Tucked onto a side street of Stettler across from the Heartland Youth Centre is the local chapter of the Central Alberta Pregnancy Care Centre (CAPCC).
While considered a “satellite location” to the CAPCC’s main branch in Red Deer, the Stettler location still provides the same client support and programming available at all the regional centres.
Regional centres include Olds and Rocky Mountain House in addition to Stettler, which is the most recent centre that opened its doors in 2022.
SEE ALSO: Central Alberta Pregnancy Care Centre opens new office in Stettler
Core to their purpose, the CAPCCs offer in-person or virtual programming that provides information on parenting, adoption and abortion, male mentorship, post-abortion support, education on healthy relationships, parenting and referrals to other supportive organizations in the community. Additionally, the CAPCCs offer a variety of maternity clothing and baby items for those in need.
The CAPCCs are a faith-based, non-medical program, and as such, while some abortion information is available at the centres, those services are not available through them.
“The biggest difference between the satellite centers and our Red Deer Location, besides the amount of staff and clients they can serve, is our maternity home that has accommodation for up to 11 women and their babies,” said Crystal Stewart, the director of the Stettler CAPCC.
When the Stettler CAPCC first opened its doors in Stettler, it was in a location just off Main Street across from Bloke’s Bakery. However, last fall the centre had the opportunity to move into a bigger space in a quieter part of town which has proven to be a benefit for the organization.
“Our new location has been fantastic,” said Stewart.
“Not only do we have a larger space to accommodate more clients, the location provides a higher level of confidentiality being on a side street.”
Stewart notes that the first location was the perfect “starter home” to introduce the CAPCC to the community, but the new location gives them the space to do their jobs better,
“We have received feedback from clients that they enjoy the new location and feel more comfortable coming, that is a measurement we are proud of,” said Stewart.
However, the new space and the services the centre provides come at a cost; the CAPCC is funded by about 30 per cent individual donations, 30 per cent from fundraising events, 10 per cent from church support, and the rest comes from non-government grants, corporate donors and other community-raised funds.
As for fundraisers, the Stettler CAPCC “Moments in Time” fundraising banquet will be taking place on April 20 at the Stettler Community Hall. Stettler and area residents are invited for a meal, dessert, entertainment, and a heartfelt story.
While the event itself is free, there will be plenty of opportunities to support the CAPCC through both silent and live auctions.
Pre-registration is required, call the centre at 587-627-1111 or check out pregnancycare.ca.
If you cannot make it to the fundraiser, the centre is always accepting donations as well. The Stettler CAPCC is currently looking for new baby items such as diapers, wipes, bottles, soothers, and newborn to nine-month-old baby clothing. Other donations accepted are items for materials, such as Amazon gift cards for purchasing literature for new parents.
The centre can accept donations of baby clothing; however, thanks to a new partnership with Superfluity Thrift Store donations can also be left there as well.
Stettler’s CAPCC is open Tuesdays and Wednesdays from 9 a.m. to 3 p.m., although a 24-hour helpline, 403-343-1619 or 1-8440343-1611, can be accessed anytime. The volunteers who staff the centre can offer support, a listening ear, or just be a supportive person as someone’s world changes with an unexpected pregnancy.
“We understand that the person on the other end of the line lives out a story of a book that we have never read,” said Stewart.
“We can’t know all there is to know about that story but do know that they need support, regardless of how the unexpected pregnancy comes to an end. We love to meet in person, but if someone is uncomfortable with that we are just as happy to have a phone call to hear the story of the caller and in what area they need support.”
