Michelle and her husband Peter Rowbotham at our 2015 Christmas Party. When Michelle Wickerson came in to interview for a position at Distress Centre (DC), what would be her first job in the social work field after completing her bachelor’s degree at the University of Calgary in 2002, her interviewer, Joan Roy, had already filled the...
Gulya Taubaldieva, Fitore Bajraktari and Sarah Xu, all CIWA grads and now DCC staff, with crisis counsellor Edwin Morales (back) helping out at our Lend An Ear Breakfast on September 22, 2016. Every year thousands of newcomers to Canada settle in Calgary. In 2014 we welcomed over 19,000 permanent residents to our city, and by 2020 Calgary’s total...
The Stigma, can you outrun him? Outrun the Stigma was formed at the University of Calgary when Co-Founders Leah Shipton and Amy Li, leaders of the Distress Centre on Campus Club, noticed a gap in the running culture for runs that raise awareness for mental health. In October 2013, the DC on Campus Club, together with the...
What a great way to start the day! On the morning of September 22, 2016, our guest speaker, comedian Big Daddy Tazz, had people laughing so hard they had tears in their eyes. Through his personal struggles with bi-polar disorder, dyslexia and ADHD, Big Daddy has become a master at telling stories that emphasize the...
September 10th is World Suicide Prevention Day. Distress Centre wants to encourage anyone experiencing suicidal thoughts or struggling with their mental health in any way, to reach out for help. Right now, Calgarians and Albertans are struggling. According to the Labour Force Survey, 43,000 jobs in the oil and gas sector were lost in Alberta from December...
As Calgary comes together to celebrate our LGBTQ+ community this week through a variety of events, leading up to the Calgary Pride Parade and Pride in the Park, those of us who do not identify as LGBTQ+ or as a marginalized group can take this time to reflect on how we can be a better ally to...
Unfortunately, news of tragedy is not an uncommon occurrence in our lives. And when they occur, as we all struggle to understand how horrific events can happen, parents are faced with an added challenge: answering tough questions from their kids about what happened. We’ve compiled some tips on how to handle this difficult conversation. 1. Tell your...
Since November 2015, over 27,000 Syrian refugees have arrived in Canada. 1,400 of those refugees have settled in Calgary. Welcoming refugees and newcomers isn’t new for our city. According to the City of Calgary, we welcome an average of 1100 refugees per year from around the world and in 2014 we welcomed over 19,000 immigrants and newcomers to our...
Thousands of Fort McMurray evacuees have made their way to Calgary to escape the devastating fires in the Fort McMurray/Wood Buffalo region. Upon arrival, they have a lot of questions around shelter, food and transportation. How do they get clothing for their kids? Where can they get financial assistance? Our 211 Information & Referral Specialists have been...
At the unthinkable hour of 5am on May 9, 2015, 200 people huddled together shivering in the crisp, early morning air, each wearing a bright yellow t-shirt with “Darkness Into Light” emblazoned across the front. The blackness of night was still upon them as the signal was given for the event to start and the...
