Drenched in colour and resembling children’s building blocks, the building gives off similar vibes to the nearby Alberta Children’s Hospital.
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After two years of construction, Calgary-based Children’s Cottage Society (CCS) is set to cut the ribbon on its new $25.5-million headquarters — a centre that will provide a wide range of resources and services to children and families experiencing crises.
CEO Danielle Ladouceur acknowledged the last few years of construction have included some “ups and downs,” but that CCS staff are excited to finally unveil the 35,000-square-foot Child and Family Support Centre on April 3.
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“It’s taken a lot of time and a lot of community support to even get to the point where we could launch the project,” she said, calling the endeavor a “10-year labour of love” since CCS purchased the land 10 years ago.
Hurdles that impacted the project varied from economic downturns to the COVID-19 pandemic, as well as inflation and supply chain issues. Collectively, the various impacts inflated the building’s budget and led to a few months of delays, Ladouceur said.
“There were quite a few obstacles to surmount to get to this point,” she noted.
‘A fun, friendly place’
The centre is located in Montgomery at 1804 Home Road N.W.
Drenched in colour, the blue, green and yellow building with orange trim resembles a child’s building blocks, giving off a similar vibe to the nearby Alberta Children’s Hospital. Like the hospital, Ladouceur noted the Child and Family Support Centre’s exterior was designed to be welcoming and inviting.
She added that a lot of thought also went into the interior design, which features custom artwork on the walls, play rooms and a wide range of spaces to accommodate different programming.
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“From the onset, as soon as you see the building, it suggests that this is going to be a fun, friendly place,” she said.
“We’ve tried to create a place that would feel very non-threatening, very welcoming and would stand out and be easy to find.”
Facility will host multiple agencies
Among the programs CCS will provide at the centre is its most well known: the Crisis Nursery, which provides a haven for children eight years old and younger to receive short-term respite care while their parents or guardians undergo a crisis at home.
The Crisis Nursery was previously offered at a smaller facility in Bridgeland. Ladouceur noted the new centre will allow CCS to expand capacity by 20 additional children to access the resource.
Ladouceur said the Montgomery site will allow CCS to host all of its resources and programs under one roof, as the non-profit previously provided its services throughout the city. The agency’s website states the new centre will provide space for an additional 3,000 children and families each year
It will not only host CCS’ programs — which include parenting classes, support groups and parent-child programs — but other social services organizations that serve families and children under the Alberta Family Resources network.
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“We know raising a family is a very difficult job and these are increasingly hard times for families in Calgary,” Ladouceur said. “The centre is meant to be a place where all families that are facing challenges can come in and access information, services, referrals and support. We believe no family should have to struggle alone.”
Partner agencies include Miskanawah, CUPS Calgary Society, the Calgary Counselling Centre and Families Matter.
The centre will also house Calgary’s first safe abandonment site for parents in desperate situations to legally surrender their infant. Known as Hope’s Cradle, the anonymous and discreet drop-off site will be operated by Gems for Gems.
‘We’ll find a unique solution for families’
A grand opening ceremony will be held April 3, with a ribbon cutting just before noon, followed by a public open house.
The centre will officially be open to the public as of April 8, Ladouceur said, while Hope’s Cradle will be in operation as of April 15.
Funding for the facility was supported by $3.5 million in government grants, according to the CEO. The majority of the $20 million fundraised to date came through philanthropic and community support.
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