At an agency like CUPS, successes are celebrated every day. Each success is an exceptional achievement and represents tremendous commitment to personal growth and development. Below are a couple examples of some of the great things that happen when compassion meets commitment. We invite you to read them and challenge your own definition of what it means to be successful.
Nancy and Dubois arrived in Canada in search of a better life for their eight children.When they arrived in Calgary, they could not find a home they could afford. As a result, they stayed in church basements for five... Read More >>
In 2008 the CUPS Outreach team achieved significant progress with a long time client, who, for sake of confidentiality, will be named Sonya. Sonya has been accessing CUPS services since 2004. In 2004 she was staying mostly in... Read More >>
A gentleman who was struggling with homelessness came to the Outreach team through CUPS medical clinic. He needed help finding a stable place to live, and after the initial meeting, the team discovered that he had... Read More >>
Nancy and Dubois arrived in Canada in search of a better life for their eight children. When they arrived in Calgary, they could not find a home they could afford. As a result, they stayed in church basements for five months. Through the CUPS Family Centre, they enrolled in the Rapid Exit Family Housing program and found a stable home within a month.
Dubois was a teacher in Africa and in Quebec, but had to be recertified in Alberta. Nancy was a Nurse in Quebec, but was unable to practice in Alberta, as she also required recertification and more fluency in English.
Nancy wanted to register at Mount Royal College to achieve the English proficiency required to become a Registered Nurse. In the meantime, she also had to return to Quebec to take the exams that would recertify her in Alberta.
At this time Dubois was employed as a maintenance technician. The family of 10 struggled to make ends meet on an annual income of $40,000. Nancy was eager to get the credentials that would help her improve her family’s life, but she couldn’t afford the courses at Mount Royal and the expense of travelling back and forth to Quebec.
CUPS Health & Education Centres administer the Lorraine Melchior Bursary Fund, established through a generous donation by Petro-Canada in honour of Lorraine Melchior, Executive Director of CUPS Health & Education Centres between 1994 and 2003. This bursary provided the means to make Nancy’s dream possible.
Currently Nancy is taking English courses and working as a Nursing Assistant. Once her English meets professional standing, she will become a full-time Registered Nurse. We at CUPS are proud of Nancy and Dubois’ commitment to their family and community. We look forward to hearing more about their success as they settle and thrive in Calgary.