In the early 70's, most Drug Information Centre callers were adolescent. By the early 80's, the Distress Centre/Drug Centre “found that teenage service users had all but faded out of the picture...
Distress Centre closed our doors on March 17th, but we continue to provide 24 hour phone and email crisis support, daily chat and text for youth support, and counselling to those in crisis. These services are provided by staff working remotely from home. As the impact of COVID-19 grows, call volumes to our crisis lines...
1980 marked the 10th anniversary of the Distress Centre/Drug Centre. At the Annual General Meeting, Chair Hilde Houlding was pleased to note that: [caption id="attachment_19667" align="alignleft" width="407"] From a 1980s newspaper.[/caption] “The month to month struggle is past, the new challenge is to maintain the vital, productive partnership of volunteers and professional staff that we have created....
CALGARY, Alta, March 16, 2020 – At Distress Centre Calgary, we’re closely monitoring the COVID-19 (novel coronavirus) situation and will continue to closely follow the guidance from the City of Calgary, Government of Alberta and the Government of Canada as the situation evolves. We have activated our Business Continuity Plan and have taken measure to ensure...
At Distress Centre Calgary, we’re closely monitoring the COVID-19 (novel coronavirus) situation. The risk to Albertans remains low at this time but we will continue to follow the guidance from the Government of Alberta as the situation evolves. The safety and wellbeing of our volunteers, staff and clients is our top priority and we are putting...
In 1979, Board Chair Hilde Houlding proclaimed the departure of Dr. Stew Clark as Executive Director and the hiring of Jeanette McEachern as the “end of a beginning.” Jeanette served as Executive Director for 18 years, and was variously described as passionate, fearless, formidable, and a legend in her own time. Katie Black, Teen Program...
Throughout the 70s, funding was an ongoing challenge. Ken Low noted that generally: “Funding is a problem for any pioneering endeavour, funders use a criteria and metrics for leading edge initiatives, to get supports.” The Drug Information Centre (DIC) was seen to be short on such formal metrics, on policy, and on the strict procedures...
From the first days of the Drug Information Centre, volunteers have been key to its success. Since most early volunteers did not have any formal training in counselling, it was not uncommon to run into difficulties. Emil Roessingh, both a volunteer and Volunteer Coordinator recalls: [caption id="attachment_19606" align="alignright" width="366"] A volunteer photo from the early '70s.[/caption] “There...
Image: From old to new! Executive Director Jerilyn Dressler in our emptied contact centre in the old building (left) and then in our new contact centre bustling with volunteers and staff serving the community. As of February 1st, 2020 our new address is: #500, 999 8th Street SW, Calgary, AB T2R 1J5 At noon on January 31st,...
We are excited to announce that we have been selected to be a part of Shaw Birdies for Kids presented by AltaLink (BFK). BFK is a fundraising program designed to give charities the opportunity to solicit donations and receive additional funding of up to 50%. Participating charities will receive 100% of every donation collected on...
