About Us

A lighthouse in the dark. Freedom, Hope, Purpose.

Calgary Dream Centre offers our clients an opportunity to reimagine a transformed future.

Our Mission

We believe no one in our city is beyond hope.

We believe that compassion and innovation can work together to help people facing challenges such as addiction, homelessness, and despair find true freedom and life transformation. We invite people into a supportive community where we walk alongside them on their journey beyond hope to freedom in the pursuit of a life worth living.

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Calgary Dream Centre Values

We are compelled by our faith in a God who loves us and desires mercy and justice for all. In alignment with this belief we are committed to the following values at the heart of every program and interaction at CDC:

Compassion

We believe in the human at the core of the struggle. Our hearts are soft toward people who are struggling and have lost hope.

Integrity

We conduct ourselves with integrity in everything we do. Our mission is crystal clear and requires our deep commitment to the highest standards in how we conduct ourselves and our business.

Connection

We believe the opposite of addiction is connection. Connection is at the core of our team, programs, and approach.

Innovation

We are committed to constantly growing and evolving our programs based on the best information available. We are innovative in our programs and business practices.

Hope

Hope is a lifeline. We believe that no one is beyond hope, and we are here to help everyone who walks through our door find it.

Our History

The Journey of CDC

The Calgary Dream Centre currently houses 371 clients across 49 properties in Calgary in transitional and affordable housing, with 30 beds available for our 90 day recovery program.

2000

First Assembly Church is inspired to address Calgary’s overwhelming homeless population

2003

The Former hotel on Macleod Trail is transformed to support people in need.

2010

We launch Men’s Community Housing, providing stable, supportive and affordable housing options.

2016

Women’s Recovery & Transitional Housing program launches.

2018

Family Support Program launches to help & educate loved ones of individuals struggling with addiction

2018

"I choose hope" city wide campaign launched during COVID-19 pandemic

2022

"Nicest house on the block" initiative launched to bring restoration to all CDC properties.

2024

Breaking ground on xxx

A Life Transformed.

“After a life of trauma, loss, drugs, alcohol, and homelessness, I woke up in the hospital desperate to change my life. I arrived at Calgary Dream Centre and experienced a supportive community of individuals who provided the care that I needed.

If I can come from being homeless and addicted for over 40 years, to working in a treatment centre as a Recovery Support Worker, I believe anyone can do it.”

Dream Team

Meet the staff and leadership at Calgary Dream Centre

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Our Approach

We believe that people can experience transformative freedom from addiction, restored relationships, renewed hope, and rekindled dreams for their future.

Our approach is a full continuum of care throughout a lifetime. Through innovative recovery programs, housing solutions, and an ongoing supportive community alumni program, our clients build the connections and community to journey through their life full of hope, freedom, and purpose.

A Supportive Community

Hope grows in community. Our supportive community makes sure that no one feels alone.

Innovative Recovery Programs

Our programs include the most current research to foster an innovative approach to recovery.

Peace and Stability

Our housing solutions provide warmth, safety, and stability for our clients to heal and grow.

A Continuum of Care

This support lasts a lifetime. There is no end date for our clients looking for support and encouragement on their journey.

Genuine Compassion

We genuinely love and care for our clients and believe they can experience freedom and hope.

Faith At The Heart Of It

We are guided by our faith to share, without judgement, the good news of a God who loves us and has hope and a future for us.

Our Programs

We are committed to blending scientific research with a compassionate, supportive community to offer innovative programs that are truly transformative and support our clients over a lifetime.

Men’s Recovery Program

Our recovery program pairs the most innovative recovery research with a supportive community focused on spiritual development, vocational training, and encouragement to guide our clients from addiction to freedom.

Housing Solutions

While our recovery program clients are housed at the Calgary Dream Centre, we also have affordable housing solutions throughout the city for men, and women in Calgary who need the transformative power of a safe and stable home.

Alumni Program

We believe recovery requires a full continuum of care. Once our clients leave our recovery program, they are invited to stay connected with a supportive community that is with them for a lifetime.

Story of Transformation

“All I can say about that time is it was a blur. A lot of in and out of jail. A lot of messed up relationships. A lot of blacked out nights. Sleeping on the streets, sleeping in shelters. This place works but you gotta want it. In my eyes, the Dream Centre saved my life.”

– Joel

adult and child holding hands walking in the snowy park

Be a Hope-Giver

Donate today to bring hope and freedom to people in Calgary.

Bob Nash

Retired General Manager It Operations and Signals and Communications for Canadian Pacific  Railway after 34 years of service. Currently the Board Chairman and Project Manager for the Calgary Dream Centre, a position held for the past 18 years.

Werner Haag

Bio coming soon.

Steven Balisky

Bio coming soon.

Ben Johnson

Ben is the Lead Pastor at FA. Ben and His wife Heather have served together in Pastoral and Apostolic ministry for over 20 years.

They share a deep spiritual burden for our nation of Canada – specifically for the unchurched and the next generation. They long to see a fresh outpouring of the Holy Spirit in our time, and they believe that some of the most exciting days for the Canadian church are ahead.

Together with their four daughters, they count it an incredible honour to be able to serve Jesus and serve the City of Calgary.

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 been a member of the Calgary Dream Centre Board of Directors since March 2022.  Cal and his wife Kerry have been supporters of the Dream Centre for a number of years.

Cal is a Business Advisor with a focus on Coaching and Leadership Development.  He has spent his career in the Agriculture Equipment Industry and was a John Deere Equipment Dealer for 19 years.  He is a Professional Engineer and holds an ICD.D designation with the Institute of Corporate Directors.

Cal and Kerry have been married 34 years and have 3 adult sons.  They volunteer in marriage ministry at Centre Street Church and enjoy spending time cycling, boating, skiing, and travelling. 

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