Kids at the Children’s Cottage Society are given the opportunity to not only create art, but create positive memories (Teresa Zell, CMRU.ca)
Sometimes when the unexpected happens, regular supports for parents can fall through. The Children’s Cottage Society steps in to fill that gap and make sure children stay safe, entertained, and well cared for when there’s an emergency.
Helping Calgarians since 1986
The Children’s Cottage Society was founded by Parents Anonymous in 1986, when they opened their first location in southwest Calgary. Since then, the organization has had a storied history, helping many communities across the city.
In 2024, the Children’s Cottage officially moved into a brand new building on Home Road in the community of Montgomery, marking a new chapter for the organization, and allowing them to expand their services to help even more families.
Reducing stress for kids and parents alike
One of the main programs the Children’s Cottage Society offers is their Crisis Nursery, which can provide emergency childcare for kids ranging from newborns to age nine. Kids can stay for up to three days of 24/7 care, giving parents and guardians a much-needed break during a family crisis.
The Crisis Nursery provides everything a child might need, including:
- Food cooked on-site by professionals
- Spare clothes, bedding, etc.
- 24/7 care by staff and volunteers
- Multiple playrooms, including a sensory room
- Diapers for kids who need them
Everything included in a child’s stay in the Crisis Nursery is free of charge, so parents don’t need to worry about any financial strain.
Not only is the Children’s Cottage a safe space for kids to stay, Lisa Congo (Director of Crisis Support Programs) describes it as “a little like Disneyland, here in Calgary for kids.” With multiple different playrooms, outdoor play space, a game room, and a wide variety of activities and toys, children in the care of the Crisis Nursery can find their stay fun, even during stressful times.
Who do these services help?
Anyone can use the services at the Children’s Cottage, whether it’s the Crisis Nursery, family mental health services, or any of the other services they offer.
According to Congo, bringing your kids to the Children’s Cottage is “a really smart and courageous choice for a parent who needs some extra support in a time of crisis, or just if their usual supports aren’t available to them. So there’s no judgment.”
Whether a parent or guardian is experiencing an unexpected illness, a marital dispute, or any other stressful life event, they’re welcome to bring their children to the Crisis Nursery for support. There’s space for up to twenty kids at a time, and priority is based on urgency and severity of need.
How to support the organization
Because the Children’s Cottage Society provides their services for free, donations and other forms of support are always appreciated.
Visit the organization’s “How You Can Help” page to find out more about fundraising, volunteering, wishlists, and more.
What I Learned
The opportunity to work with the Children’s Cottage Society was very rewarding for me; getting the chance to use my skills in videography, writing, and editing to help an organization close to my heart has been one of my favourite projects that I’ve ever worked on.
I learned a lot about the process of working with a client to execute a specific concept and vision, especially when the subject matter is something as important as the work that the Children’s Cottage Society does. There were moments when I had to adapt, such as the unpredictability of capturing b-roll when working with kids, but I found that those moments helped contribute to the organic feeling of the video I captured.
My hope is that my Community Partner will be able to use the content I have created, both the final video and any extra b-roll, to help promote the organization and bring awareness to the work they do. Since the video we created covers frequently asked questions about their Crisis Nursery, it’s something that could be shown to people who might be in need of those services.
If my work can help even one family going through a stressful situation, then I’d consider it a success.
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