It was an “Aha!” moment for 24-year-old Jake. He had stepped out from under the makeshift shelter he and two companions were sharing by the Elbow River. He was squatting, washing his hands in the cool water — out of his mind with anger and frustration over burning a hole in the aluminum can he was using as a crystal meth pipe.

For a moment, he saw himself from a distance, as if he was seeing himself through someone else’s eyes — a homeless, drug-addicted, thin, man, long-past just needing a shower, living moment-to-moment in a fight-or-flight state of agitation.

In his words, he describes himself as he was, the day he walked into the Wood’s Homes’ Inglewood Opportunity Hub for help: he was in survival mode, like an animal, ready to pounce or run, depending on what he thought might be coming around the corner. It’s the wrap-around services at the Inglewood Opportunity Hub — and the empathy and approach of its staff — that helped Jake start his recovery. Just eight months after the day on the river, he now has a place to live, goals for his future, and a community to belong to. He says the first step was finding himself at the hub, feeling taken care of for the first time in his life. Next, came the desire to contribute to moving his life forward, and the lives of others. He is making plans to one day do the kind of work his mentors at the hub are doing.

Daniel entered care just before his fifth birthday, belonging to the Stoney Nakoda (Good Stoney) Nation. Sadly, he had endured multiple traumas early in life - his mother died at home when he was just a baby, and other relatives struggled with addiction. Daniel’s last visit to his Nation ended in 2019, and over time, he began distancing himself from his Indigenous identity, adopting the culture of his non-Indigenous foster caregivers instead.

Daniel initially received a smudge kit and teachings. Though he was curious, he soon refused to continue, as any reminder of his roots provoked anxiety. To ease him in gently, staff and caregivers introduced Indigenous books and coloring activities, plus frequent reminders that he was a Stoney Nakoda member.

The foster mom brought Daniel to traditional events - medicine mixing, drum-making, winter solstice, round dances, and powwows - letting him simply observe until he felt ready to participate. Staff consulted regularly with Indigenous Knowledge Keepers, aiming to address Daniel’s trauma in culturally appropriate ways. They also reached out to his Nation’s Child Intervention Practitioner. Offering sweetgrass as protocol helped rebuild trust and start a healthier working relationship. A “Welcoming His Spirit Back Home” ceremony was held on the Nation, where Daniel presented protocol to a Knowledge Keeper. His foster mom joined, showing shared commitment to Daniel’s cultural identity. Daniel now visits the Nation monthly. He enjoys “Wednesday in the Woods” activities on the land and has begun equine therapy. Daniel’s journey to reclaim his Stoney Nakoda heritage continues. Through consistent, positive cultural engagements, he’s slowly overcoming anxiety and beginning to feel pride in who he is and where he comes from. The goal is for Daniel to stand confidently in his identity, with a strong, supportive circle of caregivers and Nation members beside him.

Meet Sarah. She knows better than anyone that Canada is in a mental health crisis. When one in four children face mental health challenges - and only one in five get the help they need - that’s a crisis.

When Sarah’s family moved, her parents could not have anticipated the anxiety this would trigger in their creative, smart 11-year-old daughter. Small signs of fear and anxiety started to creep in. Sarah would withdraw when the house became busy, and her reactions became unpredictable. It was when Sarah started a new school that things spiraled out of control. Getting her out of the car the first day was impossible. Fear gripped Sarah to the point of paralysis and, when tears stopped flowing, they were replaced by never-before-seen rage.

As Sarah’s emotional and physical reactions became harder to manage, tensions at home mounted. The family’s routine mornings became chaotic, her parents started missing work, and her siblings didn’t feel safe.

Growing up, life was never easy. My family struggled to afford the basics, and our home was full of stress, arguments, and uncertainty. By the time I hit high school, I had stopped caring about school altogether. Instead, I spent my time with people who made me feel like I belonged—even if we were making bad choices.

It wasn’t long before I got into serious trouble. I was arrested for shoplifting and, for the first time, I realized how quickly my life was spiraling. I was scared. I thought I’d end up in juvie, but instead, I was given a second chance through the Linking Employment and Development Program at Wood’s Homes. I didn’t have any job experience, and I had no idea how to write a resume, but the team at the Inglewood Opportunity Hub helped me figure it out. They connected me with a job placement where I learned real skills, and for the first time, I saw a different path for myself—one where I could build something instead of throwing it all away. Now, I’m working part-time and saving up for my future. I got the chance to turn things around, and I took it.