About

Since 1988, The Doorway has been dedicated to helping youththriveby offering unconditional support, encouragement, and guidance.

We respect each young person’s autonomy and individuality and are committed to fostering an inclusive community where they feel valued, understood, and empowered.

We believe in building agency—helping youth recognize their strengths, make confident choices, and take meaningful action toward their goals. By nurturing their resilience, critical thinking, and adaptability, we empower them to overcome challenges, seize opportunities, and actively shape their future in a positive way.

Our mission is touplift & support young people guiding them to become proactive agents of change in their own lives and communities so they can thrive in all aspects of their lives.

Our Mission

Making change possible by empowering young people to take steps towards a better quality of life.

Our Vision

An equitable world where young people have the tools to thrive.

Our Values

Our values represent the core beliefs that guide The Doorway’s decisions, culture and actions. These values act as guiding principles for our organization and are fundamental to our internal operations and external relationships.

Respect

We recognize the inherent worth of every individual by treating everyone with kindness, empathy, and understanding regardless of beliefs, background or circumstances. We listen attentively while respecting boundaries and value diverse perspectives.

Belonging

We foster a sense of connection through inclusive communities where everyone is accepted, understood, and valued for who they are. Individuals are welcomed to spaces where they can feel safe to express themselves authentically knowing their voices are being heard and respected.

Care

Care means showing compassion, empathy, and genuine concern for others. It involves actively listening, understanding, and responding to others’ needs with kindness. By nurturing a supportive environment, we help individuals feel valued and empowered to thrive.

Courage

Courage means facing challenges, adversity and fears in pursuit of what is right. By acting with strength and resilience, even in uncertainty we are willing to step out of our comfort zones, take risks, and stand up for our values, regardless of opposition or doubt.

Tenacity

Tenacity means staying determined, persistent and committed, even in the face of challenges. It embodies resilience, grit, and the ability to bounce back from setbacks. At The Doorway, tenacity inspires growth and empowers individuals to overcome obstacles, helping them achieve their goals.

Trust

Trust at The Doorway means open communication, transparency, and consistent actions that build mutual respect. It involves relying on others and believing in each other’s good intentions. Trust is the foundation of strong connections and collaboration, creating an environment where everyone feels safe, valued, and empowered to grow.

Grace

Grace at The Doorway means showing compassion, forgiveness, and acceptance towards ourselves and others, even during difficult times. It’s about kindness, and understanding, regardless of differences or imperfections. Grace fosters empathy, reconciliation, and healing, helping us build meaningful connections while nurturing resilience and growth.

Our Board

Athena Pulzoni

Chair Director of HR & Payroll
St. Mary’s University

Kim Bourque

Secretary Executive Assistant to the President
St. Mary’s University

Brian William Foster

Consultant
Thrive Consulting

Louise Dimmell

Clinical Coding Specialist
Alberta Health Services

Annelies Calnan

Treasurer CPA
FYI Doctors

Wendy Oddie

Director Addictions & Mental Health Diversion Team
Alberta Health Services

Olusolu Abejide

Project Manager
Capital Asset Restoration, Calgary Airport Authority

Floyd Visser

Executive Director
The Doorway

Our Approach

The Doorway's approach to supporting Calgary's youth.

When we first met Jesse, he shared his story of how he began living on the streets. He remembered arriving at a shelter as a young adult and spending a week there before anyone spoke to him. Unfortunately, Jesse’s experience is far too common.

Many young people we meet describe feeling completely alone during their most vulnerable moments. While we encourage youth to set their own goals and create their own paths, no one should have to face these challenges without someone to listen. No young person, especially those in such difficult situations, should feel alone.

The young adults we support, aged 17-30, face significant challenges—addiction, mental health issues, homelessness, job instability, food insecurity, limited access to education, and social isolation. At The Doorway, we not only offer hope but also practical skills and resources to help them overcome these challenges.

We recognize that homelessness is often just a symptom of deeper issues like isolation, low self-worth, and shame. Our focus is on supporting these young adults and helping them build confidence, connections, acceptance, and respect, the foundations needed to help them make meaningful progress toward their goals.

Through our proprietary MYPLAN program, we empower participants to set their own goals and create a plan to achieve them. Through MYPLAN they build confidence, agency, and resilience in a supportive environment that respects their individuality and autonomy. This process helps them develop essential skills like critical thinking and problem solving while taking ownership of their growth, and actively shaping their future, bringing them closer to the life they envision.

Impact Reports

At The Doorway, demonstrating the positive impact of our programs for at-risk youth is essential.

We measure our success through key statistics:

72

participants

2170

visits

251

care packages handed out

2,506

planned steps

71%

monthly participation

83%

achieved sustainable living

But more importantly, we measure our impact by sharing the powerful stories of the individuals whose lives have been transformed by The Doorway’s programs. The stories of our participants reflect the true heart of our work and the lasting change we strive to create.

Read participant stories