This Thanksgiving, Fill a Plate and Start a Recovery Journey.

For men fighting addiction, recovery can't begin until a basic question is answered first: Where will I find my next meal?

Right now, men across Calgary are calling the Dream Centre with the same question: “Do you have room for me?” Many are calling from shelters, from jails, from behind buildings where they’ve been sleeping rough. 

But before they can think about getting well, they’re consumed by a more immediate question: how do I make it to tomorrow?

Without consistent meals, recovery isn’t just hard. It isn’t on the table at all. A body still fighting hunger and addiction can’t focus on healing. Without that first meal, and the meals that follow it, a man stays stuck exactly where he is: outside, isolated, and no closer to getting well.

The Calgary Dream Centre serves more than 3,000 meals a week. That’s three meals a day, plus snacks, for men committed to doing the hard work of recovery. For many, it's the first proper, shared meal they've had in a long time.
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In many ways, our meals do double duty: it meets a basic physical need and it builds the community and connection that research shows is essential to lasting recovery.

Here’s how far your gift can go:

$16.77 gives a full day of meals for one person

$117.39 gives a full week of meals for one person

$469.56 gives a full month of meals for one person

$939.12 gives two months of meals for one person

$1,408.68 gives three months of meals for one person

A meal that starts as a single plate becomes something much bigger. It feeds a man tonight. It gives his body and mind the stability to begin real recovery. And eventually, it reunites him with the life of healing and recovery that’s been waiting for him.

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Werner Haag

Bio coming soon.

Steven Balisky

Steve Balisky is an intrapreneur with over 15 years of experience driving data-driven transformation within national companies Suncor and Mark’s. He has also been providing leadership consulting to nonprofits for the last 10 years and has served on the CDC board since 2019. Steve holds a Bachelor of Commerce in Operations Management and an MBA in Strategy. He is a husband and father of two, and has his own faith-filled recovery story, which inspires him to support others on their path to recovery.

Ben Johnson

Ben has been the Lead Pastor of First Assembly Church in Calgary since 2014, bringing over 30 years of ministry and leadership experience to the non-profit sector. He’s also an executive leadership coach, helping leaders thrive across various sectors since 2012. His experience includes serving on national and regional boards within his denomination, as well as supporting Vancouver’s homeless through his past involvement with Operation Compassion. Ben has served on the CDC board in Calgary for the past decade and believes the Church plays a vital role in creating lasting community impact.

Craig Hill

Craig Hill has been involved with the Calgary Dream Centre (CDC) since its inception. Starting with trips to the LA Dream Centre where seeds were planted in him that were never forgotten. After years of working in business, real estate, and church ministry, Craig returned to the CDC to step in as the CEO. Craig has a deep appreciation for the life change that happens here, the incredible team, and seeing the redemptive work that God is doing. Outside of work, Craig is a family man who loves nothing more than being with his wife and kids at the lake.

David Taylor

David grew up in northern Canada and attended the University of Alberta where he graduated with a degree in electrical engineering. He worked as an engineer for about seven years before moving into project management and then business management, primarily focused in the oil and gas production and refining industry.

David stepped into the COO role of a business that was in trouble due to the 2008 financial crisis. After turning that business around, he took an international role leading project managers who managed a portfolio of $1.5B of projects around the globe.

Since then, David has consulted for businesses and organizations in medicine, engineering, homelessness, and addiction recovery, and serves on various not-for-profit boards.

David is currently running another business in California that was also in need of a dramatic turnaround and now scaling this business for further profitable growth.

Cal Johnson

Cal has spent 35 years in the agricultural industry and brings domestic and international executive leadership experience in strategy development, operations, business development, and M&A in a rapid growth environment.  He is a Professional Engineer, Certified Post Merger Integration Specialist, and is a holder of the Institute of Corporate Directors Director designation (ICD.D).

Throughout his life, Cal has volunteered in his community in sport and programs that focus on relational, emotional, and spiritual health.  He has served on non-profit boards in both governance and advisory capacities.  Cal truly believes no one is beyond hope and counts it a privilege to serve at the Calgary Dream Centre.

Bob Nash

Bob Nash is a dedicated and service focused professional Electrical Engineer volunteering as Board Chair and Project Manager for the Calgary Dream Centre (CDC). Bob’s involvement with the CDC extends to its earliest days.  His faith, and his sincere passion for helping people overcome addiction and restoring their lives, have motivated his service. Using his 35 years of senior management experience at Canadian Pacific Railway, Bob has effectively used his leadership, management, strategic planning, project management skills and philanthropic support to help propel the Calgary Dream Centre to where it is today. Bob and his wife of 44 years have two children and six grandchildren.  

Help fill a plate this Thanksgiving!