Bob Wilkie, a native Calgarian, fell in love with playing hockey as soon as his dad introduced him to the game as a child. He grew up near outdoor rinks and was able to practice frequently. Soon he began to dream of playing for the NHL. In 1987, at age 18, he realized that dream when...
Dee Bardsley, a retired schoolteacher, began volunteering on our crisis lines in 2013. She still remembers one of her first high risk calls - from a struggling young man who was having thoughts of suicide. Dee had spoken with him for a few minutes when he revealed that he had always wanted to be a teacher. “I...
Karen Pickles first called Distress Centre’s crisis line six years ago. As a single mother of two children and caregiver to someone with severe mental health issues, she found herself calling DC often. “I’m sure that we would have called on a weekly basis for the first year,” Karen recalled. “There’s been so many times where...
“Distress Centre, Gwen speaking.” “Hello, my name is Mary*,” said a soft voice on the other end of the line. “I’m having a hard day.” “I’m sorry to hear that,” responded Gwen, a crisis line volunteer at Distress Centre. “Do you want to tell me about it?” Mary sighed. “I’ve had some pretty severe health problems. I don’t...
“Distress Centre, Omar speaking.” “Hello, my name is Adam*,” said the voice on the other end of the phone. Omar*, a crisis line volunteer in the Distress Centre contact centre, listened intently. “I just filed for bankruptcy and I am so relieved. I just wanted to call and say thank you.” “I’m happy to hear you’re relieved,”...
“Distress Centre, Mei speaking.” “I am worthless,” said a low voice on the other end of the line. “I’m sorry to hear you feel that way,” Mei*, a crisis line volunteer at Distress Centre, responded. “It sounds like you’re having a really hard time. Are you having any thoughts of suicide right now?” “Yes. It’s time to end...
“Thank you for contacting Distress Centre. This is Anne.” “I’m having a panic attack right now,” Dane* told Anne, an online services volunteer. “I’m sorry to hear that,” Anne responded. “Are you safe right now?” “Yes, I’ve had panic attacks before,” Dane said. “I just need to talk to someone for a bit to calm myself down. I’m...
In loving memory of Martha. "My grandma was so loving and caring. She always said to me ‘Do unto others as you would have them unto you’. She never got tired of helping people, and I do what I do to honour my grandmother and the God that she believed in." – Michael Michael Kirui was born...
In October 2004, Lee Horbachewski was without hope. She was suffering from untreated postpartum depression after the birth of her second daughter and was ready to take her life. She had a plan and the means to attempt suicide. In a moment of clarity, she pulled out the phone book and found the number for Distress...
In tribute to Carol Oliver. For Distress Centre, the development and on-going successes of the fund development team is essential to achieving our mission of providing compassionate, accessible crisis support that enhances the health, well-being and resiliency of individuals in distress, all at no cost to the individual. It is because of Distress Centre’s dedicated and...
