Calgary Association of Self Help is truly grateful that we are one of the beneficiaries of the Bearspaw Benevolent Foundation We applaud and thank the Foundation for their financial generosity and for championing mental wellness in our community.

Through their support of the Association, we have had the great pleasure of working with Nipper Guest and his family for the past eleven years. Nipper and his wife Eleanor, established the Bearspaw Benevolent Foundation in 1992 on the deeply held conviction “that what parents owe their children is a loving home and an opportunity for an education.  From an early age our three sons have understood that there would be no inheritance and that the proceeds of our estate would go to those in need.  They have accepted this philosophy and assist in our efforts.” In acknowledging the work of the Foundation, Nipper maintains “giving funds as we do is easy, it’s organizations such as yours that need thanks from the likes of us for the work that you do.”

Marion McGrath, Chief Executive Officer of Calgary Association of Self Help, explains that the funds have provided essential support to the Art and Writer’s Club programs and that “you can’t imagine what a difference this support has made to so many people who attend these programs and are working toward improving their quality of life and maintaining their mental health.”

When we asked Nipper’s permission to acknowledge his Foundation’s support of Calgary Association of Self Help’s work in the community, his response was “if the Foundation’s endorsement will encourage others to support your work - then I’m all for it!”

Nipper Guest, Director of the Bearspaw Benevolent Foundation and
Marion McGrath, Chief Executive Officer of Calgary Association of Self Help

We wish to acknowledge, with our sincere appreciation, a grant of $11,622 from the Community Spirit Program, which will support our Art Program.

The Art Program provides art instruction and opportunities for our artists to explore their creativity in the visual arts.

Involvement in the Art Program also helps to increase our folk's self-expression, self-awareness, self-worth and confidence and helps increase and maintaining their mental wellness.

Over the past three years the Community Spirit Donation Program leveraged individual donations to Calgary Association of Self Help with three grants totalling $50,000.

We extend our heartfelt thank you to Alberta Culture and Community Spirit and our individual donors for your community spirit, good will and contributions.

Your support has made a world of difference for Calgarians working toward increasing their abilities and mental wellness.

On behalf of the artists in the Art Program we wish to express our sincere appreciation to the good folks at Our Lady of the Prairies Foundation for the generous $6,000.00 grant designated for the Art Program at Calgary Association of Self Help.

Your good will and community spirit will ensure that our artisits will have continued opportunities and support to further develop their skills in the visual arts, and in turn maintain or increase their mental wellness.

Thank you for being a champion and supporter of mental health services in our community.

Art Program - Next session starts in February
The Art Program provides art instruction and the opportunity for participants to explore the visual arts.

Writer's Club - Next session starts in February
The Writer's Club program provides writing instruction and the opportunity for participants to have fun exploring their creativitiy in the literary arts.

Initiatives - Next session starts in January
Initiatives is a self development course that helps participants to manage interpersonal and life situations more effectively. Skill areas include: stress management, anger management, self esteem and assertiveness.

Activities of Daily Living - Next session starts in March
Activities of Daily Living is a program designed to teach healthy living options and daily living skills. Participants choose the areas most relevant to their needs and gain “hands-on” experience in these areas: nutrition, meal preparation, budgeting and money management

Click here to see the Globe and Mail "Breakdown" articles on the mental health crisis in our country