Inside the Children’s Cottage Society’s Crisis Nursery – Calgary Alberta

The Children’s Cottage Society’s Crisis Nursery provides families facing crisis a safe haven for their children, offering up to three days of 24/7 care in a trauma informed, nurturing environment. Located on the second floor of our Child & Family Centre in Montgomery, the nursery cares for children from newborn to age 9, with space for up to 20 children per day.

Why Families Turn to the Crisis Nursery: Families come to us during moments of overwhelming stress—be it due to sudden illness, housing

The Crisis Nursery is equipped with beds for all ages and stages of childhood.

instability, exhaustion, or unsafe situations. Our goal is to ensure that families know they have somewhere to turn, whether they’re facing immediate challenges or need guidance on longer-term solutions.

Who Uses the Crisis Nursery

The Crisis Nursery is intended for use during a family crisis. Often families are dealing with a mental or physical health crisis and don’t have a support network of people who can help keep the family routine going while the parent works through the crisis. We are seeing a high number of toddlers coming through the nursery, 2-3 years old; an age that can be so rewarding and magical, but can also be so stressful and demanding, especially for a parent who is working through crisis and doesn’t have any support behind them.

What Families Can Expect

When a family arrives at the Crisis Nursery, our process begins with a triage system where we meet with the family to discuss their specific crisis. Together, we develop a plan to address their immediate needs and work toward overcoming their challenges. While children are in our care, parents receive solution- focused support to overcome the crisis. This is something you might not know about the Crisis Nursery. It’s not just about respite or keeping children cared for while they are in our nursery. We want to minimize the amount of toxic stress to which the child is going home. So, during the time the child is with us, we’re working closely with the parent(s) to help them overcome whatever crisis has brought them to need the nursery. This can mean seeking mental health support, and having a plan in place, or helping them secure housing.

Children at the nursery are provided with three nutritious meals per day, all their clothing, diapers, and toys, and they participate in play-based activities to support healthy development. They also undergo developmental screenings to identify support needs early, with connections to ongoing services where required. Parents are introduced to our Family Support programs, offering tools, resources, and community connections to build resilience and strengthen their family’s well-being.

A New Space To Support More Children

In April 2024, we moved into the Child & Family Centre—a dream over a decade in the making. For the first time in nearly 40 years, our Crisis Nursery is housed in a space intentionally designed to support children and families navigating crises. At a time when mental health crisis is becoming more and more predominant, Children’s Cottage Society works with children & families to get them the support they need; right here on Home Road.

The space that greets families when they arrive to the Crisis Nursery

In 2025 we eagerly anticipate the opening of our new Family Mental Health & Wellness Centre, which will also reside within the Child & Family Centre. Additionally, all of our frontline staff are equipped with Brain Story training, enabling them to understand and address the profound impact of toxic stress on children’s development. Through thoughtful design and trauma-informed care, the Crisis Nursery, and Children’s Cottage Society offers a vital space to alleviate stress and promote resilience

The moment you walk off the elevator, you’re greeted by a family room. A fireplace, with a huge hearth, welcomes you, along with an oversized sectional – it feels like home. Within the Nursery, a playroom named Nathan’s Playroom, created in honor of Nathan O’Brien, is filled with toys waiting for little ones to explore. The Sensory Room is complete with a gigantic Lite Brite, mini trampoline, and other activities to promote sensory regulation. This room itself is an experience.

Learn more about the Crisis Nursery, or how you can help!