Schizophrenia Society of Alberta

What Schizophrenia Society of Alberta does

Schizophrenia Society of Alberta (SSA) is a registered Alberta charitable nonprofit founded in 1980 that delivers peer-led support, education, housing, and employment services to individuals living with schizophrenia and their families. The organization operates six physical branches across Alberta (Edmonton, Calgary, Red Deer, Medicine Hat, Lethbridge, and a Camrose satellite) and complements these with online programs via Zoom, phone-based peer support, and telehealth delivery through a partnership with the First Nations Telehealth Network. SSA employs more than 200 individuals with lived experience of schizophrenia across peer support, youth mentorship, community education, and branch operations, and operates 55 supportive housing units split between Iris Court (Edmonton, 21 units), Kentwood Place (Red Deer, 25 units), and Lovella Apartments (Red Deer, 9 units). Additional programs include Family and Caregiver Support, Community Education (including the Starry Night Theatre Group), the Indigenous Outreach Program, an online educational speakers forum, and the Yes 2 Me Scholarships funded by Otsuka and Lundbeck.

SSA's revenue model is that of a multi-stream nonprofit: provincial government funding from Alberta Health Services, Alberta Health, and the Government of Alberta's Seniors Services and Continuing Care Division, supplemented by foundation grants (Calgary Foundation, Stollery Charitable Foundation, Homeward Trust Edmonton), individual donations (online, planned giving, securities, car donations), corporate sponsorships (notably Otsuka/Lundbeck for scholarships), and event-based fundraising (annual campaign with a stated $125,000 2025 goal, casino nights, the Strides of Hope Walk). All programs and services are delivered at no cost to participants. Go-to-market is community-led: lived-experience presenters deliver education to schools, first responders, and businesses, while branch staff and peer workers recruit participants through local referral networks, healthcare partnerships, and outreach to Indigenous communities. There is no proprietary technology platform; delivery infrastructure consists of standard video conferencing, phone lines, and a content/website presence at schizophrenia.ab.ca.

Name

Schizophrenia Society of Alberta

Legal name

Schizophrenia Society of Alberta

Website

https://schizophrenia.ab.ca

Company type

Private

Founded year

1980

Operating status

Operating

Headcount range

11–50 employees

Short description

The Schizophrenia Society of Alberta is a registered provincial nonprofit that delivers peer-led support, family programs, community education, supportive housing (55 units), and supportive employment (200+ positions) to Albertans living with schizophrenia, funded through government grants, donations, and corporate sponsorships.

Ownership category

akta.pro rank

Product category

Mental Health Support Services

NAICS

Services for the Elderly and Persons with Disabilities (62412), Other Individual and Family Services (62419), Other Individual and Family Services (624190), Individual and Family Services (6241)

SIC

Services-Social Services (8300), Services-Health Services (8000), Services-Home Health Care Services (8082)

akta.pro primary industry

Mental Health & Crisis Support Services (BPAGACAD)

akta.pro secondary industries

Mental Health & Crisis Support Services (BPAGAEAH), Disability Services & Independent Living Support (BPAGAEAG)

Keywords

• Mental health support
• Peer support services
• Schizophrenia education
• Supportive housing services
• Caregiver programs

Headquarters

HQ city

Red Deer

HQ country

Canada

HQ region

North America

Offices10 records

Markets served

GTM type

B2C

Offering type

Services

Cost components

Personnel, Operations, Infrastructure, Marketing or Sales, Technology or R&D, Supply Chain

Revenue model

1. Individual Donations: Financial contributions from individuals through various methods including online donations, car donations, securities donations, and planned giving/bequests
2. Planned Giving and Legacy Gifts: Bequests in wills, life insurance, retirement funds (RSP, RIF, TFSA), and securities donations as legacy gifts
3. Event Fundraising: Annual fundraising campaigns, online auctions, casino fundraisers, and event sponsorships
4. Corporate Sponsorships: Sponsorship packages for annual campaigns and events, including Diamond sponsorship from Otsuka and Lundbeck for Yes 2 Me Scholarships
5. Government and Foundation Grants: Funding from Alberta Health Services, Alberta Health, Calgary Foundation, Stollery Charitable Foundation, and Homeward Trust Edmonton

Pricing tiers

Go-to-market motion1 record

Distribution channels5 records

Marketing channels8 records

Core offering

Schizophrenia Society of Alberta provides free peer-led support programs, community education on schizophrenia, supportive housing, and employment services for individuals living with schizophrenia and their families across Alberta. Service delivery is carried out through six branch offices, online platforms, telephone support, and partnerships such as the First Nations Telehealth Network.

Product overview

The Schizophrenia Society of Alberta operates as a nonprofit organization providing a comprehensive suite of peer-led support services for individuals affected by schizophrenia and their families. The organization offers programs across six branches (Edmonton, Calgary, Red Deer, Medicine Hat, Lethbridge, and Camrose satellite) plus online programming. Core services include Peer Support Programs (Online, Phone, Adult, and Outreach), Family and Caregiver Support, Community Education with the Starry Night Theatre Group, Supportive Employment (employing over 200 individuals), and Supportive Housing (three facilities housing 55 individuals). Additional offerings include the Yes 2 Me scholarship program, Indigenous Outreach, and educational forums. All programs are provided at no cost to participants.

Differentiator

Problem solved

Functional benefit

Brands

• Starry Night Theatre Group: A powerful stage performance by actors with lived experience of schizophrenia, created to create awareness and combat stigma. Written in 1998 by a group of individuals living with schizophrenia.

Products and services

• Peer-led support programs Free, ongoing peer support groups facilitated by individuals with lived experience of schizophrenia, providing emotional support, shared coping strategies, and reduced isolation for participants and families across Alberta.
• Community education on schizophrenia Educational workshops, presentations, and public awareness campaigns designed to increase understanding of schizophrenia, reduce stigma, and inform families, employers, schools, and the general public about the condition.
• Supportive housing Supported housing programs providing stable, affordable accommodation combined with on-site support for individuals living with schizophrenia, aimed at preventing homelessness and promoting independent living.
• Employment services Employment preparation, job coaching, and workplace integration services helping individuals with schizophrenia find and maintain meaningful employment.
• Family and caregiver support Dedicated support groups, respite resources, and educational programming for family members and caregivers of individuals with schizophrenia.

Quantifiable outcome

• SSA housing and support programs cost one quarter of the price of a day in hospital
• +3 more outcomes

Named customers7 records

Segments4 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 major and core.

• Recovery Alberta - Mobile Response Team (MRT)majorStrategic or Co-development Partner · 20 August 2026Recovery Alberta's MRT operates mental health crisis triage for Calgary Zone. SSA collaborates on education about MRT services through speakers forums to help families understand crisis response options.
• Homeward Trust EdmontoncoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerKey partner in operating Iris Court supportive housing facility. Homeward Trust provides coordinated access referrals for individuals experiencing homelessness who need mental health support. Partnership enables 24-hour support services for vulnerable populations.
• Alberta Health Services - Addiction and Mental HealthcoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerPrimary healthcare partner providing clinical staff and support for housing facilities (Iris Court, Kentwood Place) and mental health services across Alberta. Funds programs and services.
• First Nations Telehealth NetworkcoreTechnology or IntegrationTechnology partner enabling SSA to deliver Indigenous outreach programs via video conferencing to First Nations and Métis communities across Alberta who face geographic barriers to access.

Scale indicators8 records

Recent moves6 records

Expansion highlights5 records

Direct peers

• Schizophrenia Society of Canada: The national federation of provincial schizophrenia societies, of which SSA is a member. Directly comparable on mission, programs (peer support, family education, advocacy), and target population, with national scope versus SSA's provincial Alberta focus.
• Canadian Mental Health Association - Alberta Division: CMHA Alberta Division is the most directly comparable peer, providing mental health support, education, housing, and recovery programs across Alberta — overlapping heavily with SSA's service categories but with a broader mental health mandate rather than schizophrenia-specific focus.
• BC Schizophrenia Society: British Columbia's provincial schizophrenia society offering peer support, family programs, and education — direct provincial-level peer comparable in scope and mission to SSA.
• Schizophrenia Society of Ontario: Ontario's provincial peer organization operating peer support groups, family education, advocacy, and public awareness campaigns for people affected by schizophrenia — a structurally identical organization in a neighboring province.

Others

• Mental Health Foundation of Alberta: Provincial mental health fundraising and grantmaking organization — adjacent to SSA as a peer funder/advocate with comparable Alberta footprint but a different operating model focused on grant distribution and awareness rather than direct service delivery.
• Homeward Trust Edmonton: Edmonton's homelessness authority and SSA's core housing partner at Iris Court — comparable as an adjacent ecosystem participant coordinating supportive housing for individuals with mental illness and addiction across Edmonton.

Broad incumbents

• Alberta Health Services - Addiction and Mental Health: The provincial healthcare system's mental health arm and SSA's largest funder — comparable as a peer because it also delivers community mental health services, supportive housing, and crisis support across Alberta, though at vastly larger scale.
• Centre for Addiction and Mental Health (CAMH): Canada's largest mental health and addiction teaching hospital and research centre, providing clinical care, housing, and community programs across the full mental health spectrum — overlapping with SSA on community-based supports and supportive housing but operating at much larger scale and broader diagnostic scope.

Market position

Strengths4 records

Weaknesses4 records

Competitive moat5 records

Key risks5 records

Key highlights6 records

Customer concentration

• Xx.com/SchizophreniaAB
• LinkedInlinkedin.com/company/schizophrenia-society-of-alberta-calgary

Revenue estimate

Valuation estimate

Number of profiles

Funding overview

Funding rounds2 records

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 Schizophrenia Society of Alberta