Ribbon cut on new Central Alberta Pregnancy Care Centre

“Too often our clients saw no other option than to terminate their pregnancies due to their overwhelming circumstances. Then we started asking, ‘What if we had a safe, stable place? Would that make a difference?’ The response was overwhelming,” she said.

Waddell said the wheels to make this happen went into motion four years ago when various stakeholder groups began community discussions.

“A major donor, Eagle Builders stepped up, embraced the vision and said ‘We’ll donate the first million dollars’. After that, we found this building and the land and we were able to purchase this building based on the equity of the house that we owned already where we ran our programs and services,” said Waddell. “Then the first phase was about two years ago where we developed the second floor of this building which provides four bedrooms with private bath, common living area, kitchen, living room and parent’s quarters.”

Waddell said the Central Alberta Pregnancy Care Centre is unique in Canada, as it is the only one that offers an all-in-one type facility.

“From options counselling to post-abortion to parenting to another program called Steps to Sexual Health that helps women with past sexual trauma or abuse, the needs go on and on,” added Waddell. “The community provides financially, the community volunteers, we have over 60 active volunteers and the community just owns it!”

Waddell pointed out they opened a centre in Olds three years ago, expanded into Sundre one-day a week and opened in Rocky Mountain House last January.

“The work will go on. We’re invited to go into Stettler, we’ve been requested by Drumheller to go there, we have some resources right now in Blackfalds one or two days a week,” she said.

Proceeds from the annual evening fundraiser will go towards the organization’s overall operating budget and the expansion of CAPCC programs and services throughout central Alberta. Waddell said they were hoping to raise $100,000 at Thursday night’s banquet.

“Aside from raising money, it’s an evening where we can say thank you to our donors,” explained Waddell. “They’ll get to hear from our clients and the impact of their donations and what that looks like, so it’s us hosting our friends, the people that have been supporting us for a long time and educating the community on the work that we do.”

Additional fundraising banquets will also be held in Rocky Mountain House November 30 and in Olds in March.

The overall capital project was $3.3 million, with about 70 per cent of that raised so far, according to Waddell.

“We’ve done quite well in a short period of time, so we trust that the community will continue to provide and we’ll do our part,” she said.

For more information on the Central Alberta Pregnancy Care Centre or to become a much-needed volunteer, visit www.pregnancycare.ca.

by Sheldon Spackman

Ribbon cut on new Central Alberta Pregnancy Care Centre

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