Social Supports

Here to Empower You, Here to Support You

At any time, as you review the resources listed here and the links provided, if you feel you would like to explore your options in confidentiality with the MD of Bighorn's Community Services to assistance you in helping you find what is right for you, please feel free to contact the MD of Bighorn's Community Services Coordinator at: doug.saul@mdbighorn.ca

Through the MD of Bighorn's Community Services, or with many of the resources listed below, you will find someone to listen to you in confidentiality, to validate your questions and concerns, and to find the resources that you decide are right for you. You are not alone in looking for support, and there are people who are dedicated, caring, confidential and ready to assist you.

Scroll down to find the following support topics:

  • Crisis support
  • Family & Community Support Services (FCSS) in Cochrane and Canmore
  • Various supports, including emotional, mental, physical, sexual health, social, financial, housing, food and addictions resources
  • Employment support
  • Support for those experiencing family violence or intimate partner violence
  • Volunteer opportunities

Crisis Support for All Ages, All People

When challenges are overwhelming, there is support, there are people ready to listen, there are positive options for you. If you are in a life-threatening crisis, call 911 right away.

Need Help Now: If you are a child, youth or an adult and have been caught in a "sextortion" situation, where a person demands money or other things in exchange for removing one's sexual images, there is help now for you. If you are worried a nude image of you under the age of 18 is being shared online, Need Help Now is here to help. There are steps you can take to regain control, and people to support you. You don't have to deal with this by yourself. You are not alone. Note: the Need Help Now website has a Leave Site Quickly link option on its main page. Need Help Now

The Alberta Government provides support for those experiencing violence, abuse, financial or housing crises, and addictions: Alberta Crisis Supports

The Distress Centre (Alberta) is confidential and available 24/7 for children, teens, youth, adults and seniors by phone, text or chat: Distress Centre

The Primary Care Network of the Bow Valley provides contacts for many mental health crisis supports.

The 211 Alberta website has a complete listing of health and crisis support services, with a home topic page from which to choose the support that is right for you, right now.

Assistance found through Family & Community Support Services (FCSS), Cochrane and Canmore

Note: Resources for seniors are found on the webpage Seniors Resources.

If you would like any assistance at all in finding the FCSS supports that are right for you, please contact the MD of Bighorn's Community Services Coordinator at: doug.saul@mdbighorn.ca 

Family & Community Support Services (FCSS) for MD residents is delivered by the towns of Cochrane and Canmore. These Community Services websites and teams deliver support in many areas:

  • Counselling for financial support
  • Mental health assistance and referrals
  • Housing options
  • Seniors resources
  • Programs for children and youth
  • Support for parents of teens
  • Settlement services for newcomers to Canada
  • Food security resources
  • Support and referrals for addictions and problematic substance use
  • Well-being and health programs registration
  • The Town of Cochrane provides Rural Outreach for residents of the MD of Bighorn, including: someone to talk to when you have a problem; support with food, housing, finances, family and health; resource information and referrals; help with government forms and systems.

Call or email the appropriate FCSS office (contact information below) and let them know you are a resident of the MD of Bighorn and would like support in any of their particular support areas. If you would like assistance from the MD of Bighorn in finding the right FCSS service for you, please contact: doug.saul@mdbighorn.ca 

The Primary Care Network of the Bow Valley and (for those residents who would use Cochrane as an urban centre resource) the Primary Care Network of Calgary Foothills (facilities located in Cochrane) provide programs, support, information and referrals to assistance for help in finding a doctor, parenting and childcare, nutrition and eating well, sexual health and 2SLGBTQIA+, mental health supports, resources for those living with problematic substance use, and more.

The amount of support available, while encouraging, may seem overwhelming. If you would like any assistance at all in finding the supports that are right for you, please contact the MD of Bighorn's Community Services Coordinator at: doug.saul@mdbighorn.ca

Other Supports: We Are Stronger Together

At any time, as you review the resources listed here and the links provided, if you feel you would like to explore your options in confidentiality with the MD of Bighorn's Community Services to assistance you in helping you find what is right for you, please feel free to contact the MD of Bighorn's Community Services Coordinator at: doug.saul@mdbighorn.ca

Creating social opportunities for neurodiverse people, Bow Valley Connections has a drama program, cooking classes, bingo nights with prizes, arts and crafts, games nights, pool and darts afternoons, nature exploration, gym evenings, family dinner and dances, music nights and much more. Bow Valley Connections is always looking to expand on what they offer their participants and would love for you to connect and become part of our community.

The Palliative Care Society of the Bow Valley (PCSBV) is here for you during a time of a life-changing diagnosis. A diagnosis of a life-changing illness can leave you and your loved ones feeling isolated, lonely, and afraid. Palliative care helps you find a balance between understanding your diagnosis, nurturing your courage in the face of challenge and change, embracing your new normal, and preparing you to continue to live life for a long as possible-on your own terms.

Wellspring Alberta is a warm and welcoming community that provides a comprehensive range of support, resources and programs so anyone living with cancer and the people who care for them can improve the quality of their lives. Wellspring Alberta

If you are a newcomer to the Bow Valley, first of all - Welcome! - and secondly: there are resources and teams here to help you settle in. Check out both or either or the Settlement Services of the Bow Valley and the Bow Valley Immigrant Partnership. In the north of the MD, the Greenwood Neighbourhood Place in Sundre provides a Welcome to Newcomers service, listed and linked above on this page.

2SLGBTQIA+ and allies resources: Bow Valley Pride, Calgary Centre for Sexuality, and, as listed above, 2SLGBTQIA+ resources from the Primary Care Network of the Bow Valley and the Primary Care Network of Calgary Foothills

ConnecTeen is a confidential peer support service for youth in Calgary and area. ConnecTeen is a program of Distress Centre.  Being a teen can be tough. You have more independence, responsibility, and stress as a teenager, and you probably have more questions too. ConnecTeen knows there are some things you can’t talk to an adult about and there’s probably a lot of things your friends don’t get about you. ConnecTeen can connect you with a peer who understands your unique situation and can help talk you though your issues. No judging. ConnecTeen is here to listen and is confidential so no one needs to know you contacted ConnecTeen.

Housing resources: Cochrane Society for Housing Options, Bow Valley Regional Housing, Government of Alberta Affordable Housing information

Food supports and resources: Bow Valley Food Alliance - Food Supports, Bow Valley Food Bank, Mountain View Food Bank, Town of Cochrane - Food and Essentials

If you are a parent living with a child who is experiencing problematic substance use or has addictions challenges, consider reaching out to Parents Empowering Parents, PEP. This Alberta-based not-for-profit organization supports and educates families dealing with the effects of substance use and addiction in loved ones. PEP offers support, education, and hope with professionally-facilitated innovative programming and support-line days, evenings, and weekends.

Employment resources

Support for those experiencing intimate partner violence or family violence

Note that for your safety, all of these websites have Quick Exit or Safe Exit links to allow you to change the browser to a different site unrelated to family or intimate partner violence. Locate the link when you access the website.

Volunteer Opportunities

If you would like to assist your neighbour in the MD of Bighorn, Community Services can find the volunteer opportunity that is right for your needs. There is no obligation to begin volunteering when you connect with Community Services. Instead, we will assess how you would like to help and only with your consent would we move to the next step of connecting your assistance with volunteer help recipients.

MD of Bighorn Community Services contact: doug.saul@mdbighorn.ca 

There are also volunteer opportunities in Cochrane (volunteer opportunities), Canmore (volunteer opportunities), Water Valley (volunteer opportunities), Water Valley Library (volunteer opportunities) and Sundre (volunteer opportunities), Jumping Pound Community Hall