Building a Future of Lasting Change Together

This year marks a turning point in how we tackle poverty and homelessness in Edmonton.

Our fundamental purpose at Bissell Centre has always been moving people out of poverty with a goal of long-term stabilization. But we know the challenge is too big for any single organization to address alone. That’s why we’ve been working hard to strengthen relationships across the sector and in the community, building the trust needed for collaboration with lasting impact.
Now we’re taking that work a step further.

We are deepening our focus on programs that create long-term stability, empowering people not just to survive today but to build change that lasts. We are expanding prevention work, reaching people before crisis hits, before they experience homelessness or fall into poverty.

We’re bringing together community members, sector partners, government, and neighbours like you and inviting them to think bigger with us, beyond individual programs to the systemic challenges we all face. This approach gets us closer to our vision of eliminating poverty in our community.

Through continuous data-driven reflection and evaluation, we’re constantly learning and evolving. When we discover better ways to help, we are choosing to embrace change.
This is about more than programs. It’s about creating change that shifts the entire sector and impacts generations. Together, we’re building a future where every person in Edmonton has a home, a purpose, and a place to belong.

A Legacy of Hope

Last year, you and your fellow donors helped 246 people find housing, prevented 581 evictions, and returned nearly $7 million to our community through tax support.

What if that impact could carry on? Through a gift in your will to Bissell Centre, those same values you live by today&emdash;compassion, justice, community&emdash;continue creating change for generations to come. A gift of this kind ensures that decades from now, someone finds stable housing, a family avoids eviction, or a person in crisis receives the support that changes everything

This kind of giving is more accessible than many people think and can make a meaningful difference. You can designate a specific amount or a percentage of your estate. Either way, your charitable gift could help lift individuals and families out of poverty.

To get started, speak with your lawyer or financial adviser to see if this kind of giving is right for you. We’re also happy to chat if you have questions or want to learn more. If you choose to include Bissell Centre in your will, our legal details are:

Bissell Centre
10527 96 Street, Edmonton, AB T5H 2H6
Charitable # 118810829RR0001

Long after you’re gone, you could help create a stronger, more caring community. Let your story include a chapter that helps someone find home.

For more information, visit willpower.ca/charities/bissell-centre or contact legacy@bissellcentre.org.

Den of Willows: A Home for As Long as It’s Needed

Bissell Centre’s first Supportive Recovery House, Den of Willows, is a space of safety, healing, and connection. This new program provides substance-free, co-ed, shared-living accommodation for those transitioning out of treatment and in need of supportive housing, with a diagnosis or suspected diagnosis of FASD. Housing is paired with coordinated supports such as life-skills development, employment readiness, cultural support and connections to health and community services. Residents are encouraged to stay as long as need to.

Named through Ceremony led by Indigenous Sweat Lodge Keeper and Pipe Carrier Orest Zwozdesky, Den of Willows embodies the protective and nurturing nature of the bear as well as the medicine, ceremony, and flexibility of the willow. Both the sweat lodge, made with young willow trees, and the bear’s den are places in-between, meant for letting go of things that no longer serve us, making space for the body to heal, and building dreams of a better future. When we emerge, like bear cubs and catkins in the Spring, we share our growth with each other and demonstrate it to the greater community. Like the willow, this demonstration establishes roots allowing for a sense of belonging to grow, the spirit of Wahkotowin (our interconnectedness) to have a home, and a stronger together approach to be held at the forefront of our connections.

“Having a culturally safe space allows me to interact with my spiritual path and become a better version of myself.”

– Den of Willows resident

A Community Effort: The Tushies & Tummies Drive Success

A massive thank you to everyone who stepped up for our Tushies and Tummies diaper and formula drive! Because of your incredible generosity, our shelves are restocked with critical, high-demand essentials that give local parents immediate peace of mind.

We want to extend a special note of gratitude to the incredible network of local partners who opened their doors for us[cite: 14]. From neighborhood favorites like ANVIL Coffee House, Audreys Books, and Metro Cinema, to community hubs like the Bountiful Farmers Market, Find Furniture, and the Strathcona Community Hospital, local businesses and organizations served as vital public drop-off sites.

We also want to give a huge shout-out to the teams who championed powerful internal collections within their own walls—including a workplace drive by the team at BioWare, along with the congregation at Strathearn United Church, who have even extended their collection to the end of May to keep the momentum going!

Whether your organization hosted a collection bin, or you personally dropped off a can of formula or donated a pack of diapers, you made a tangible difference for Edmonton families this spring. Thank you for showing up for our littlest community members!

Healing Starts Here: Expanding Access to Mental Health Support

“There are services out there, and it’s never too late to start working on yourself and begin healing. People don’t have to hit rock bottom to get help, recovery can start today.” – Carmen Wojda

As we mark National Mental Health Month this May, it’s a fitting time to share how access to mental health support is growing at our Service Hub, thanks to a partnership with addiction counsellor Carmen Wojda and the team at NEOVIA.

Since January 2026, clients have been able to access free, on-site talk therapy through NEOVIA, a not-for-profit program that connects people with master’s level psychology students completing their practicums. These student therapists provide compassionate, solution-focused counselling in a space that feels familiar and accessible.

“For many people facing poverty, mental health and daily survival go hand-in-hand. Challenges like PTSD, grief, addiction, and the stress of not having a home create a cycle that is hard to break, making it much harder to find stability and move forward.”

That’s why having counselling available through the Service Hub matters so much. There’s no referral maze to navigate, no appointments months away, no fees creating another barrier. People can sign up at the Service hub and start taking steps toward healing.

While the program is still new, early signs are encouraging. Even one conversation can help someone feel heard and more equipped to move forward, filling critical gaps where cost and access might otherwise be barriers. Your compassion helps make partnerships like this possible.

National Indigenous Peoples Day Celebration – June 19

Bissell Centre invites our entire community to join us on Friday, June 19, 2026, from 11:00 AM to 3:00 PM at 10527-96 St. as we celebrate National Indigenous Peoples Day.

This special event is funded by the Government of Canada, and everyone is welcome to gather with us for a day of storytelling, traditional meals, and vibrant performances:

• Opening & Welcome: Welcome and opening by Elder Terry Aleck alongside a special song performed by the children in our Childcare program.
• Traditional Lunch: Gather together to enjoy a traditional meal of stew and bannock.
• Elder Storytelling: A dedicated storytelling session to share wisdom and history with Elder Bredner Lewis.
• Cultural Performances: Experience spectacular, high-energy performances by the Rolling Thunder Dancers and Adrian LaChance, alongside powerful speeches and teachings.

Come celebrate the rich cultures, heritage, and enduring strength of Indigenous communities. We look forward to breaking bread and sharing these powerful traditions together!

Ways to Get Involved This Spring

Give a Gift Today

Your gift supports the flexible, practical resources our teams use every day to help people move from crisis to stability. Whether it’s fueling an outreach worker’s connection over a meal, providing basic essentials to families in need, or investing in a child’s future, your support drives real change