Celebrating 75 Years of Care

Funding for this website and other activities to mark our 75^th year was made possible by a generous grant from the Government of Alberta’s Community Initiative Program.

Value of Diversity
As part of Bethany’s evolution as a faith based organization, a 4^th value was added to the Mission, Vision and Values in 2020: We Embrace Diversity. As a faith based organization, we honour the spiritual beliefs of every person we serve, those with faith traditions and those without. We are open and welcoming to all, knowing that we are made stronger by the diversity of our communities.

Facing the immense challenge of the COVID-19 pandemic, the Heroes of Bethany program helped employees resolve challenges that could make coming to work difficult by providing support to navigate community and government relief programs, assistance to find childcare spaces for frontline employees, transportation support and emergency grocery bags.

Employees were treated with health and wellness gifts to help soothe chapped hands and sore feet.

Lawn signs, sidewalk chalk drawings, handmade cards and social media posts shared encouraging messages to let our Heroes, residents and tenants know the community cares about them and is wishing them well.

Our Heroes were grateful to receive photo tags they could wear on the outside of their PPE. The photo tags featured the employee’s smiling face, which helped residents recognize the person behind the mask.

With restricted access to our care sites, Hero Helpers supported Bethany to purchase tablets and video conferencing applications so our Heroes and residents could connect with loved ones. These connections brought joy to everyone’s day as well as provided reassurance to families that residents were doing well. As public health orders allowed for outdoor visitation, Hero Helpers provided for outdoor visitation spaces as well as hiring summer students at each care site so residents and loved ones could visit safely.

As needs in response to COVID-19 arose and shifted throughout the pandemic, the Heroes of Bethany program continued to engage the community to meet those needs. Our Hero Helpers’ response has been remarkable in supporting our Heroes of Bethany, residents and tenants.

There is nothing more exciting than the start of a new program or the opportunity to provide care to a new person or group, and 2019 provided Bethany with a chance to do both.

Our first resident, Milanka, moved into Bethany Calgary’s new Young Adult Program (YAP). She was 32 years old, speaks seven languages and has MS. The home required special attention to detail, including food, programming and the rewiring of the space to accommodate the technological needs of young adults. Additionally, new communal areas provide the comforts of home and support socialization. Residents are encouraged and supported to achieve their highest level of functioning and independence and to take an active role in determining how they want to live their life.

Bethany has always existed not only to provide care to seniors – but to protect their dignity. This would offer them the opportunity to remain as connected to their friends, families and communities as possible in a Campus of Care model. Bethany’s Campus of Care supports residents to age well in place, remaining socially connected and engaged with their chosen and familiar community, by providing an integrated continuum of housing, support and care options that are flexible and responsive to the evolving needs of each individual. The opening of Bethany Riverview was the latest in our efforts to do just that.
 
The purpose built and innovative care centre didn’t just allow us the chance to extend an offer of care to more seniors – it also provided a unique opportunity to deliver a superior level of care for people living with complex dementia.
 
With the opening of Bethany Riverview, we were able to hire 300 additional employees. By growing our family of employees, we were able to tap into the unique experiences and skills of hundreds of new, diverse and dedicated people that would drive the organization forward for decades to come.

MILESTONES

• The Managing Dementia with Expertise (MDE) and Special Care Unit (SCU) programs at Bethany Calgary closed and a new Complex Dementia Care program was created at Bethany Riverview
• The opening of Bethany Riverview created an opportunity for the Corporate team to relocate. In 2018, the team moved into a bright and modern new space at Bethany Riverview

As Bethany Calgary continued in its growth, we saw the opportunity to open a new care unit and institute a new art program.

On November 20, 2017, Bethany Calgary opened the doors to its newest care unit, the Alternative Level of Care (ALC) Unit. Through Bethany’s partnership with Alberta Health Services (AHS), the ALC Unit provided 42 beds for transitional care for residents who no longer require acute care services, were medically stable and were being assessed for a designated living option or returning home.

That same year, Opening Minds through Art (OMA) was launched. OMA provided creative self-expression and social engagement for people with dementia. Bethany residents joined the recreation therapist and her volunteers once a week for one-on-one sessions where they transform blank canvases into works of art, which are then auctioned off to help continue to fund the program.

Every resident, employee, volunteer and supporter has been integral in making Bethany a special and important place. With this in mind, in 2016, we launched a social media campaign called “The People of Bethany” to celebrate all the people who live, work, volunteer and support our organization.

The campaign produced the highest engagement in brand history – but more importantly, it helped us continue to make the lives of our residents better. One post featured George of Bethany Cochrane, who spoke of his love for the Calgary Flames, and when a Bethany employee saw it, she was motivated to donate a ticket to him. This type of engagement shows social media can simultaneously increase our brand value and support our mission of creating caring communities.

2015 brought an exciting new opportunity for Bethany: a unique partnership with the Rotary Club. With their shared passion for care and compassion, a series of exciting ideas were able to come to fruition in the coming years.

MILESTONES

2015
A small group of Rotarians, inspired by the vision of Evelyn Buckley (former Chair of Bethany Care Society), approached Bethany about exploring a partnership to support seniors

2018
Hundreds of Rotarians helped Bethany celebrate the opening of The Rotary Atrium, and they exceeded their $1 million fundraising goal

2019
Rotary Clubs of Calgary and Area were named the 2019 Philanthropic Group of the Year at the Association of Fundraising Professionals Generosity of Spirit Awards event on Philanthropy Day

2020
Rotarians continue to be engaged and passionate champions for Bethany

Although 2013 to 2017 appeared to be quiet, this was far from the truth. Major accomplishments were reached, ranging from the completion and onset of significant capital projects to the launch of a website. Exciting new partnerships would also be formed to pave the way for future opportunities and increasing our ever expanding community reach.

MILESTONES

2013
Bethany partnered with the Calgary Lions Housing Society in the role of property manager for the new Lions Village seniors’ apartment building

2014
We assumed property management of four properties from Calgary Christian Housing Association

2014
Bethany Didsbury opened in the community of Didsbury, offering 100 designated supportive living suites (DSL4) for seniors

2015
We received over $880,000 in donations which helped build new garden areas, buy new furnishings and supported our ongoing Music Therapy and Pastoral Care programs

2016
The Bethany Riverview project broke ground

2016
We established a partnership with Rotary Clubs of Calgary

2016
A leadership development program called LEADS was implemented

2016
Bethany Cochrane completed a redevelopment plan

2017
The Young Adult Program and new options such as the Palliative Care Program were introduced

2017
We developed a framework for an enhanced high-quality, sustainable Palliative Care program

For almost seven decades, Bethany has been at the forefront of community by providing the best care for seniors. A reputation was built, and our name was synonymous with our Mission and Values.

In 2012, we decided it was the right time to ensure that our brand – the logo, visual style and tone of the organization – communicated everything ‘Bethany’ had come to mean.

A new logo, visual style and tone of voice was unveiled and well received by our stakeholders. The effort provided us with an opportunity to not only engage with our communities we service, but also to remind the broader community about the extraordinary work being done in their backyard.

The rebrand remains to this day and guides everything Bethany creates and how it communicates with all stakeholders.

MILESTONES

• Mikkelsen House project was completed

2011 saw the planning and development of two major projects - Mikkelsen House at Riverview Village and a supportive living development in Didsbury – began.

The opening of CollegeSide Gardens represented the completion of a vision that had started almost a decade earlier. With Bethany CollegeSide and CollegeSide Commons firmly established, CollegeSide Gardens provided Bethany the opportunity to offer a supportive living community for active seniors directly adjacent to the primary care centre.

The new CollegeSide Gardens was a 103-unit, state-of-the-art facility that ensured the CollegeSide community delivered on our vision of a campus of care and a community empowering “living, learning, caring and sharing.”

The second half of the new millennium started with a celebration of 60 years of creating caring communities and ended with the good fortune of receiving two significant grants.

MILESTONES

2005
As part of Bethany’s 60^th Anniversary, we conducted an oral history project, installed commemorative plaques for all Bethany sites and published a book called “Legacy of Caring”

2006
A major redecorating initiative was kicked off at the north building of Bethany Calgary

2006
Townhouses at Riverview Village were demolished in a way that demonstrated care and respect for the tenants who were required to relocate

2007
We published a Report to the Community that was included in the Calgary Herald and Red Deer Express

2007
The All Saints Chapel relocation at Bethany Cochrane was completed

2008
We were awarded a $3.8 million grant by Alberta Seniors and Community to support our proposal to develop a supportive housing project in Red Deer

2009
Two provincial grants totalling about $8 million were received and used to support the development of CollegeSide Gardens

The opening of Bethany CollegeSide didn’t just represent a new opportunity to expand the care Bethany provided – it marked an entirely new way to provide that care. As a partnership between Bethany, the David Thompson Health Region and Red Deer College, Bethany CollegeSide and CollegeSide Common was the first college-based care, living and learning centre.
 
The result was an innovative environment for students, residents and employees to work, train and live together in a mutually beneficial way.
 
Bethany CollegeSide opened with 112 private continuing care rooms for seniors and younger adults requiring continuing care, and the connected Bethany CollegeSide Common offered academic space for teaching and conferences. The design was based on the Bethany Harvest Hills site, and the refinements made to the care centre resulted in it being selected out of hundreds of projects in North America for a showcase in the 2005 issue of DESIGN for Senior Environments.
 
Throughout Bethany’s history, there have been special moments that demonstrated just how much we had become part of the communities we serve. In 2004, the historic All Saints Chapel in Cochrane moved onto the Bethany Cochrane site. The original building had been home to the Anglican congregation in the Cochrane area since 1892 and we were proud to welcome them with open arms and hearts.

MILESTONES

• The All Saints Chapel Moved to Bethany Cochrane

The property in Red Deer was acquired and the vision was set – it was time to break ground! Plans to develop Bethany Sylvan Lake was announced in 2000 and officially opened under three years later in September 2003.

The care centre was the result of a unique and special partnership between Bethany, the David Thompson Health Region and the Sylvan Lake Lodge Foundation. Great efforts were made to ensure that the centre’s design and programming reflected a homelike environment and the character of the surrounding community.

When opened, the care centre provided 40 private rooms for continuing care, 20 suites of designated supportive living and a space for adult day programming – finally bringing the care that Bethany was known for to Sylvan Lake’s community of seniors.

MILESTONES

• Bethany Lifeline entered into an expanded partnership with Lifeline Canada
• Bethany CollegeSide Breaks Ground

Throughout the '90s, Bethany had battled a challenging economic climate. While we emerged intact, the learnings were clear: it was time to safeguard our financial stability.
 
Up until 2003, Bethany’s Foundation had been a committee of the Bethany Care Society Board. It had become clear that it was the perfect time to create a separate entity to manage and grow endowment funds, as well as to solely focus on the acceptance and raising of funds.
 
With the goal clearly set, the Bethany Care Foundation (BCF) was officially incorporated in July of 2003 and commenced operations on April 1, 2004, with Debra Ramage as the Executive Director.

As Bethany entered the new millenium, we focused on expanding care to new communities – which began with an exciting announcement: we had been selected by the David Thompson Health region to develop new care centres in Sylvan Lake and Red Deer.
 
The new care centres would include close involvement with the communities and new partnerships to provide unique care that each location required.
 
Bethany Sylvan Lake would open a few years later in 2003, and Red Deer’s Bethany CollegeSide would follow suit the following year.

MILESTONES

• For the first time, fund development surpassed $1 million in a single year

From organizational achievements and new capital projects to a refocused mission and new partnerships, the early 2000s were pivotal to Bethany’s success throughout the decade.

MILESTONES

• R. Greer Black, President and CEO of Bethany Care Society, began a three-year term as President of the Alberta Long Term Care Association
• Bethany Sylvan Lake broke ground
• Bethany adopted a new Mission Statement: “Creating Caring Communities”

After just over a year of construction, Bethany’s new community of Sundance on the Green opened – with 90% of units already leased!
 
Sundance on the Green was a part of Bethany’s Life Lease program. It was a concept designed to provide active seniors with the care and lifestyle they desired. Bethany offered units to seniors in a home-ownership style of agreement, with a guaranteed buy-back.
 
Sundance on the Green wasn’t just a beautiful concept – it was also a stunning space and was showcased in Design magazine in 1999.

Bethany had been focused on being an essential part of every community in which we operated. This dedication to care and inclusivity led us to partner with the Chinese Christian Wing Kei Nursing Home Association in 1997 to provide specialized care for residents of Asian descent.
 
Bethany Calgary renovated an area of its facility to provide familiar cultural décor, food and activities and named the new space the Wing Kei Villa. The Villa provided us with a new opportunity to help many Chinese seniors feel at home in a long-term care setting and expanded our ability to provide care to a greater population of the province’s seniors.

As the challenges of the ‘90s continued, Bethany looked inward (and, on occasion, outwards with fundraising and partnerships) at ways to enhance the level of care and empower people to provide the highest level of service possible.

MILESTONES

• In partnership with Rehoboth Christian Ministry, Bethany opened Bethany House as a home for young adults
• The position of Medical Director at Bethany Calgary was extended to an organization-wide role, creating a more consistent approach and experience across all locations and disciplines
• The Mentally Dysfunctioning Elderly (MDE) program at Bethany Calgary was renamed “Managing Dementia with Expertise in Behaviours” to better reflect its focus
• The foundation committee embarked on a major campaign to support Bethany Harvest Hills
• Bethany committed to providing a minimum of three days of education annually to all full-time employees

Bethany’s 50^th anniversary wasn’t just a year of celebration and reflection – it was a moment of opportunity and provided expansion and rededication to a future of service and care.

MILESTONES

• We celebrated our 50^th Anniversary with a year-long celebration and fundraising activities under the theme “Dream Builders”
• Bethany Lifeline acquired the Trinity Alert personal response program
• We reaffirmed our mission and updated our wording: “In Christian love, to preserve and improve the quality of life of seniors and persons with disabilities.”
• We established the Bethany Care Society Foundation committee

In the 50^th year of Bethany, an important development in Bethany Airdrie helped define the next decades: the opening of Aspen Road.
 
Aspen Road was a specially designed secure wing of Bethany Airdrie that was purpose-built for residents with dementia. While we had been caring for residents with dementia since the beginning, Aspen Road represented a new focus and dedication to those living with the condition.

In 1994, Bethany was excited to work with JB Music Therapy to provide several hours a week of music therapy. Through the power of music, the program allowed residents to benefit from social interaction, improved cognitive stimulation, improved moods and, in some cases, reduce medication.

The program continues to this day at Bethany Calgary, Cochrane and Airdrie, and in the fall of 2004, it was expanded with the help of an initial grant from the National Music Centre.

One of the biggest challenges Bethany ever faced was the financial difficulties of the ‘90s. Market forces combined with changes in provincial funding forced us to look at new ways of continuing our vision; ultimately, fundraising became an important focus. While fundraising was new, faith had always underscored every effort of Bethany, and faith education was formally established in 1994.

MILESTONES

1993
Bethany’s first Annual Fundraising Campaign raised $120,000

1993
Lifeline Service Centre was closed when SEMAP ended

1994
A Clinical Pastoral Care Education program established, and was the only program in Canada provided by a long-term care organization

1994
Chris Mikkelsen receives a prestigious award

The ambitious growth plan was equalled only by the new Bethany Cochrane Care Centre. Opened by its first administrator, Myrna Daegon, the new centre was home to 127 people in the lodge, seniors’ care and brain injury facilities.
 
Bethany Cochrane was an integral part of the community it served and it has continued to provide the highest level of care to its residents.

With three decades that passed since a centre had opened outside of Calgary, Bethany Airdrie Care Centre marked an important moment in our continued growth and impact.
 
Before its first administrator, Gayle Burroughs, opened the centre’s doors, it received incredible support from the Airdrie community.
 
The centre was part of a vision we had for a fully integrated community called Bethany Towne. While that vision was never fully realized, Bethany Airdrie came close with its provision of yard maintenance, snow removal and response to Lifeline calls from the seniors’ community next door, Woodside-on-the-Green.

MILESTONES

• Bethany Lifeline began 24-hour monitoring by Lifeline staff

1985 brought two new developments. While still relatively new, Bethany’s Lifeline was already proving successful, and the organization began 24-hour monitoring – and was even featured on a local news program.

The year’s big news, however, was the integration of palliative and of end-of-life care. The palliative care program helped residents and families have the best quality of life possible so they can live a settled and peaceful life, and the End-of-Life Care program was for residents and families who are in their last days to weeks of life.

MILESTONES

• Partly funded by Hospice Calgary, the hospice and palliative program integrated into resident care

While the Lutheran Welfare Society had been busy with the construction of new buildings and expansions, they had also developed a pivotal program to empower seniors' independence: Bethany Lifeline.

Lifeline was a collaborative effort between acute care hospitals, long-term care facilities and Calgary Home Care that provided a 24-hour home emergency response system linked to the telephone system. Seniors would wear a button on their body and, by pushing it, would immediately send out an emergency signal to the response coordinator at the Bethany Care Centre switchboard.

The program was a huge success, and within the first year, was adopted by 258 seniors. It grew quickly and expanded beyond Calgary into rural Alberta and Golden, British Columbia.

The following year, Bethany Lifeline was the subject of a CBC-TV Marketplace Profile celebrating its early success.

Expansion and growth were nothing new for Bethany, but a focus on the brand was. In 1979, a brand-new emblem was introduced that would go on to inform every logo moving forward. Shortly after, it was back to business with our most ambitious project yet - Bethany Village.

MILESTONES

1979
The emblem of Bethany Care Centre was introduced

1983
Construction began on Bethany Village

1984
The 10-floor Bethany Village facility opened and offered 103 suites. Myrna Harvey was the manager, and Doug Pace was the caretaker

At the core of Bethany is a faith-based practice and dedication to providing care and dignity to all patients. While this approach can find its roots all the way back to the initial conversations of the Lutheran Welfare Society in 1945, it took a major step forward in 1975 when two Bethany pastors began providing Chapel Services and Bible Study groups.

From there, Bethany’s spiritual services have evolved, and our current Spiritual Care Practitioners offer various services such as one-on-one visitation, counselling and worship service. Spiritual Care volunteers bring a spiritual presence to residents as worship companions, hymn sing support and friendship.

With the newest expansion completed, the Lutheran Welfare Society offered three levels of unparalleled care. The Bethany Auxiliary Hospital received an important new name: The Bethany Care Centre.
 
The name change marked the end of a difficult year with unyielded optimism. The construction had been complicated for a variety of reasons, ranging from material shortages and strikes to financial difficulties caused by inflation and indecision by government bodies – but the completed centre and its new name were a testament to our organization's tenacity and vision.

The ‘60s were one of the most important times in the history of Bethany. With our vision firmly established – and the success stories of two previous homes propelling them forward – we began expanding our physical and spiritual presence. The most notable was the opening of the Bethany Auxiliary Hospital in 1969.

MILESTONES

1961
New 59 bed wing of Bethany Chronic Hospital opened

1962
Chris Mikkelsen was elected Chair of Lutheran Welfare Society

1962
Bethany Home in Calgary closed

1968
Original Bethany Home was torn down to build a new, 200-bed Bethany Auxiliary Hospital

1969
Bethany Auxiliary Hospital Extension opened

1970
Our first full-time chaplain, Rev. Leonard Sogge was hired in the Development of Social and Pastoral Care Services

Having set up the hospital for success, Esther and Joe Johnson sought a change and left for British Columbia in the Spring of ’57 Andrew Dryholm from Dickson, Alberta took over managerial duties and was joined by his wife Dagny and their two boys in the summer.

With major repairs necessary, the Society decided it was time to close Bethel Home in Wayne, Alberta. But the year wasn’t defined by a closure – instead, it’s lasting memory is that of Bethany Chronic Disease Hospital admitting its first patients on April 1.
 
Throughout every closure – and new opportunity – there was the consistent presence of the Managers and Matrons who had ensured the success of the Society’s early efforts. Bethany and Bethel were both run by married couples who were in full charge to hire their own staff, purchase all the necessary supplies and submit a complete income and expense sheet to the Society’s Treasurer each month. While great power was given to these Managers and Matrons – great things were expected and delivered.
 
Joe and Esther Johnson, who were still the successful managers of the Bethany Home, were now asked to also oversee the new hospital facility. They took on this significant responsibility and added Esther Anderson to their team to provide experience in the health field, set up the nursing station and purchase the necessary equipment.

This exciting opportunity expanded our vision for seniors’ care into the new space.

Managed by Mr. and Mrs. Einer M. Olsen, this new location was renovated and named Bethel Home. The new space empowered the Society to provide care for 20 guests for the next six years.

With the former Riley Estate Mansion now owned by the Lutheran Welfare Society, the doors were opened to what was then called “Bethany Home.”
 
The old mansion had been transformed into a place of care and service for 19 residents or, as they were called, “guests.”
 
In an article, Bethany Home was described as: “a two-story red brick building, completely modern with all city utilities. It is steam heated. The main floor which is now occupied as two suites, has four large rooms, two smaller dining rooms, two kitchenettes and two complete bathrooms, one with a shower bath.”
 
Bethany Home would be open for almost another twenty years before being replaced with a new 200-bed auxiliary hospital in 1968.

The new Lutheran Welfare Society had found a property: the 4.75-acre Riley Estate Mansion located in Calgary at 1918 9^th Avenue NW – but there were no funds to pay for it. Through generous gifts and donations from Lutheran church members,  much more money than ever thought possible was raised: $10,000.
 
With finances in order, a move was made on what would be the future location of Bethany Home. It was perfect - or in the words of I.C. Fitch: "the site selected is an ideal location, providing for the patients in the institution unsurpassed view of the mountains and of the City, which can never be obstructed."

While the idea of a seniors’ home had been considered by the West Canada District of the Danish Evangelical Lutheran Church as far back as the early ‘30s, it wasn’t until 1944 that it started to become a reality.
 
During the Church’s Annual Convention of 1944, a Committee was elected with a clear mandate to help develop a new vision for seniors’ care:
 
“solicit all possible information and advice from Church parties already operating in this field and from all other sources to give advice.” The committee was made of five men – Pastor Theodore M. Hansen of Sharon Lutheran Church in Calgary; a farmer from the Standard area, John Larsen; a Transport Operator and resident of Calgary, T. Chris Mikkelsen; Chris Morck and Pastor Marius Jorgensen. Not only did these men earnestly begin their research, they drafted the organizational documents for the Lutheran Welfare Society in Alberta. They unknowingly became the founding figures of what we now know as Bethany Care Society.
 
"As the work progressed, it became evident that our people desired to help all who were in need regardless of nationality, colour or creed. It was decided this could best be accomplished by forming a society that would be the sole owner of all the property and governed by a Board of Trustees elected by the members of the Society. At the last organization meeting, this was approved, and it was declared the name of our society should be the Lutheran Welfare Society in Alberta."