Our story:
In 2019, we opened our doors with a simple but urgent purpose: to elevate how Southwestern Alberta responds to sexual assault and child abuse. We saw where the system was falling short and got to work fixing it. Though well-intentioned, thesystem was fractured. People already dealing with trauma had to navigate a maze of agencies, appointments, and explanations, over and over again. Families had to travel for specialized care, creating real barriers when support was needed most.
We changed that. Our agency is now the sole, trauma-informed entry point for people of all ages, bringing justice, health care, and social services together in one coordinated team. This wrap-around care produces better outcomes and saves time and resources. Along the way, we are strengthening our community partners by sharing skills and knowledge. Our work intersects with other complex challenges like addiction, homelessness, and family breakdown - many of them rooted in untreated trauma. Addressing one helps heal the others.
Trauma has a way of numbing a person’s sense of power and possibility. That’s why the weight of sexual assault and child abuse was never meant to be carried alone. We make the journey lighter. While some organizations offer strictly crisis care, we offer something more: a launchpad. A place where people are supported not just to survive, but to rise up - to move forward, to rebuild, to grow. We act as a guide - lighting the path, while they decide each step. Through empathy and genuine connection, we help clients regain the agency that is often lost in trauma. The outcome is people who are stronger and more resilient than they were before. Healing does not follow a single script. For some, it’s a return to school or the first step toward a career. For others, it’s learning how to trust again, strengthening family bonds, or rediscovering a sense of self. At its heart, healing is about realizing what happened to them does not define who they are or who they can become.
To do this work well, our programs are guided by Evidence-First Design--based on research, not outdated or unproven practices. Through partnerships withresearchers, we stay responsive to emerging issues like sexual assault in sport andonline gender-based violence affecting youth. This commitment has elevated our leadership role in the sector. As a result, we don’t just follow best practices, we help define them.
Our work doesn’t begin after harm has occurred. We are as invested in prevention as we are in response. Prevention starts with conversations that emphasize hope and opportunity. Creating spaces to talk openly about personal autonomy and self-respect, body boundaries, and happy friendships leads to reduced harm. When people know the signs of abuse, they become protectors. When families, friends, and professionals feel equipped to respond, people are more likely to get help. This combination of prevention, healing, and growth are the building blocks of a stronger community.
This work is often heavy, but the progress is real. Every day, we see real results, not only within our walls, but across the communities we serve. Because when one person heals, the impact ripples outward. Families grow stronger. Relationships become healthier. Strength multiplies.
Mission, Vision, Values, and Goals
Under Construction
Board of Directors
Cayley King, Chair
Michele Montgomery, Past - Chair
Liam Nixon, Vice-Chair
Tammie Belanger, Treasurer
Robynn Sander, Secretary
Roberta Smallbones, Director
Harmoni Jones, Director
Kaleigh Rey, Director
Management
Kristine Cassie, Chief Executive Officer - Aurora Centre
Cheryl Patterson, Manager - Aurora Centre
Miranda Hargreaves, Supervisor - Aurora Centre
Baylee Schmidt, Supervisor - Aurora Centre
Ida Draper, Administrative Support and Client Care Manager - Aurora Centre
Christine Schmidt, Acting Supervisor, Aurora Child and Youth Advocacy Centre