Native Counselling Services of Alberta

What Native Counselling Services of Alberta does

Native Counselling Services of Alberta (NCSA) is a non-profit, non-political Indigenous organization registered under the Societies Act of Alberta and founded in 1970. Headquartered in Edmonton with offices and service delivery points in 20+ Alberta communities across four regions (Northwest, Northeast, Central, South), NCSA designs and delivers programs and services for Indigenous people, by Indigenous people - approximately 85% of staff self-identify as Indigenous and the Board consists of six Indigenous members representing Alberta's main geographic areas.

Name

Native Counselling Services of Alberta

Legal name

Native Counselling Services of Alberta

Website

https://ncsa.ca

Company type

Private

Founded year

1970

Operating status

Operating

Headcount range

51–100 employees

Short description

Native Counselling Services of Alberta is a 1970-founded Indigenous non-profit providing free, culturally grounded courtwork, Section 81 correctional healing, housing, family, and youth services across 20+ Alberta communities for Indigenous individuals and families.

Ownership category

akta.pro rank

Headquarters

HQ city

Edmonton

HQ country

Canada

HQ region

North America

Offices22 records

Markets served

GTM type

B2C

Offering type

Services

Cost components

Personnel, Operations, Infrastructure, Technology or R&D

Revenue model

1. Government Funding and Grants: As a non-profit organization registered under the Societies Act of Alberta, NCSA is non-political and has no religious affiliations. The organization has provided programs and services for over 50 years, suggesting sustained government funding. Specific funding sources, terms, and amounts are not publicly disclosed in the source material.
2. Donations: NCSA accepts donations through CanadaHelps at canadahelps.org/en/dn/77045, indicating a charitable donations revenue stream.

Pricing tiers

Go-to-market motion1 record

Distribution channels4 records

Marketing channels5 records

Core offering

NCSA is a non-profit Indigenous organization that designs and delivers social services for Indigenous people across Alberta, including free Courtworker assistance in Criminal, Family and Youth Courts, two correctional Healing Lodges (Stan Daniels Healing Centre and Buffalo Sage Wellness House), supportive and transitional housing programs, family and youth wraparound services, Residential School Health Support, and the BearPaw Media and Education public legal education program. All programs are grounded in Indigenous culture and guided by the proprietary NCSA Resiliency Model, and are provided at no cost to eligible Indigenous participants through more than 20 community offices province-wide.

Product overview

Native Counselling Services of Alberta is a nonprofit Indigenous organization providing over 50 years of social justice programs and services designed for Indigenous people by Indigenous people in Alberta. The organization operates a portfolio of community, housing, correctional, and educational programs including two correctional facilities (Buffalo Sage Wellness House and Stan Daniels Healing Centre), multiple housing programs (Indigenous Housing First, Kisnimi Ti, Tapwehtamowin Waskahikan), courtwork services, family support programs (Kiyôhkatowin Home Visitation, Wâhkômiwêw Connections), youth services (WrapED), and BearPaw Media and Education for legal resources. The organization also offers a Connections App for young adults transitioning out of care. These programs are grounded in Indigenous culture, reconciliation, and self-determination principles, guided by Elders, and delivered across Alberta through regional offices.

Differentiator

Problem solved

Functional benefit

Products and services

• Indigenous Courtwork Program Free Courtworker service delivered in Court Houses across Alberta to assist Indigenous people navigating Criminal Court, Family Court and Youth Court proceedings, including explaining charges, speaking on behalf of clients, and providing information on bail, adjournment, pleas, sentencing, legal aid, and court conditions.
• Stan Daniels Healing Centre A 72-bed Community Residential and Section 81 Healing Lodge in Edmonton that houses conditionally released and federally sentenced Indigenous inmates, offering the Warrior Program, Indigenous Offender Reconciliation Program, Mending Broken Hearts, Mamoweh Askiy Wahkotowin Relationship Program, and job placement services.
• Buffalo Sage Wellness House A 28-bed Community Residential Facility in Edmonton that houses conditionally released and federally sentenced Indigenous female offenders, offering culturally sensitive programs, life skills and healing services including Spirit of a Warrior, Relationships, Grief and Loss, Mother Child, and Wellbriety programs.
• Indigenous Housing First Program Provides housing and follow-up support for chronically homeless Indigenous people in Edmonton, with housing outreach workers and navigators assisting participants in finding housing, managing rent allowances, and accessing community resources for up to 12 months.
• Kisnimi Ti – Transitional Housing Program An Indigenous, recovery-focused transitional housing program in Edmonton with 16 units (bachelor and one-bedroom suites) providing 24/7 onsite wrap-around support including case management, life skills workers, and a cultural knowledge keeper. Rent is set at 30% of participant income (Rent-Geared-to-Income) and standard stay is based on 3-month leases.
• Tapwehtamowin Waskahikan – Supportive Housing A supportive housing program in Edmonton with 30 apartment units designated for Indigenous community members experiencing houselessness, including those with mobility issues, those involved with correctional systems, and individuals overcoming addictions, with 24-hour wrap-around support.
• Otipaymsowin Reintegration Centre A safe, culturally grounded environment in Edmonton that provides reintegration support for Indigenous people 18+ on bail, parole, probation, or leaving correctional facilities, offering housing assistance, employment support, medical supports, ID assistance, and criminal record expungement services.
• Residential School Health Support Program Provides emotional health and wellness support to former Indian Residential School students and their family members, including referrals to healing programs, emotional support at community events, circle facilitation, and hearings support as requested by Health Canada.
• WrapED A blended model of youth work and high fidelity wraparound services assisting youth at risk of or engaged in gangs to exit high-risk lifestyles, delivered in partnership with Edmonton John Howard Society, Edmonton Police Service, REACH Edmonton, YOUCAN Youth Services, and Multi-cultural Health Brokers Cooperative.
• Wâhkômiwâw Connections Program A community program supporting Indigenous youth, parents, and caregivers in developing Individual Healing and Connection Plans and strengthening connections to family, community, and culture, delivered in the St. Paul, Glendon, Bonnyville, Cold Lake, Grande Prairie, Stony Plain, Spruce Grove, Parkland, and Yellowhead County areas.
• Kiyôhkatowin Home Visitation Program A home visitation program mentoring prenatal women, parents and caregivers in Stony Plain, Spruce Grove, Parkland, Yellowhead County, St. Paul, Glendon, Bonnyville, and Cold Lake areas, supporting children's growth and development through culturally appropriate caregiving from prenatal to 6 years old.
• Wapekin Program Wapekin Navigators work one-on-one with families referred from Stony Plain Children Services, providing support and advocacy including transportation, food bank access, appointments, financial assistance, and housing program connections.
• BearPaw Media and Education Produces and distributes culturally relevant public legal education and information publications, videos, and workshops created by Indigenous people for Indigenous people in Alberta, operating for over 40 years with resources freely available at bearpawlegalresources.ca.
• NCSA Video and Resource Production Produces high quality educational resources for community and government agencies through NCSA and its affiliate BearPaw Communications Ltd., including documentaries such as Journey Home and Hidden Homeless, and lesson plans such as How to Stop Bullying.
• Connections App A free mobile application designed to help young adults transitioning out of care, available at no cost on the Apple App Store and Google Play Store.
• NCSA Community Engagement Community Engagement Officers located in Lethbridge, Calgary, and Edmonton build relationships with Indigenous communities and connect community members to NCSA programs and services, available via Facebook and email.

Quantifiable outcome

• Stan Daniels Healing Centre: 72-bed Community Residential and Section 81 Healing Lodge for Indigenous inmates
• +5 more outcomes

Named customers4 records

Segments5 records

Ideal customer profiles4 records

Technology focussed No

API detail

Has API

No

API docs

API detail

Core technology

AI maturity

App detail

Feature3 records

Partnerships

Ten partnerships are on record, tiered core and minor.

• REACH EdmontoncoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerREACH Edmonton serves as the backbone organization for the WrapED gang prevention and intervention initiative. NCSA is one of six collaborative partners in this initiative targeting youth at risk of or engaged in gangs in Edmonton.
• Edmonton John Howard SocietycoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerOne of six collaborative partners in the WrapED gang prevention initiative alongside NCSA, Edmonton Police Service, REACH Edmonton, YOUCAN Youth Services, and Multi-cultural Health Brokers Cooperative.
• YOUCAN Youth ServicescoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerOne of six collaborative partners in the WrapED gang prevention initiative targeting youth at risk of or engaged in gangs in Edmonton.
• Multi-cultural Health Brokers CooperativecoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerOne of six collaborative partners in the WrapED gang prevention initiative alongside NCSA, Edmonton John Howard Society, REACH Edmonton, Edmonton Police Service, and YOUCAN Youth Services.
• Edmonton Police ServicecoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerOne of six collaborative partners in the WrapED gang prevention initiative. EPS participates alongside NCSA and other community organizations to address gang involvement among youth in Edmonton.
• PolicyWise for Children and FamiliesminorImplementation/ SI/ Consulting PartnerClient for the documentary 'Journey Home' produced by NCSA. PolicyWise commissioned NCSA to produce this documentary as part of their public legal education and information mandate.
• Edmonton Community FoundationminorImplementation/ SI/ Consulting PartnerClient for the documentary 'Hidden Homeless' produced by NCSA. ECF commissioned the documentary as part of their community support mandate.
• RCMP FoundationminorImplementation/ SI/ Consulting PartnerClient for the documentary and lesson plans 'How to Stop Bullying' produced by BearPaw Communications Ltd. (NCSA's affiliate).
• Athabasca Tribal CouncilminorImplementation/ SI/ Consulting PartnerClient for the documentary and lesson plans 'How to Stop Bullying' produced by BearPaw Communications Ltd. (NCSA's affiliate), alongside the RCMP Foundation.
• BearPaw Communications Ltd.coreStrategic or Co-development PartnerBearPaw Communications Ltd. is an affiliate of NCSA, producing high quality educational resources for community and government agencies alongside NCSA's BearPaw Media and Education program.

Scale indicators4 records

Recent moves6 records

Expansion highlights6 records

Direct peers

• Aboriginal Legal Services: Toronto-based Indigenous legal aid organization providing courtworker services, criminal/family law support, and Indigenous justice programs. Directly comparable to NCSA's Indigenous Courtwork Program and BearPaw Media legal education resources, serving similar Indigenous client populations navigating the justice system.
• Alberta Native Friendship Centres Association: Provincial umbrella for Friendship Centres across Alberta delivering Indigenous community services including housing, youth programs, family supports, and cultural programming. Directly comparable to NCSA's community-based service delivery model across the same Alberta geography.
• John Howard Society of Canada: National organization providing correctional reintegration services, housing support, and community-based programs for offenders. Directly comparable to NCSA's Otipaymsowin Reintegration Centre, WrapED gang prevention initiative, and Section 81 Healing Lodge correctional programming.
• Elizabeth Fry Society of Canada: National organization providing services to women involved in the criminal justice system, including residential programming and reintegration support. Directly comparable to NCSA's Buffalo Sage Wellness House (28-bed Indigenous women's correctional facility) and related WrapED programming.
• Métis Nation of Alberta: Provincial Indigenous governance and service-delivery organization for Métis people in Alberta. Comparable to NCSA in serving Indigenous Albertans through community-based programming, housing, and family services across the same geographic territory.
• Native Women's Centre (Hamilton/Toronto): Ontario-based Indigenous women's healing and supportive housing organization providing culturally grounded residential programs. Directly comparable to Buffalo Sage Wellness House and Kisnimi Ti transitional housing in mission and operational model.
• Toronto Council Fire Native Cultural Centre: Toronto-based Indigenous cultural and community services organization delivering programs for Indigenous youth, families, and community members. Comparable to NCSA's Wâhkômiwâw Connections, Kiyôhkatowin Home Visitation, and WrapED youth programming in a different urban context.

Regional players

• Calgary Urban Native Society: Calgary-based Indigenous social services organization providing housing, family support, and community programming. Comparable to NCSA's South Region operations, particularly in housing and family services, though focused solely on the Calgary urban market.
• Vancouver Native Health Society: British Columbia-based Indigenous health and social services organization providing integrated programs for urban Indigenous populations. Comparable to NCSA's full-service Indigenous community delivery model, but operating in BC rather than Alberta.
• Saskatchewan Indian Cultural Centre: Saskatchewan-based Indigenous cultural and educational services organization. Comparable to NCSA's BearPaw Media cultural/educational programming and community engagement functions, but serving Saskatchewan rather than Alberta Indigenous communities.

Market position

Strengths5 records

Weaknesses5 records

Competitive moat6 records

Key risks6 records

Key highlights7 records

Customer concentration

• YouTubeyoutube.com/channel/UCwt3C_s9zQW-TAfkChqVISA
• Facebookfacebook.com/NativeCounsellingServices
• LinkedInlinkedin.com/company/native-counselling-services-of-alberta

Revenue estimate

Valuation estimate

Number of profiles

Subsidiaries1 record

Funding overview

Funding rounds1 record

Investors1 record

Funding detail is available on the Subscription and Enterprise plan.Contact sales →

M&A

Investments

M&A and investment is available on the Subscription and Enterprise plan.Contact sales →

Frequently asked questions about Native Counselling Services of Alberta