Research shows cancer patients who participate in the types of programs offered at Wellspring experience improved mental health resulting in higher quality of life and lower healthcare costs.
Yes. All Wellspring programs are provided free of charge, with no referral required.
As a registered charity, Wellspring Alberta relies on the generosity of donors, volunteers and community partners to make this possible. Their support helps us provide professionally led programs, ensuring cost is never a barrier for people living with cancer, their caregivers and families.
Wellspring Alberta has two centres in Calgary and one in Edmonton. We also offer in-person programs at partner locations throughout the province. You can see the full list of our locations here.
Even if you live far away or in a different province, you can still access Wellspring’s programs! Check out our full offering of online, Canada-wide programming here.
Because Wellspring works hard not to duplicate services provided by other organizations, we don’t provide membership to children with cancer. Instead, we recommend reaching out to Kids Cancer Care, which specializes in providing these programs and services.
That said, just as Kids Cancer Care is there to support your child living with cancer, Wellspring is here to support you as caregivers. As a caregiver, you may become a Wellspring member and take as many programs as you wish.
Please note that while we do have kid-friendly programs, they are primarily for children whose significant adult has cancer. We don’t have the expertise to support children living with cancer.
Grief can be overwhelming, and we want you to know that support is available.
Wellspring Alberta is a cancer support organization that offers programs and services for individuals grieving a loss due to cancer.
Because Wellspring’s cancer support programs are designed for different experiences and stages of the cancer journey, individuals grieving a loss due to cancer have access to programs and services specifically intended to support them through their grief journey.
If you were connected with Wellspring as a caregiver before your loss:
For up to one year following your loss, you may continue to participate in a selection of Wellspring programs that support people living with cancer, their caregivers, and families. Please speak with a Centre Manager about the programs available to you.
You will also have ongoing access to Wellspring’s bereavement programs and supports, as well as programs open to everyone that provide opportunities for learning, reflection, and connection.
If you are connecting with Wellspring after your loss:
You are welcome to access Wellspring’s bereavement programs and supports, as well as programs open to everyone that provide opportunities for learning, reflection, and connection.
Visit our website here or contact us to learn more about available programs and to register.
If you need immediate support or assistance finding services in your community, contact 211 Alberta (dial 211) or the Mental Health HelpLine at 1.877.303.2642, available 24 hours a day.
Wellspring Alberta Programs and Supports:
Yes. Everyone participating in Wellspring is expected to help maintain a welcoming, respectful, safe and confidential environment.
Read our the Wellspring Alberta Code of Conduct.
Before you can participate in a Wellspring program, you will need to tell us a bit about yourself first.
We ask that you complete our short membership form, which allows us to help you find the programs that will best suit your needs. If you prefer to call, a Wellspring volunteer will be available and more than happy to help you with this process.
To get started, head to the Wellspring Alberta home page and click on the “Join for Free” button, which will bring you to the Getting Started page.
From here, scroll down and click on the relevant member option. This will bring you a page with more details on the membership type you selected.
Scroll down to the section called “The Registration Process” and click on the “Sign up as a Member” button.
From here, you will then be prompted to fill out basic information about yourself. Once you’ve completed these steps, you are now a member and can register for any of our programs.
Go to https://portal.wellspring.ca/ and log in to your member account.
From here, you can scroll or use the filters to find the right program(s) for you.
Clicking on the Program name will open a page with more information about the program, including what time it runs, where, and how to register.
When you are logged in, you should see “My Profile” as an option within the purple bar.
Once within this space, you can add or change any information.
Remember to click “Save” at the bottom of the screen to capture your changes.
Yes! You can have your spouse make their own account using the same email address by adding a +1 when registering. For example:
John Doe’s account is under thedoes@gmail.com. His wife Jane uses the same email address. She can create her own account with its own password by registering as thedoes+1@gmail.com, and she will still be able to get program updates, newsletters, and more to her shared email.
If the program you’re interested in is currently full for registration, you can add yourself to a waitlist to be alerted once a spot opens up. This process is the same as registering for a program – just click the Waitlist button instead of the usual Register one.
Once a spot opens up in the program, you will receive an email letting you know you have been admitted. You may also receive a call from a Wellspring volunteer letting you know about the change.
Zoom is a video conferencing platform that is used for all of Wellspring’s online programs.
All you need is a computer with a camera and audio.
You can use a laptop, desktop computer or tablet. We don’t recommend using your smart phone, as it may result in difficulty viewing the leader, the other participants and the materials given the small size of the screen.
The first time you use Zoom:
Select the hyperlink in the body of the email (as shown in the circle) to join the meeting.
The first time you use Zoom, the link will take you to the Zoom webpage. A pop-up bar will appear along the bottom. Click Run.
Zoom Features:
Audio: Click Join Audio (located in the lower left corner of your screen)
Mute: Click on this to mute or un-mute your own audio
Video: Click on this to allow yourself to be seen
Chat: Click on this to send a message to the entire group, or to speak privately with the group leader.
Gallery View: Click on this to give each person equal space on the screen. When speaking, the box around the speaker is highlighted. Speaker view gives the most visual space to the person speaking, while those not speaking will remain visible in small boxes on the right hand side of the screen.
Leave Meeting: Click this at the end of the session. You will be asked to confirm your intent to leave.
To switch back to the English program portal from the French version, you need to use the following link: https://portal.wellspring.ca/?redirect=false
Step-by-Step Instructions:
https://portal.wellspring.ca/?redirect=falseAnyone with a Wellspring membership can access Wellspring’s Community Forum at: https://community.wellspring.ca
View instructions on how to login using your Wellspring username and password.
Wellspring Alberta is a charitable organization that rely entirely on donations from generous individuals, sponsors, and corporations to sustain its programs and services.
Your generosity opens doors and improves the lives of those living with cancer, ensuring:
Yes, every Wellspring is a registered charitable organization and provides charitable tax receipts to its donors. All online donors will receive their tax receipt promptly to their email address after completing their donation, and offline donors will receive their tax receipt in the mail after their gift has been processed.
Yes!
Volunteers are the heart of Wellspring, providing important support at every level of the organization.
Whether you have experienced your own cancer journey, have been a caregiver for someone with cancer, or you are someone who has gifts and skills to share, Wellspring welcomes and values your contribution.
Wellspring Alberta is a registered Canadian charity. We are funded by the generosity of the community and individual donors to ensure we can offer our programs and services at no cost to our members – reducing any barriers to entry. Wellspring Alberta’s charitable business number is 809013675 RR0001.