“What does it mean to be healthy? At The Alexandra Community Health Centre (The Alex), we believe that good health goes beyond just the physical – it’s the combination of managing what life sends our way, socioeconomic factors, and our sense of belonging to a community. Our mission, to improve quality of life through accessible and integrated health, housing, and social services, is highly focused on community well-being. This means supporting our neighbours through addiction or mental health challenges or working towards exiting poverty or homelessness. From the day we first opened, we’ve seen the whole picture of health. We’re proud of our 50-year history of providing integrated, accessible health and social supports to thousands of Calgary clients and look forward to uplifting our community in the years to come.”

It all began in 1972, when The Alex first opened in response to the growing need for local health supports. The centre, named after the Calgary organizations’ first home—a sandstone schoolhouse in the community of Ramsay—was granted charity status just a year later. Over the next five decades (and many moves within the city), The Alex expanded its health, housing, and social serving programs. The organisation’s portfolio now includes specialized clinics for youth and seniors, a mobile care fleet, and food and wellness programs, like the Community Food Centre – the first of its kind in Alberta. Through its lifetime, The Alex has developed a reputation of expertly tackling complex challenges that include poverty, trauma, financial and housing instability, food insecurity, and a need for social and community inclusion.

The total impact of this community health centre goes beyond its diverse offering of programs and services, with the organisation getting involved in finding solutions to complicated social challenges. The Assisted Self Isolation Site (ASIS), an innovative response to the question, “How do you self-isolate without a home?”, is just one example of this. ASIS gave people experiencing COVID-19 (or traced as a close contact of a positive COVID-19 case) a safe place to isolate, connecting them with supports and social services they may have not accessed otherwise. This pivot in a time where so much was unknown was not only necessary to protect the health and safety of many, it had an undeniable impact on the people it served. Of the 2,011 total ASIS clients, approximately 500 (25%) received housing because of their ASIS stay.

As a leader in the community and committed advocate for mental health, 2022 saw The Alex leading the Community Mobile Crisis Response (CMCR) pilot program. The program, in partnership with the City of Calgary, the Calgary Police Service and the Calgary Distress Centre, diverts 9-1-1 calls for mental health, substance use, basic needs, and housing instability away from law enforcement and other emergency services. Instead of EMS or police response, a multidisciplinary team of Alex staff and CMCR partners attend the call, giving people in non-medical crisis access to the services they need.

Keeping community at the heart of its work isn’t just important to The Alex and everyone who fulfils its mission – it’s fundamental. Although it’s changed and grown a lot over the last 50 years, one thing has remained constant at The Alex: its client and patient-centred approach. Visitors can expect to feel safe, welcome, and receive judgement-free treatment while they actively participate in their own care. They’ll work with a team of professionals from different disciplines to set and achieve their personal wellness goals and can depend on a range of Alex programs that support those goals.

 “We couldn’t do what we do alone. It’s only through working together that we can help people move from crisis to wellness and from challenge to change. Without the generosity and support of the Calgary community, our story wouldn’t be possible, and we’re grateful to work in a community that believes in this model of care and working towards a better future.”

At the 50^th year anniversary celebration last November, The Alex’s CEO, Joy Bowen-Eyre shared that The Alex’s portfolio now includes an impressive 22 clinics and programs. “Really the heart of what we do are the people that come to work for us. On behalf of our team at The Alex we are incredibly grateful and feel blessed that people choose to walk through these doors and trust us with their care”.

Congratulations to The Alex, on this milestone of 50 years of service to its clients, patients, and community! Your support of the Calgary community will continue to make a difference to the people whose lives you touch.