The Calgary Public Library is set to expand the number of hours that the organization’s wellness desks—operated at the Central Library, and the Crowfoot and Shawnessy branches—will be open to the public.

The wellness desk program has been staffed by Wood’s Homes councillors, but has seen significant pressures placed upon their operation as demand for support from the public has increased.

Overall, said Sarah Meilleur, CEO of Calgary Public Library, the desks have seen an increase in demand by 110 per cent overall from 2023 to 2024, with growth at the Central Library going from 61 per cent over that same period to 110 percent from February of this year on.

“The goal is just to ensure that we have access for people that have those needs on the ground. One of the library’s values is collaboration, and so we want to remove barriers and we want to create access for people who need additional supports,” said Meilleur.

“Mental health and wellness is a part of something that we’re facing in our community, and the library can’t do it alone, which is why support from BMO Financial and working in collaboration with Wood’s Homes and other social service agencies is the approach we want to take to serve and support our community.”

The expansion of the hours for the wellness desks at the library followed a $330,000 donation made by BMO to the Calgary Public Library Foundation. Additional support for the program has come from the City of Calgary, Boone-Poole Family Foundation, Totem Charitable Foundation and individual donors to the Calgary Public Library Foundation.

Donation to expand services for both patrons and CPL staff

That donation followed a City of Calgary grant of $150,000 through the Connect the Dots program that allowed the wellness desk to operate seven days a week at the Central Library.

“It takes a number of different community partners, including the City stepping up and including BMO Financial supporting us to be able to increase access to community members that want and need these resources,” Meilleur said.

Mayor Jyoti Gondek said the donation was critical to supporting the mental health and wellness of Calgarians.

“At a recent Calgary Chamber of Commerce event, which was held on National Depression Screening Day, we were reminded that in the past the stigma that surrounds mental health deterred some businesses from acting as sponsors for important mental health initiatives,” she said.

“With this donation today, BMO is not just impacting the individuals participating in these programs, you’re also serving as a role model within the business community for others. So, thank you for that. This is leadership in action.”

Mayor Gondek said that the donation would help support the continued operations of the wellness desk for the next three years.

“As our city continues to welcome newcomers to the tune of about 60 people per day, many of whom are new Canadians, it becomes increasingly important to make sure that we have programs that support people’s health and wellness,” Mayor Gondek said.

Meilleur said that part of the funds provided by the donation would also go towards Calgary Public Library staff.

“It provides supports for staff in some of dealing with some of the challenging experiences they’re having with patrons, and just to feel prepared when they come into the library,” she said.

“It support staff and it really supports the community with these single-session counselling services.”

Mental health supports for everyone

Laura Camacho, Eastside Community Mental Health Services Program Supervisor for Wood’s Homes, said that the types of clients that the wellness desks receive are representative of the entire city.

“We see all kinds of clients coming from all walks of life,” she said.

“Besides demographics and seeing people of all ages, we also see clients who come in with a variety of presenting concerns. So the presenting concerns not only relate to mental health specifically, but it could relate to finances, homelessness, family issues, and behavioural issues.”

She said that Wood’s Homes has also worked to find culturally appropriate ways of providing mental health supports and connections to best serve the diversity of individuals seeking help.

Among the major issues wellness desk patrons have sought help for was work, Camacho said.

The use of the desk, she said, was also anonymous for individuals—people accessing the wellness desk for help don’t have to give their name, show a healthcare card, or provide any identifying information to counsellors.

“It’s totally free and is on a walk-in basis. People need to feel comfortable accessing the services and they need to trust the services, and I feel like the wellness desk provides that. It’s that safe space for vulnerable people.”

For more details, and for current hours of the wellness desks, see calgarylibrary.ca/your-library/free-services/wellness-desk.