Independent Living Resource Centre of Calgary

What Independent Living Resource Centre of Calgary does

The Independent Living Resource Centre of Calgary (ILRCC) is a registered Canadian charity (Charity 12791 4463 RR0001) founded in 1985 that delivers programs and services to individuals with disabilities in Calgary, Alberta. Its core offerings fall into two categories: weekly multi-week fee-based programs — including cooking classes (Monday through Thursday), jewelry making, arts and crafts, baking, gentle yoga, dance and sing, American Sign Language, pizza night, and bowling — priced at C$80–C$135 per session, and ongoing services such as life skills training, professional interpreting for Deaf and hard-of-hearing individuals, government application support (PDD, DTC, CDB, AISH, CPP-D, Fair Entry Program), peer support, referrals, workshops, presentations, youth mentorship, and a respite program with a searchable database of vetted respite workers. Program participation is capped per session (e.g., 6–12 clients) to ensure individualized attention.

The organization operates from a single office at 110W, 1144–29th Ave NE, Calgary, and is supported by a small team of 8 employees plus a large volunteer base (49,673 volunteers and contributors providing 223,120 hours cumulatively). It is governed by a Board of Directors (Chair: Omotola Abayomi) and is a member of the Independent Living Canada network of 24 centres across Canada. The underlying technology stack is minimal: a WordPress-based website (ilrcc.ab.ca) hosts the program catalog, registration, newsletter signup, and donation page, with no disclosed proprietary platform, mobile app, API, or AI components.

ILRCC's revenue model is a hybrid nonprofit structure: small unit-priced program fees from individual participants, donations (C$10, C$50, C$250 or custom), and grant funding from core government partners including the Government of Alberta and the City of Calgary, supplemented by community sponsors (Diocese of Calgary, Pampered Chef) and a technology vendor (Wise Tech Corp). Revenue is not publicly disclosed. The go-to-market is community-based — referrals, word-of-mouth, the organization's website, and a 4.5-star Google Maps presence — with no enterprise sales motion or paid acquisition. The customer base consists of individuals with disabilities in Alberta (primary), caregivers seeking respite support (secondary), and persons with developmental disabilities navigating government programs (secondary).

Name

Independent Living Resource Centre of Calgary

Legal name

Independent Living Resource Centre of Calgary

Website

https://ilrcc.ab.ca

Company type

Private

Founded year

1985

Operating status

Operating

Headcount range

1–10 employees

Short description

The Independent Living Resource Centre of Calgary is a registered Canadian charity founded in 1985 that delivers fee-based programs (cooking, arts, yoga, ASL, bowling), interpreting, government application support, and respite matching services to individuals with disabilities and caregivers in Calgary, Alberta, funded by program fees, donations, and government grants.

Ownership category

akta.pro rank

Product category

Disability Support Services

NAICS

Services for the Elderly and Persons with Disabilities (624120)

SIC

Services-Social Services (8300)

akta.pro primary industry

Disability Services & Assistive Solutions (Accessibility, Assistive Tech) (BPAGALAM)

akta.pro secondary industries

Note-Taking, Interpreting & Communication Access Services (EDALAGAD), AAC (Augmentative & Alternative Communication) Devices, Apps & Training (EDAKAIAB), Accessibility, Accommodations & Assistive Services (EDALAFAN)

Keywords

• Disability support services
• Life skills training
• Respite care services
• Community inclusion programs
• Interpreting services

Headquarters

HQ city

Calgary

HQ country

Canada

HQ region

North America

Offices1 record

Markets served

GTM type

B2C

Offering type

Services

Cost components

Personnel, Operations, Technology or R&D, Marketing or Sales, Infrastructure, Others

Pricing tiers

Distribution channels2 records

Marketing channels4 records

Core offering

ILRCC provides programs, services, and referrals for individuals with disabilities in Calgary, Alberta. Offerings include skill-building classes (cooking, arts & crafts, baking, jewelry making, gentle yoga, dance & sing, American Sign Language), social programs (pizza nights, bowling), interpreting services for Deaf and hard-of-hearing individuals, government application support, and a respite worker database connecting family caregivers with vetted respite workers.

Product overview

ILRCC offers a diverse portfolio of programs and services for individuals with disabilities in Calgary, Alberta. The core offerings include skill-building programs (cooking classes across multiple days, arts & crafts, jewelry making, baking, gentle yoga, and dance & sing), social programs (pizza nights, bowling), and educational services (ASL classes). Service offerings encompass interpreting services, government application assistance, life skills training, and a respite program connecting caregivers with vetted respite workers through a searchable database. The organization also provides referrals, workshops, presentations, peer support, and youth mentorship as foundational programs. All programs are designed to support independence, foster inclusion, and promote equal opportunities for persons with disabilities.

Differentiator

Problem solved

Functional benefit

Products and services

• Cooking Classes Weekly hands-on cooking classes held Monday to Thursday at various times for individuals with disabilities. Participants develop independent living and nutrition skills in a small group of up to 6 clients. Each 6-week session costs $80.
• Jewelry Making Creative arts program on Mondays from 11:30 am to 12:30 pm where participants learn to design and craft unique jewelry pieces, exploring basic techniques and different materials. 8-week program priced at $90.
• Arts & Crafts Group arts and crafts class held on Tuesdays and Thursdays accommodating individuals with various disabilities. Limited to 12 clients per session. 12-week program priced at $135.
• Baking (Desserts) Baking class held on Tuesdays and Thursdays from 2:00 pm to 3:00 pm where participants explore new dessert recipes. Limited to 6 clients per session. Priced at $80 per program.
• Gentle Yoga Holistic yoga program on Wednesdays from 11:00 am to 12:00 pm improving physical, mental, and emotional well-being for individuals with disabilities. Limited to 6 participants. 12-week program priced at $110.
• Dance & Sing Dance and sing program combining aerobic exercise with stress relief through singing for individuals with disabilities. 8-week program priced at $80. Currently closed for registration.
• American Sign Language (ASL) Class American Sign Language class held on Fridays, providing language education for communication accessibility. Priced at $110 per program.
• Saturday Bowling Bowling program on Saturdays from 1:00 pm to 3:00 pm at Chinook Bowladrome. Participants play up to 3 games at $6 per game with free shoe rental. Program priced at $110.
• Pizza Night Social program held Wednesdays from 5:00 pm to 7:00 pm at Boston Pizza on Memorial Drive NE. Allows clients to socialize, dine, and interact in a restaurant setting. 12-week program priced at $110; participants also pay for their own food orders.
• Life Skills Training Life skill-building opportunities including English as a Second Language, Social Skills, and American Sign Language to help individuals with disabilities develop independence.
• Interpreting Services Professional interpreting services supporting communication in employment, workplace settings, training programs, educational environments, work experience placements, and interviews for Deaf and hard-of-hearing individuals.
• Services & Application Support Assistance with government applications including Persons with Developmental Disabilities (PDD), Disability Tax Credit (DTC), Canada Disability Benefit (CDB), Alberta Works, Assured Income for Severely Handicapped (AISH), CPP-D, Fair Entry Program, and appeals.
• Respite Program Program connecting family caregivers with respite workers who provide short-term, flexible support for individuals with disabilities. Workers offer occasional care in-home, in the worker's home, or in the community.
• Respite Worker Database Database of vetted respite workers that families can access to find short-term care support. Workers provide personal care, medication assistance, community participation, light housekeeping, companion care, meal preparation, appointment support, and overnight care.
• Peer Support Peer support programs that alleviate social isolation, foster inclusion, and create social opportunities within a supportive environment for individuals with disabilities.
• Referrals Referral services helping individuals with disabilities connect to appropriate resources and support systems in the community.
• Workshops & Courses Educational workshops and courses designed to build skills and knowledge for individuals with disabilities.
• Youth Mentorship Mentorship programs for youth with disabilities to support their development and independence.

Quantifiable outcome

• 49,673 volunteers & contributors engaged
• +1 more outcomes

Segments3 records

Ideal customer profiles2 records

Technology focussed No

API detail

Has API

No

API docs

API detail

Core technology

AI maturity

App detail

Partnerships

Five partnerships are on record, tiered core and minor.

• Independent Living Canada (IL Canada)coreStrategic or Co-development PartnerNational umbrella organization representing and coordinating a network of Independent Living Centres at the national level. ILRCC is part of this 24-centre Canadian network supporting individuals with disabilities.
• Government of AlbertacoreOthersProvincial government providing funding and regulatory oversight for disability services in Alberta.
• City of CalgarycoreOthersMunicipal government partner providing community funding and support for local disability services.
• Diocese of CalgaryminorOthersCommunity organization listed as a partner/sponsor of ILRCC.
• Pampered ChefminorOthersKitchenware company listed as a program sponsor, potentially providing cooking program support.

Scale indicators5 records

Recent moves6 records

Expansion highlights4 records

Regional players

• Inclusion Alberta: Alberta-based advocacy and family-support organization for persons with developmental disabilities and their families. Comparable in Alberta geography, advocacy focus, and disability-population served.
• Spinal Cord Injury Alberta: Alberta-focused nonprofit supporting individuals with spinal cord injuries and other physical disabilities with peer support, life skills, and community programs. Comparable in service mix and Alberta geography.

Broad incumbents

• March of Dimes Canada: National nonprofit delivering employment services, accessibility programs, and post-stroke recovery support across Canada. Comparable in operating disability services nationwide, including employment support which overlaps with ILRCC's mandate.
• Canadian National Institute for the Blind (CNIB): National nonprofit providing rehabilitation, advocacy, and community programs for Canadians living with vision loss. Comparable as an established disability-services organization with peer support and life skills programming.
• Easter Seals Canada: National federation providing programs and services for persons with disabilities across Canada. Comparable as a larger, established disability-services nonprofit operating programs and advocacy nationwide.
• Independent Living Canada (IL Canada): National umbrella organization coordinating ILRCC and 23 other Independent Living Centres across Canada. Directly comparable as the network ILRCC belongs to, governing shared standards, advocacy, and inter-centre referrals.

Direct peers

• Voice for Hearing Impaired Children (CHHHE): Canadian nonprofit supporting Deaf and hard-of-hearing children and families with ASL education, interpreting referrals, and advocacy. Comparable because ILRCC's ASL classes and interpreting services serve the same Deaf community.
• Alberta Caregivers Association: Alberta-wide nonprofit supporting family caregivers of persons with disabilities and chronic illness. Directly comparable because ILRCC's respite database serves the same caregiver population with overlapping respite navigation services.
• Calgary SCOPE Society: Calgary-based nonprofit providing community-based disability supports including life skills, recreation, and advocacy. Directly comparable in geography, mission, and service mix to ILRCC.
• Planned Lifetime Advocacy Network (PLAN): Canadian nonprofit supporting people with disabilities and their families with planning, advocacy, and network-building across the lifespan. Comparable as a family-centered disability services nonprofit with similar mission and beneficiary base.

Market position

Strengths5 records

Weaknesses5 records

Competitive moat4 records

Key risks6 records

Key highlights7 records

Customer concentration

• LinkedInlinkedin.com/company/independent-living-resource-centre-of-calgary

Revenue estimate

Valuation estimate

Number of profiles

Profiles7 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 Independent Living Resource Centre of Calgary