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These are our stories. This is our song.

2013 Annual Report

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I love a good story. And that makes my job very satisfying, because at CPA (Alberta) we have an abundance of great stories. There’s the story of Brittany who didn’t let her spinal cord injury (SCI) stop her from having children, and the story about Trish

who went to CPA Alberta’s SCI Fitness and Wellness Centre in Calgary and lifted a barbell for the first time since her injury. “Barry” and his wife are beginning a new chapter in their story – a story of recovery after SCI and a flood that destroyed their home. With our help, they located a new, wheelchair accessible home near their original community. We also provided them with information on how to travel with an SCI so they could plan a much needed vacation.

These are just a few of the stories that bring a song to my heart.

We think they’ll do the same for you.

Teren Clarke, Chief Executive Officer

These are our stories. This is our song.

Our MissionTo empower persons with spinal cord injuries and other physical disabilities to achieve independence

and full community participation.

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This is real. This is me.

I’m exactly whereI’m supposed to be.

Demi Lovato

More than 4,500 Albertans live with a traumatic spinal cord injury.

CPA (Alberta) is a charitable organization that helps them, and their families, rebuild and redefine their lives after injury. We do this by providing them with information on living with spinal cord injury (SCI), helping them and their families adjust, linking them to a community of peers with SCI, and working with other organizations to build accessible, welcoming communities. We have staff in nine communities throughout the province and a team that works with Alberta Aboriginal and Metis communities as well.

Who did we help?

o Our Client Services Coordinators worked with 466 clients on the journey to better lives.

o 37% had paraplegia.

o 37% had quadriplegia.

o 26% had another type of physical disability.

o 60% of our clients were under the age of 66.

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The times they are a changin’. Bob Dylan

There was a time when the only way to reach someone was by letter or telephone. We now reach out to an online community of thousands of people every month through the web and social media. We are embracing this new way of community building while keeping the message the same: there is life after spinal cord injury.

How did we reach out?

o We received 70,000 to 80,000 hits to our website per month.

o We had 900 subscribers to our e-newsletter, Wheel-E.

o We distributed over 7000 copies of Spinal Columns magazine.

o We had 500 Facebook followers and 700 Twitter followers.

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I just want someone to talk to, and a little of that human touch. Bruce Springstein

How did we help?

o We worked with our clients to achieve over 2,300 goals related to things such as health, housing, equipment and financial support.

o 42% of our clients’ goals were related to health and home care.

o We responded to more than 2,500 requests for information.

Even though our virtual community is expanding, we remain committed to meeting our clients’ need for the human touch. Last year, our Client Services Coordinators met face-to-face with 73 people newly diagnosed with spinal cord injury. We walked and wheeled alongside them and their families as they made the transition from rehabilitation back to life in the community. In total, we worked with 466 people at all stages of life, helping them solve problems related to housing, home care, transportation, funding and much more.

Here are some of the questions we answered:

“I need a more affordable place to live. Where can I find subsidized accessible housing?”

“I want to learn to drive again. Is there any money available to modify my vehicle?”

“Can you tell me how to build a wheelchair ramp?” [Where’s Mike Holmes when you need him?]

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Nothing is for sure. Just hold on to who you are. Young Medicine

Respect for Aboriginal identity is one of our core values. For our Aboriginal clients, community is everything, and that’s where we meet them. Last year, our Aboriginal Client Services Coordinators logged over 23,000 kilometres to meet with Aboriginal, First Nations and Métis clients throughout the province.

Who did we reach?

o Our Client Service Coordinators met with 95 Aboriginal clients.

o 61% had a spinal cord injury and 34% had another type of disability.

o The most remote location we visited was High River (58.5°N).

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It’s not easy being green. Kermit the Frog

Accepting who you are after spinal cord injury isn’t easy. We have a huge network of amazing volunteers and members with spinal cord injuries to reach out to. They know what it’s like and they encourage, inform and inspire others to adjust, adapt and thrive.

How did we connect?

o Our peer volunteers met with 160 people with spinal cord injury.

o We organized 98 gatherings where countless numbers of peer linkages were created (social, peer and Adapted Adventures events).

o A total of 1266 people attended a gathering.

o We helped 215 peers share their stories on our YouTube channel.

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You make my heart beat faster faster faster. The Saturdays

At CPA (Alberta) we believe that everyone benefits from physical activity. Last year, we helped nearly 200 people with spinal cord injuries and other disabilities experience the benefit of exercise. The results were amazing.

o "Since I started working out at the fitness and wellness centre my life has changed in so many ways. I’ve become more independent. I’ve gotten my confidence back. I’ve been able to take one full dosage of my pain medication. I fall asleep in two minutes and when it’s dinner time or lunch time, I’m actually hungry." (Trish, Calgary)

How else did we promote wellness?

o We helped 150 people hike, bike, sail, ski, and climb their way to better health in our Adapted Adventures Program.

o We opened the doors of our SCI Fitness and Wellness Centre in Calgary to an average of 30 visitors a week.

o We recruited more than 55 volunteers to support our wellness programs.

How else did we promote wellness?

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Today I’m gonna try and change the world. Johnny Reid

We’re proud of the mark we’ve made on the world. Here are some other ways we changed our province and the lives of people with SCI over the past year.

o We helped 43 people with emergency funding through our Helping Way Fund.

o The average amount they received was $521.

o We arranged community outings for 296 adults under 65 living in long-term care through our Community Access for Persons in Continuing Care (CAPCC) program.

o Here are some of the activities in which they participated: the mall, concerts, theatre, computer classes and family events.

o We participated in the process to create 30 new accessible apartments in Edmonton.

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This report is a brief snapshot of the difference you are making in the lives of ordinary Albertans living with spinal cord injuries and other physical disabilities. For more information about our programs and services, visit our website at www.cpa-ab.org. Audited financial statements are available on request.

Last year CPA (Alberta) helped more people than ever adjust to life with SCI and other physical disabilities, overcome isolation, and live healthy, independent lives.

We couldn’t do it without your support.

Thank you so much!

Suite 305, 11010 101 StreetEdmonton, Alberta T5H 4B9Phone: (780) 424-6312 Toll-free: 1-888-654-5444 Fax: (780) 424-6313www.cpa-ab.org

Connect with us....www.cpa-ab.org

CAPCC is a program of the Government of Alberta, Human Services with coordination provided by SCI Alberta and other community agencies.

Charitable Number: 11883 5016 RR0001