Who We Are + Our Mission

The Brenda Strafford Foundation Ltd. was established on August 15, 1975, by Dr. Barrie I. Strafford to honour his late wife, Brenda Strafford, who tragically passed away in a car accident in 1974. The Foundation was created when Dr. Strafford converted his business, River View Nursing Home Ltd., in Medicine Hat, into a registered Canadian charitable organization. When River View Nursing Home was sold, Bow View Nursing Home (owned by Dr. Strafford since 1963) became The Foundation’s base in Calgary. The Brenda Strafford Foundation’s core business is seniors’ care, and The Foundation has grown to own and operate four Long Term Care and Assisted Living seniors’ care facilities in Calgary and Okotoks, Alberta, serving over 1000 seniors.

Philosophy  
The Preservation of Dignity and The Pursuit of Happiness
Mission  
As a charitable organization we are an innovative force, providing high-quality person-centered care and services to optimize well-being and enrich people’s lives.
Vision  
Create a future where people can live life to the fullest, with dignity, hope and happiness — in caring and supportive communities.
Values  
We put PEOPLE at the center of everything we do
We boldly pursue QUALITY & INNOVATION with pride and enthusiasm
We believe in ENGAGEMENT with all stakeholders and respect every voice
We act with COMPASSION, empathy and understanding

The BSF Way  
The BSF Way is our foundational person-centered approach to care, services, and environments that are personalized, enabling, support positive interactions and relationships, and encourage a sense of belonging to optimize well-being and enrich people’s lives. This is woven into everything we do.

RESEARCH AND INNOVATION  
The Foundation continues to actively support research endeavors at the University of Calgary including The Brenda Strafford Centre on Aging which has a mandate to enhance the health and wellness of seniors and better inform public policy regarding seniors’ issues through coordinated research, teaching and learning, and community outreach efforts.

COMMUNITY SUPPORTS  
The Brenda Strafford Foundation supports the following charitable programs and services in the Calgary area:
The Brenda Strafford Foundation’s Heart Home Network provides 31 second stage shelter and 51 progressive housing units to women and children fleeing domestic violence. Heart Home Network has established a new standard of services and programs in the domestic violence sector.

Brenda’s House, in partnership with the Children’s Cottage Society and the Calgary Homeless Foundation, provides 14 units of transitional housing for homeless families in Calgary.

Gateway Place is a residential home modified to provide services and support to non-criminally responsible mental health clients.  The service is operated by mental health professionals from Alberta Health Services.

What You Can Do to Support

1. Check out our various social media channels to see what we are up to! You can find us on Facebook, Twitter, LinkedIn and YouTube.

2. Consider donating your time to the BSF! Volunteers are extraordinarily important. Check out our volunteer page for current openings or email us at [email protected].

3. Attend or sponsor our events and fundraisers!

4.  Donate today to support Heart Home Network.