Respecting Diversity
Calgary is a global city. The Calgary Women’s Emergency Shelter serves women, children, youth and men of great cultural, physical and sexual diversity.
We have support for women and children with the following needs:
- Physical disabilities including wheelchair access - We have two rooms that are accessible to women and children with physical disabilities.
- English as a second language - Our staff members and volunteers speak over 14 different languages and have access to translators for dozens more. We have one staff person dedicated to reaching out to ethnically diverse communities and another staff person who specializes in Aboriginal cultural and community support.
- Managed mental illness* - Staff work with the mental health community to ensure our services are open to women struggling with mental illness whenever possible.
- Special dietary restrictions D - our kitchen staff regularly support women and children with special dietary needs. Our facilities are 100% pork free to honour religious traditions that don’t eat pork. The Shelter is peanut-free to accommodate clients with severe allergies.
We also support gay, lesbian, bisexual and transgendered individuals through our programs. Our Shelter program is open to any transgendered person who identifies as a woman.
If a client has any medical condition that is not properly managed and may cause harm to themselves or other clients while in our care, we work with local hospitals and medical professionals to safely address the needs of this client. For example, this may include additional support for a client who is needs immediate medical care, who has been using alcohol or who is not stabilized on medication.
