic2020-04-17T12:37:40+00:00

Distress Centre turns 50 TODAY!

2023-03-27T20:03:06+00:00

Distress Centre turns 50 TODAY! Happy birthday Distress Centre! We first opened our doors 50 years ago on April 14th, 1970. We’ve changed names and locations many times over the years, but our focus on listening and volunteerism remains the same. Watch the video below to experience 50 years of answering the [...]

Distress Centre turns 50 TODAY!2023-03-27T20:03:06+00:00

50 Stories Part 14: Lending an Ear in the 80s

2020-04-07T17:58:30+00:00

Image: This image of volunteers appeared in our 20 year anniversary publication in 1990. Read - 50 Stories Part 13 At the 1980 AGM, Jeanette McEachern was proud to say the Centre had a solid volunteer training program, a good funding base and an active and responsible volunteer group. She also remarked that “other centres [...]

50 Stories Part 14: Lending an Ear in the 80s2020-04-07T17:58:30+00:00

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24-Hour Crisis Line: 403.266.HELP (4357)
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In the spirit of respect, reciprocity and truth, Distress Centre Calgary would like to honour and acknowledge Moh’kinsstis, and the traditional Treaty 7 territory and oral practices of the Blackfoot confederacy: Siksika, Kainai, Piikani, as well as the Îyâxe Nakoda and Tsuut’ina nations. We acknowledge that this territory is home to the Métis Nation of Alberta, Region 3 within the historical Northwest Métis homeland. Finally, we acknowledge all Nations – Indigenous and non – who live, work and play on this land, and who honour and celebrate this territory.

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