Photo: Members of the DCC team at the United Way Kick-Off in September.

As we look back on 2024, we’re overwhelmed with gratitude for the people who make our work possible — our volunteers, staff, donors, and advocates. Together, we’ve made a significant impact. Here’s what we achieved this year. 

By the Numbers

In 2024, we responded to over 164,000 contacts across all our programs. This included: 

• 50,000 crisis calls, chats, and texts, including 2800 ConnecTeen contacts 
• 59,000 calls, texts, and chats to our 211 information and navigation service, including over 8400 contacts through our call-diversion work with Calgary Police Services and Calgary 911  
• 2,400 crisis counselling contacts  
• 18,700 interactions through our Coordinated Entry program 
• 13,200 calls and texts for the 9-8-8 Suicide Crisis Helpline  
• 19,700 contacts answered on behalf of partner agencies, like the Family Violence Info Line, and the Bullying Helpline 
• 320 individuals helped through the Basic Needs Fund 
• Please note that in most cases, these numbers have been rounded down to the nearest hundred  

We also raised over $1 million in donations to drive change and better serve those who rely on our services. Thank you for making this possible! Your support helps people like Alex*, who reached out to our 24-hour crisis line: 

“I kept calling because I realized I didn’t have to face my struggles alone. Distress Centre made a difference in my life when I needed it most. Overcoming my recent mental health battles is my life’s greatest achievement. I didn’t struggle in isolation because I had Distress Centre. This service is incredibly important—not just to me, but to our entire community.” 

*Alex’s name has been changed to protect their privacy.

Key Highlights from the Year

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Crisis Services

• Launched a new telephony system in our contact centre 
• Renewed our accreditation with the American Association of Suicidology  
• Celebrated one year of responding to 9-8-8 Suicide Crisis Helpline contacts 
• Two of our ConnecTeen volunteers, Laiba and Jasmine, were recognized with youth volunteer awards 
• Trained 141 new volunteers to respond to crisis calls, chats, and texts  
• Two of our Contact Centre Coordinators celebrated their 15^th anniversary at Distress Centre. Thank you for your dedication, Crystal and Lisa! 

211 Information and Navigation Services

• In February, we reached the milestone of responding to 10,000 calls since 2022 through our 911/211 call diversion partnership. In 2024 alone, we responded to over 8400 calls. This work was recognized with a Police Chiefs Team Citation Award  
• Launched a new partnership with Rockyview County to increase access of information during disaster response  
• Travelled to Jasper to support the community after the Jasper wildfires  
• Renewed our accreditation with Inform USA  
• Introduced the Rural 211 Alberta Community Engagement Program, deploying Community Engagement and Resource Specialist to improve access to local services in four rural communities 

Crisis Counselling

• Our small but mighty counselling team continued their important work of supporting individuals, families, and couples through free, short-term counselling sessions  
• David Kirby, Clinical Services Manager, celebrated with 20^th anniversary of working at DCC 

Coordinated Entry

• A Tax and Benefits Specialist joined the team, enhancing financial empowerment services to better support individuals and families in achieving financial stability. In the first six months since the Specialist joined the team, program participants received over $653,000 in taxes in benefits  
• Collaborated with CHF, a community research advisory group, and a consulting team to advance the development of a new Coordinated Entry Tool (CET), coordinated piloting towards enhancing the coordination for entry to CAA with a focus on trauma-informed practices 
• DCC partnered with the newly launched Navigation Centre to introduce an on-site Housing Strategist, offering direct, person-centered housing support
• Welcomed the Encampment Team and Gateway as partners at SORCe to strengthen community collaboration 
• Launched the Justice Navigation Program to address justice-related needs, by integrating program support services and coordination with Community Court 
• Continued our Coordinated Entry Training program to support the community of housing strategists, fostering professional growth and system improvements

Community Information Exchange

• In late 2024, the technology platform for the Community Information Exchange was selected and secured (stay tuned for more information on that!) 

Agency Wide

• Our CEO, Robyn Romano, celebrated her 15^th anniversary at Distress Centre 
• Sarah Wilson Cook, DCC Board Member, won the Hazel Gillespie Community Investment Leadership Award from the Association of Fundraising Professionals 
• Hired a Manger of Data and Outcomes so we can better use and optimize our data and measure our impact  
• Hired a Diversity, Equity, Inclusion, and Accessibility Lead so can invest into the strategic commitment of our inclusion work  
• Established partnership with the University of Calgary Faculty of Social Work to establish the DCC Knowledge Hub  
• Kicked off the planning process for our next strategic plan  
• Attended and presented at two conferences to learn and collaborate as well as share our own knowledge 

Fund Development

• Raised over 1 million dollars to support our operations 
• Held the 2^nd annual Drive for Distress Charity Golf Tournament and raised $90,000 for our services  
• Celebrated the ten year anniversary two community events: Listen Up Calgary and Darkness Into Light 

DCC Training

• We provided training to 298 people to help them develop skills and discover tools for empowering mental health conversations  

The Power of Connection

Connection builds strong communities and the ability to tackle big problems.  Connection lies at the heart of our shared human experience — it is the foundation of resilient communities, thriving relationships, and maximized potential.  

In a world that is becoming more fractured and divided, it is no coincidence that it is becoming increasingly difficult to meet even the most basic human needs. By centreing everything we do on connection, we are building a more just and interconnected world, where the strength of our collective bonds moves us towards a more equitable society.    

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