Minoush Rafie (above left), Coordinator of the West Central Community Resource Centre, says it takes time and trust for people to feel comfortable opening up, especially about mental health concerns. (Photo Courtesy: Leah Hennel, Calgary Herald) “If you don’t address the root of the problem, it will just Read more
Are you feeling blue? It’s common to feel low at this time of year, with around one in three Canadians experiencing the “winter blues.” Another 10 to 15 percent suffer from a mild form of seasonal affective disorder (SAD), a type of depression most common in the fall or winter. Read more
For over 12 years, Camp Chestermere has been welcoming youth from our Teaching Homes to their overnight summer camps, offering Closer to Home a steep discount for each child. Without this, we wouldn’t be able to give our kids this exciting and valuable experience, where they get to participate in Read more
For the past 10 years, Sonia Lopez has welcomed countless children into her home as a Foster Parent. The role came into her life at just the right time, because the following year her husband passed away. “Having kids around me during that difficult time helped me a lot,” Sonia Read more
Growing up on a farm with seven siblings and a large extended family, Agnes was brought up to pitch in and lend a helping hand to others. At the age of eight or nine, she got to join a 4-H club. “Maybe it all started there,” she says. “I find Read more
Since 1929, Scarboro United Church has prided itself on being an open-minded, diverse and caring community, welcoming people and families from all backgrounds, beliefs and values. They are an ‘Affirming Congregation,’ meaning they have adopted the affirming process to be inclusive of the LGBTQ2+ communities. They also pride themselves on Read more
As mental health continues to be an important and popular topic in the media and popular culture, the staff in our Viewpoints program hope to continue connecting with youth in Airdrie to facilitate discussions about self-care and developing positive behaviours that support mental health. Jodie Moffatt, Community Outreach Worker for Read more
Canada will be celebrating National Indigenous Peoples Day on June 21. In Calgary, a full week of events (known as Aboriginal Awareness Week) is scheduled leading up to this day to celebrate the distinct culture and heritage of Indigenous people. Closer to Home (CTH) is thrilled to be part of Read more
Growing up, Shahd was a shy young girl. “I kind of had this bubble I was always in,” she recalls. Then she came to Closer to Home (CTH)’s summer day camp program, Summer in the City. “I didn’t talk to anyone or participate in anything for the first few days,” Read more
When Brandy became a Teaching Parent for Closer to Home at the young age of 24, she had no idea what she was getting herself into. She had previously worked in community-based programs for adults with developmental disabilities, but the job of a Teaching Parent is quite unique. Brandy Read more
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