Event Profile: Cultivating a Caring Culture – Healthy Workplace Month 

At the Calgary Dream Centre, we believe that no one in our city is beyond hope. While our primary focus is on serving our clients, we also recognize the importance of all our stakeholders, especially our staff.

The services we provide require dedication and attention, and we are fortunate to have a team of passionate, caring individuals who make our work possible. We strive to create a safe space not only for our clients to focus on recovery but also for our volunteers to engage in meaningful work and for our staff to grow both personally and professionally.

We are deeply grateful for the external support we receive, but we know that our staff is at the heart of our operations. A healthy, fulfilled individual will always thrive more than someone who lacks a sense of belonging or purpose. That is why, as the Human Resources department, we are committed to giving our staff a voice and ensuring they feel valued. There is a common misconception that HR primarily serves the employer, but our mission is to support alignment across the entire organization, with employees at the core of that focus.

Over the years, the Calgary Dream Centre has worked to strengthen its foundation, recognizing that growth and learning are continuous for both individuals and organizations. This past year, we have made it a priority to ensure our workplace fosters a culture of care, providing practical benefits like $2,000 in mental health coverage and focusing on developing internal strengths. Our goal is to support the emotional, physical, mental, and spiritual well-being of our staff, knowing that a healthy team creates a healthy work environment and strengthens our organizational culture.

We are proud to have earned the Canada Great Place to Work certification, which recognizes organizations that build high-trust, high-performance cultures. To achieve this, we asked our staff for feedback on their roles, the workplace culture, and their overall satisfaction. Some of our most encouraging results include:

· 87% of staff said management trusts them to do a good job without constant oversight.

· 95% said this is a physically safe place to work.

· 95% felt encouraged to maintain a healthy work-life balance.

· 91% believe they make a difference here.

· 96% are proud to tell others they work here.

· 96% said people genuinely care about one another at work.

· 93% felt welcomed when they joined the company.

Receiving such positive feedback is a privilege, as it confirms that our staff feel a sense of belonging and pride in being part of the Calgary Dream Centre. The organization is proud to be recognized as a Great Place to Work, affirming our commitment to creating a healthy, supportive workplace. We understand that the well-being of our staff directly influences the quality of care we provide to our clients. By prioritizing our employees’ emotional, mental, physical, and spiritual health, we cultivate an environment where people feel valued, motivated, and empowered to do their best work. The positive feedback from our staff—regarding trust, work-life balance, and a sense of belonging—shows that we are building the kind of workplace culture that not only supports individual growth but also strengthens the overall organization. We will continue to invest in our people, knowing that a healthy workplace fosters a thriving community both within and beyond our walls.

We can’t do it without you.

Together we can remind the people of Calgary that no one is beyond hope.

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.

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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.