Wellspring Calgary Frequently Asked Questions

Wellspring Calgary membership is for the following individuals:

• Any adult who is newly diagnosed, in treatment, recovering from cancer, or coping with a cancer that may never go away.
• Any adult who is emotionally close to and acting in a caregiving role for an adult diagnosed with cancer. The person you are caring for does not need to be a Wellspring member in order for you to join.
• Any person under the age of 18 years who is emotionally close to an adult family member diagnosed with cancer may attend kid friendly programs. Check the individual program for age ranges.
• Most of our membership is comprised of individuals from Calgary or southern Alberta – from Red Deer to the Canadian border (for more information, visit our Southern Alberta page). However, we do accept members from outside of southern Alberta.
• Anyone can attend our public programs.

Processing grief is hard and we wish to extend our sincere sympathy for the loss of your loved one.

While Wellspring Calgary does not provide specific bereavement services, we can assist you in the following ways:

Wellspring Calgary Services

Current caregiving members:

• You can continue to access programs and services for up to one year following the death of your loved one.
• Book an appointment for a personal conversation with Cindy, Wellspring Calgary’s Transition Support Coach, who can provide a grief assessment and referral services. Call to request an appointment.

All individuals:

• If you find us following the passing of your loved one, you can access Wellspring Calgary’s public programs, including Time with Cindy. This program offers group opportunities for reflection on grief and loss and provides information on community-based programs and resources. Visit our website to register.
• Our Money Matters program can provide information and resources before and after bereavement (e.g., information on CPP benefits, funeral planning, wills and estates, community resources, form completion and more). Call to book an appointment.
• When our centres are open, you are invited to use the library at either location.

We also suggest seeking out external grief services

• Community Grief Counselling / Support:
  • Alberta Health Services Grief Support Program: 403.955.8011
  • Cancer Care Alberta Department of Psychosocial Services: 403.355.3207
  • Virtual Hospice
• Kids Grief and Bereavement Resources:
  • Hospice Calgary: 403.263.4525
    • Sage Centre
    • Children’s Grief Centre
  • Kids Grief
  • Bernies Buddies
• Other Counselling – Immediate Needs:
  • Distress Centre: 403.266.4357 (HELP) 24-hour assistance
  • Eastside Walk in Clinic: 403.299.9696 – Walk-in counselling
  • Calgary Counselling Centre: 403.265.4980

Because Wellspring works hard not to duplicate services provided by other organizations, we don’t provide membership to children with cancer. Instead, we recommend reaching out to Kids Cancer Care, who specializes in providing these programs and services.

That said, just as Kids Cancer Care is there to support your child living with cancer, Wellspring is here to support you as caregivers. As a caregiver, you may take as many Wellspring programs as you wish.

Please note that while we do have kid-friendly programs, they are primarily for children whose significant adult has cancer. We don’t have the expertise to support children living with cancer.

Wellspring Calgary has no set membership period, and encourages individuals to take our programs for as long as it’s needed through your cancer journey. However, recognizing that our programs and services are completely donor funded, and in an interest of ensuring those who need our programs are able to take them, here are some general guidelines:

• For those for whom cancer is no longer significantly impacting your life, or who are no longer caring for someone with cancer, we encourage you to consider becoming a volunteer or/and pursue broader community programs. In a volunteer role, your lived experience is invaluable, particularly to our newer members. To express your interest visit our Volunteer page and fill out a volunteer form.
• Caregivers can continue to be a member for up to one year following the death of their loved one.

Wellspring is a registered Canadian charity that receives no core government or agency funding. That means we rely solely on the generosity of the community and individual donors to ensure that we can offer our programs and services at no cost to our members – reducing any barriers to entry. Wellspring Calgary’s charitable business number is 809013675 RR0001.

To make a donation to Wellspring, visit: https://wellspringcalgary.ca/get-involved/