Turning Point Society

11/07/2025

This is today. We woke up to snow and we really need gloves and winter gear to give to clients. We would really appreciate any donations of this kind brought to the office today 🙏🏻 thank you and hope to see you here today.

REMINDER: This Friday is our garage sale and donation drive!

Time: 9:15AM – 12PM; 1PM – 4:30PM
Where: 4611 50th Ave, Red Deer

GARAGE SALE
Since our drop-in is closing, we need to downsize. We will be selling surplus office supplies, office furniture, and other office items. There will also be some electronics, like phones, laptops, and desktops. Finally, we are also selling some kitchen items. Basically, if we don’t need it or can’t fit it, then we are selling it. We’ll have a variety of items, so please come and check out our garage sale. No reasonable offer will be refused.

DONATION DRIVE
Despite the drop-in closing, we’re still around in the community. We’re shifting to an outreach delivery model. We can still hand out survival supplies, clothing, winter gear, and snacks while we do outreach. Unfortunately, we need to really narrow our focus of what we can accept because of storage limitations. Right now we are looking for:

Cold weather clothing, coats, and snowpants
Hats & mitts
Hand & foot warmers
Winter boots
Socks
Survival candles
Foil blankets
Single use hygiene supplies
Packaged, shelf-stable snacks
Gift cards – Tim Horton’s, McDonalds, etc..
Monetary donations

We no longer have a kitchen to prepare snacks or a place to serve food to folks. Snacks donated need to be individual, packaged, shelf-stable snacks. Hot Rod Pepperoni Sticks are a great protein option, along with granola bars, or fruit snacks.

Along with this closure is a loss of staff. We can only accept single use or travel size hygiene supplies that can be given directly to clients because we no longer have the capacity to partition full-sized donations into single-use containers. We also can no longer afford the single-use containers.

We are also still accepting monetary donations. We accept cash, cheques, and online donations through our website. Donations through our website (turningpoint-ca.org) can be made one-time or reoccur monthly. Anything helps.

If you have questions please reach out to us here, by phone at 403-346-8858 or by e-mail at administration@turningpoint-ca.org.

11/05/2025

REMINDER: This Friday is our garage sale and donation drive!

Time: 9:15AM – 12PM; 1PM – 4:30PM
Where: 4611 50th Ave, Red Deer

GARAGE SALE
Since our drop-in is closing, we need to downsize. We will be selling surplus office supplies, office furniture, and other office items. There will also be some electronics, like phones, laptops, and desktops. Finally, we are also selling some kitchen items. Basically, if we don’t need it or can’t fit it, then we are selling it. We’ll have a variety of items, so please come and check out our garage sale. No reasonable offer will be refused.

DONATION DRIVE
Despite the drop-in closing, we’re still around in the community. We’re shifting to an outreach delivery model. We can still hand out survival supplies, clothing, winter gear, and snacks while we do outreach. Unfortunately, we need to really narrow our focus of what we can accept because of storage limitations. Right now we are looking for:

Cold weather clothing, coats, and snowpants
Hats & mitts
Hand & foot warmers
Winter boots
Socks
Survival candles
Foil blankets
Single use hygiene supplies
Packaged, shelf-stable snacks
Gift cards – Tim Horton’s, McDonalds, etc..
Monetary donations

We no longer have a kitchen to prepare snacks or a place to serve food to folks. Snacks donated need to be individual, packaged, shelf-stable snacks. Hot Rod Pepperoni Sticks are a great protein option, along with granola bars, or fruit snacks.

Along with this closure is a loss of staff. We can only accept single use or travel size hygiene supplies that can be given directly to clients because we no longer have the capacity to partition full-sized donations into single-use containers. We also can no longer afford the single-use containers.

We are also still accepting monetary donations. We accept cash, cheques, and online donations through our website. Donations through our website (turningpoint-ca.org) can be made one-time or reoccur monthly. Anything helps.

If you have questions please reach out to us here, by phone at 403-346-8858 or by e-mail at administration@turningpoint-ca.org.

10/29/2025

On Friday folks from the local music and art community came together and threw a fundraiser for Turning Point. Not only did they gather a bunch of donations for us, like coats, socks, and snacks, but they also raised a total of $2130.

It was such a fun evening with performers playing everything from folk to punk, live artists working on paintings to be auctioned off as the night went on, and tables of donated art, jewellery, and more up for auction throughout the evening.

We want to give a heartfelt thank you to everyone who made this happen, from the organizers, to the performers, to those that donated their art and products for the auction, to the Vin L Den for their space, and to those who came out, donated, and enjoyed the night with us.

It really shows how community can come together to make an impact.

10/27/2025

Since we found out about the cuts to our funding, the community has shown their support for us in many ways. This past International Overdose Awareness day in August was a bit heavier this year than others because of the news we, our clients, and those that support us had been processing. The community showed up for us by donating items to our silent auction fundraiser in such great amounts that we were quickly overwhelmed. We'd like to thank everyone who donated products to our silent auction.

Marla Merkley
Silver Cove Red Deer
STEMS Flowers & Cafe
Totally Refreshed Steam and Spa
Pretty Made Things & Co
Wicked
The Gutter
Moon & Lotus
Siding 14 Brewing Company
Saje
Windsor Plywood
Heritage Lanes
Burger Boy
Red Deer Tattoo Co.
Classic Tattoo Co.
Urban Barn
Erika Bertin
Rocky Mountain Soap Company
Chatter's Timberland
Shady Orchard & Winery
Central Alberta Lighting
For Lover's Only
Troubled Monk
You Glow Aesthetics
Sunrise Records

And, of course, thank you to the vendors who set up tables, Moms Stop the Harm for their Walk to Remember, and to everyone that spoke at the event. Lastly, thank you to everyone who came.

10/21/2025

On November 7th we will host a garage sale and donation drive at our drop-in space. Here’s what you need to know:

Time: 9:15AM – 12PM; 1PM – 4:30PM
Where: 4611 50th Ave, Red Deer

GARAGE SALE
Since our drop-in is closing, we need to downsize. We will be selling surplus office supplies, office furniture, and other office items. There will also be some electronics, like phones, laptops, and desktops. Finally, we are also selling some kitchen items. Basically, if we don’t need it or can’t fit it, then we are selling it. We’ll have a variety of items, so please come and check out our garage sale. No reasonable offer will be refused.

DONATION DRIVE
Despite the drop-in closing, we’re still around in the community. We’re shifting to an outreach delivery model. We can still hand out survival supplies, clothing, winter gear, and snacks while we do outreach. Unfortunately, we need to really narrow our focus of what we can accept because of storage limitations. Right now we are looking for:

Cold weather clothing, coats, and snowpants
Hats & mitts
Hand & foot warmers
Winter boots
Socks
Survival candles
Foil blankets
Single use hygiene supplies
Packaged, shelf-stable snacks
Gift cards – Tim Horton’s, McDonalds, etc..
Monetary donations

We no longer have a kitchen to prepare snacks or a place to serve food to folks. Snacks donated need to be individual, packaged, shelf-stable snacks. Hot Rod Pepperoni Sticks are a great protein option, along with granola bars, or fruit snacks.

Along with this closure is a loss of staff. We can only accept single use or travel size hygiene supplies that can be given directly to clients because we no longer have the capacity to partition full-sized donations into single-use containers. We also can no longer afford the single-use containers.

We are also still accepting monetary donations. We accept cash, cheques, and online donations through our website. Donations through our website (turningpoint-ca.org) can be made one-time or reoccur monthly. Anything helps.

If you have questions please reach out to us here, by phone at 403-346-8858 or by e-mail at administration@turningpoint-ca.org.

10/20/2025

This is an important and heartbreaking post – we will be closing our main drop-in space downtown with its last operational day being Friday, October 31st, 2025. We were unable to fundraise enough money to remain open over the winter, but we are so incredibly grateful for everyone that supported us in whatever capacity they could – whether that be through word of mouth, advocating for us, or donating. The money that was raised will still be going towards our clients & outreach operations, which will be discussed later in this post.

Without the Government of Alberta’s help with a transition plan, we have been left to transition our clients independently. Over the next two weeks we will be focused on assisting clients with our closure and continuing to work to refer and handoff to other programming and agencies where possible.

If you use our address as your mailing address, it will need to be changed to another address. We can help you update this. Please ensure that you retrieve any personal items or documents stored, such as your identification, birth certificate, or anything else that we may have of yours. We are here to help.

After October 31st, the drop-in space will be closed to clients and the public. However, staff will be on-site the following week from November 3rd to 7th to help clients continue to retrieve personal items and provide transition supports. Staff may not be on site the following week from November 10th to 14th. After that, staff will not be at the building.

We realize that not everyone will be able to access our office within this period – please spread the word within your circles, your friends, and your families. If you are unable to make it to our office to retrieve your belongings, please call us at 403-346-8858.

Our NightReach Program is not winding down and will remain the same. Our Overdose Prevention Program is not winding down but will continue on an outreach basis.

Unfortunately, our Rural Program will be winding down, and our rural outreach worker will be monitoring the rural phone to provide transition support for our rural clients. Our Overdose Prevention Program may still be able to provide naloxone training in rural areas depending on budget constraints.

On November 7th we will be hosting a garage sale and a donation drive for snacks and cold-weather gear that we can hand out during outreach. A more in-depth post will be made about this soon.

Please reach out to us if you have any questions or need guidance. Our mainline phone number will remain operational even after our drop-in space is closed. 403-346-8858.

If you are a business or agency that needs support from our Outreach team this winter, please contact us and we can arrange routine walk-bys, pop-ups or customized other supports during this transition.

To our clients – we are so, so sorry. You deserve the care we had hoped to continue providing. We will be in the community doing daytime outreach and NightReach will still be running as it always has. Please lean on each other and keep each other safe. Thank you for the grace you continue to provide us despite the challenges that you face yourselves. The workers at Turning Point are standing with you.

10/16/2025

Our agency was invited to the United Way Central Alberta Kick Off Luncheon last month – marking the start of their 60th annual fundraising campaign. We are so incredibly grateful for United Way Central Alberta’s continued support. The money raised from their fundraising initiatives go back into communities around Central Alberta by providing funding to programs that tackle some big concerns we’re facing – such as basic needs, mental health, and rising rates of poverty, all of which are closely linked. Thank you, United Way Central Alberta, for all that you do – for us, our communities, and all the individuals that have felt the impact of your programming and the programming you help support.

10/14/2025

Our Stop Syphilis program is wrapping up and is no longer providing STBBI testing. Our medical team will be providing treatment, wrap around support, and transfer of care as we navigate the program’s closure. If you have concerns or questions about your care, please stop by the office, give us a call at 403-346-8858, or e-mail test.treat@turningpoint-ca.org.

In less than two years, our Stop Syphilis program completed over 1000 sexually transmitted and blood-borne infection (STBBI) tests, all completed in Red Deer and 7 communities throughout the Central Health Zone. In rural communities, we had 240 testing and treatment encounters – many of those for people who experienced barriers to accessing testing and treatment. We are incredibly grateful for our partnership with Care Gateway Medical, and all of the communities, agencies, and individuals who worked with our team to bring this critical health service to so many at risk and vulnerable folks.

Our SSP team was passionate and driven while providing care for patients, building relationships in our community and beyond, and bridging gaps in healthcare access inequities. The program focused on client-centered care that was culturally sensitive and met the needs of each individual community. The way services were delivered varied from community to community because addressing healthcare inequities is not one-size fits all. The Stop Syphilis program's success would not have been possible without the team members that were a part of it over the last 2 years who demonstrated their ability to take a significant challenge and approach it in a compassionate and dynamic way.

09/30/2025

Today, on September 30, we honour the National Day for Truth and Reconciliation. This day acknowledges the history and ongoing legacy of residential schools, where Indigenous children were forcibly removed from their families, denied their languages and cultures, and subjected to widespread abuse. Thousands of children never returned home. The impacts of these policies continue to be felt today, contributing to intergenerational trauma, systemic racism, and inequities in health, housing, and social outcomes.

The National Day for Truth and Reconciliation was established in 2021, following one of the 94 Calls to Action of the Truth and Reconciliation Commission (TRC). The TRC, which operated between 2008 and 2015, documented the truths of survivors and made concrete recommendations for governments, institutions, and communities to address the harms of colonial policies. While some progress has been made, many Calls to Action remain unfulfilled, and Indigenous communities continue to face profound disparities in housing, health care, and substance use supports.

For those we serve, this history is not abstract. Indigenous people are disproportionately represented among those who are unhoused and among those who use substances. These realities are deeply tied to colonial policies that disrupted families, severed community ties, and created barriers to land, housing, and culturally safe care.

Today is not only about remembrance, but also about responsibility. Truth and reconciliation requires more than symbolic gestures—it requires sustained action, listening to Indigenous leadership, and addressing inequities in practical and meaningful ways.

Turning Point has always been committed to learning from Indigenous voices, supporting culturally grounded services, and providing just and equitable care to those who access our services.
Join us in our downtown drop-in space for a day of games and Cree language learning activities, and for a stew and bannock lunch at 1PM.

4611 50th Ave, Red Deer
403-346-8858
9:15am – 12pm
1pm – 4:30pm

09/28/2025

This upcoming Thursday, October 2nd, MC College students will be at our office from 9:30AM until 12:00PM offering FREE haircuts and manicures. It will be on a drop-in basis, and first come, first served.

Thank you to the college and their students for providing this service to those in our community that otherwise may not be able to access such care.

09/16/2025

Our Women’s Program has had significant impacts in the community. Here are some statistics averaged over the course of 9 years that demonstrate the tangible effects our Women’s Program has had on the lives of vulnerable women and their children.

84% of babies were born at a healthy weight.

86% of women demonstrated improved psychological wellness.

85% of women decreased harmful substance use patterns.

66% of women who planned to parent were still parenting at 2 months.

Our Women’s Program consists of a Team Lead and two outreach workers. The Women’s Program has always employed a nurse – whether that be the Team Lead, or an outreach worker. Having a nurse in the Women’s Program helps facilitate greater understanding of medical information, wraparound care, and healthcare system navigation.

This has been accomplished through the dynamic nature of our Women’s Program, which utilizes both case-management and drop-in support. Relationships are built over time in a person-centered manner where people may access services in a way that makes sense for them.

The Women's Program is one of our programs impacted by the provincial funding cut we have experienced, and has been instructed to wind down servicing by November 1, 2025.