Simon House is one of the oldest addiction recovery organizations in Calgary for individuals 18 years of age and older. The organization was founded in 1982 by a Franciscan Monk, Brother Bernard Barry (passed away in 2009). He lived at the Mount St. Francis Retreat in Cochrane and would drive through Bowness on his way to his parish downtown. He would see men drinking in the ally’s and would stop and talk with them and hear their stories. He was inspired by the Bible character, Simon of ... Read More
Simon House is one of the oldest addiction recovery organizations in Calgary for individuals 18 years of age and older. The organization was founded in 1982 by a Franciscan Monk, Brother Bernard Barry (passed away in 2009). He lived at the Mount St. Francis Retreat in Cochrane and would drive through Bowness on his way to his parish downtown. He would see men drinking in the ally’s and would stop and talk with them and hear their stories. He was inspired by the Bible character, Simon of Cyrene, who helped carry the cross during when Jesus became too weary to carry it himself. Hence why the organization is called Simon House. Brother Bernie felt he could do more than just talk with these men, so he rented a basement suite in Bowness, which we still own today, and set up 7 or 8 cots, provided food and shelter and a safe place for these men to help them find themselves and recover from addiction. He didn’t realize it at the time, but he had started a treatment center. He was greatly helped in the early days by Doreen Baker and Sheila Cameron, who ran a shelter for battered women in Silver Springs.
The organization was officially incorporated under the Societies Act of Alberta in May, 1984. Simon House operates 3 buildings and 67 beds for individuals recovering from addiction. Our program delivers an 84-day treatment program that is person-centered and has a trauma-inform approach to recovery. We serve over 300 individuals per year.
We are returning sons to their parents, brothers to their siblings, husbands to their wives, fathers to their children.
As we continue to learn how we can provide the best care for our residents, it is consistently proven that ongoing care and support is critical in maintaining long-term sobriety. We are proud to offer a client-centered approach, our 12-month AfterCARE program, in which we offer support and guidance that fits our participants' unique needs and lifestyles.
We have an Indigenous Program as well. This program has been growing to create connections with the nations of the Blackfoot Confederacy, and it brings diverse teachings to our residents.
Simon House also offers cooking classes and nutrition and cooking program to our residents so that they learn how to utilize Food Bank donations to create healthy meals.
There is a critical need for Simon House Recovery Society in our community. With the devastating drug poisoning rates in Alberta and across Canada, which now claim 22 lives daily, the urgency for targeted support and intervention has never been more apparent.
Simon House Recovery Society is one of 2023 Charity Intelligence's top 100 Rated Charities.
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