Alzheimer Society of Calgary

What Alzheimer Society of Calgary does

The Alzheimer Society of Calgary is a registered Canadian charity founded in 1981 by Jeanne Bentley that supports individuals and families affected by Alzheimer's disease and other dementias in Calgary and surrounding areas. Its core service portfolio includes free, confidential one-on-one support from registered social worker Dementia Support Navigators, structured six-week peer-led support groups, the Club 36 Adult Day Program operating at two Calgary locations (Bethany Harvest Hills in the North and AgeCare Seton in the South), and an education calendar covering caregiver workshops and disease-specific sessions. The organization also operates the First Link® proactive referral program that channels newly diagnosed patients from physicians and healthcare providers into services at the time of diagnosis, and has convened the cross-sector Dementia Network Calgary initiative since 2013 to advance a dementia-inclusive community.

Revenue is generated through a diversified nonprofit mix: individual and corporate donations, monthly giving, legacy gifts, the annual Walk & Run fundraising event held on Thanksgiving Sunday that draws over 1,500 participants, third-party community fundraisers, and institutional funding from Alberta Health Services, United Way Calgary and Area, and the City of Calgary via FCSS. Beginning July 2025, the organization introduced a $15 per-session fee for education programs, alongside paid professional certifications (ABC Pro at $150, TimeSlips Facilitator Training at $140) and a $15 annual membership, while preserving free access to core support services with fee waivers available on request.

The organization is governed by a Board of Directors chaired by management consultant Lois Wozney, with executive leadership under Executive Director Barb Ferguson, Director of Finance Pam Valk, Director of Programs Carrie Erickson, and Director of Philanthropy Lisa Copeland. Sub-brands include Club 36, FirstLink®, and the StillMe stigma-reduction movement, which features the Dementia Share Card. The Alzheimer's Society of Alberta and Northwest Territories operates separately; Alzheimer Calgary is an independently governed charity with no parent company or institutional equity.

Name

Alzheimer Society of Calgary

Legal name

Alzheimer Society of Calgary

Website

https://alzheimercalgary.ca

Company type

Private

Founded year

1981

Operating status

Operating

Headcount range

11–50 employees

Short description

The Alzheimer Society of Calgary is a registered Canadian charity founded in 1981 that provides free, confidential support, education, and adult day programs to individuals and families affected by Alzheimer's disease and other dementias in Calgary and surrounding areas.

Ownership category

akta.pro rank

Product category

Dementia Support and Education Services

NAICS

Services for the Elderly and Persons with Disabilities (624120), Other Individual and Family Services (624190)

SIC

Services-Social Services (8300)

akta.pro primary industry

Dementia/Alzheimer’s Care Management & Behavioral Support (HLADALAF)

akta.pro secondary industries

Alzheimer’s & Dementia-Specific Adult Day Programs (HLADAIAC), Cognitive Stimulation & Reminiscence Therapy (Non-Clinical) (HSABAEAH), Elder Services & Aging Support (BPAGAEAF), Dementia Care Coordination & Care Planning (HSABAEAJ)

Keywords

• Dementia support services
• Caregiver education programs
• Adult day programs
• Dementia care navigation
• Nonprofit health charity

Headquarters

HQ city

Calgary

HQ country

Canada

HQ region

North America

Offices3 records

Markets served

GTM type

B2C

Offering type

Services

Cost components

Personnel, Operations, Marketing or Sales, Others

Revenue model

1. Donations and Fundraising: Individual donations, monthly giving, corporate donations, event sponsorships, and legacy gifts from wills. Annual Walk & Run fundraising event.
2. Membership Fees: Annual membership with $15 fee supporting organizational mission and community building.
3. Event-based Giving: Third-party fundraisers, golf tournaments, and community-organized events generate donations.

Pricing tiers

Go-to-market motion2 records

Distribution channels5 records

Marketing channels7 records

Core offering

Alzheimer Society of Calgary is a registered charity that provides free, confidential dementia support services to individuals and families in Calgary and surrounding areas, including one-on-one Dementia Support Navigator consultations, peer-led support groups, structured Education Sessions on dementia types and caregiving strategies, and the Club 36 Adult Day Program at two Calgary locations. It also runs the First Link referral program linking newly diagnosed patients from healthcare providers to its services, professional training (ABC Pro, TimeSlips), a stigma-reduction StillMe Movement, and an annual Walk & Run fundraiser.

Product overview

Alzheimer Society of Calgary operates as a portfolio of interconnected support services rather than a unified software platform. The core offerings include: Education Sessions (dementia-specific workshops for caregivers and professionals), Club 36 Adult Day Program (structured activities for people with dementia at two Calgary locations), Support Groups (6-week peer-led programs), and Dementia Support Navigators (one-on-one guidance). These are complemented by the First Link® Referral Program for healthcare providers, professional training programs (ABC Pro, TimeSlips), the StillMe Movement (stigma-reduction campaign with the Dementia Share Card), and community resources including a video library and resource directory. Annual fundraising through the Walk & Run event and membership program support organizational sustainability. The portfolio is unified by a mission to help people impacted by dementia live well and build community capacity.

Differentiator

Problem solved

Functional benefit

Brands

• Club 36: An Adult Day Program for people living with dementia to participate in success-oriented and mentally stimulating activities.
• FirstLink
• Still Me

Products and services

• Education Sessions Dementia-specific workshops and educational programs including Care Partner Strategies, Coping with Caregiving, Changes in Behavior, Lewy Body Dementia Gathering, and Human Forever Film Screening and Panel Discussion. Available for caregivers, families, and professionals. Some sessions carry a $15 nominal fee.
• Club 36 Adult Day Program Adult Day Program offering success-oriented and mentally stimulating activities for people living with dementia, including Music and Memory, Improvisation and TimeSlips, Opening Minds Through Art, and Alzheimer Poetry Project. Operates at two locations: Bethany Harvest Hills (North) and AgeCare Seton (South).
• Support Groups 6-week peer-led caregiver support groups providing a structured environment for sharing experiences and learning dementia caregiving strategies. Includes an Alumni Support Group for ongoing connection after program completion.
• Dementia Support Navigators (Talk to Someone) Free, confidential one-on-one support from registered social workers offering system navigation, emotional support, communication tips, resources, referrals, and guidance through the dementia journey. Available via phone, email, and in-person without diagnosis or referral required.
• First Link Referral Program Proactive referral program enabling physicians, healthcare professionals, and community service providers to connect newly diagnosed individuals and their families directly to Alzheimer Calgary support services at the time of diagnosis.
• ABC Pro - Person Centered, Professional Excellence Full-day professional training program ($150) for healthcare and social service workers covering Attitudes, Brain & Behaviour, and Communication modules to build confidence, competence, and calmness when supporting individuals with dementia.
• TimeSlips Facilitator Training Evidence-informed certification program ($140) teaching creative communication and storytelling techniques using the TimeSlips method, including 3 hours of online learning plus an in-person workshop, to build meaningful connections with people living with dementia.
• Membership Program Annual membership program ($15/year) supporting the organization's mission and vision. Members receive advocacy involvement, networking opportunities, and are recognized as champions of the work to raise awareness and reduce stigma.

Quantifiable outcome

• Free, confidential support available to anyone without referral or diagnosis requirement
• +2 more outcomes

Named customers3 records

Segments3 records

Ideal customer profiles3 records

Technology focussed No

API detail

Has API

No

API docs

API detail

Core technology

AI maturity

App detail

Partnerships

Four partnerships are on record, tiered core partner, core initiative and program partner.

• Alberta Health Servicescore partnerStrategic or Co-development PartnerHealthcare system partner providing funding and collaborative healthcare connections. Funders and partners on annual reports and website.
• Dementia Network Calgarycore initiativeStrategic or Co-development PartnerCollaborative network convened by Alzheimer Calgary in 2013 including public, private, and nonprofit sector representatives working to create a dementia-inclusive community.
• Bethany Harvest Hillsprogram partnerStrategic or Co-development PartnerNorth Calgary location partner hosting Club 36 Adult Day Program for people living with dementia.
• AgeCare Setonprogram partnerStrategic or Co-development PartnerSouth Calgary location partner hosting Club 36 Adult Day Program for people living with dementia.

Scale indicators6 records

Recent moves7 records

Expansion highlights5 records

Direct peers

• Alzheimer Society of British Columbia: Sister provincial Alzheimer Society offering First Link, support groups, education, and Minds in Motion programs in BC. Near-identical mission, program mix, and operating model, differing mainly in service area and partner mix.
• Alzheimer Society of Alberta and Northwest Territories: Provincial federation partner operating with the same mission, programs, and referral model in Alberta. Directly comparable scope and target population, with overlapping donor and government funding pools in the province.
• Alzheimer Society of Ontario: Another provincial Alzheimer Society chapter running First Link, support groups, education programs, and donor-funded community services. Highly comparable service portfolio and delivery model to the Calgary society, scaled to Ontario's larger population.
• Dementia Society of Canada: National charity focused on dementia support, education, and awareness. Operates a similar free support, education, and community-engagement model across Canada, drawing on overlapping corporate and individual donor pools.

Broad incumbents

• Alzheimer's Association: US national nonprofit providing 24/7 helpline, support groups, education, care consultation, and fundraising Walks for Alzheimer's. Same core service categories as Alzheimer Calgary but at vastly larger scale and budget.
• Alzheimer Society of Canada: National federation of which the Calgary society is effectively a regional chapter. Operates the same dementia support, education, and research advocacy model at national scope, including the First Link program. Broader incumbent that competes for national-level donor dollars and grants.

Regional players

• Calgary Seniors' Resource Society: Calgary-based nonprofit delivering senior resource navigation, community programs, and wellness support. Overlaps with the dementia caregiver population and is explicitly listed in Alzheimer Calgary's Community Resources Directory, sharing local funding sources.
• Dementia UK: UK-based charity operating specialist dementia nurse (Admiral Nurse) services, family support, and professional education. Direct operational analog serving a different geography, with comparable free-support, education, and fundraising model.
• Kerby Centre: Calgary-based nonprofit serving older adults with information, programs, and support services. Shares the same regional funding and donor pool, with overlapping senior services such as the Way In navigation hub referenced on Alzheimer Calgary's resource directory.

Others

• BrightFocus Foundation: US nonprofit funding Alzheimer's disease research and providing public education and caregiver resources. Adjacent to Alzheimer Calgary's mission on the research and awareness side, with similar donation-driven revenue model and educational content library.

Market position

Strengths5 records

Weaknesses5 records

Competitive moat5 records

Key risks5 records

Key highlights7 records

Customer concentration

• Xx.com/alzcalgary
• Facebookfacebook.com/alzheimercalgary
• LinkedInlinkedin.com/company/75879

Revenue estimate

Valuation estimate

Number of profiles

Profiles12 records

Funding overview

Funding rounds

Investors

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 Alzheimer Society of Calgary