Between Friends creates opportunities for people with disabilities to connect, grow, and belong through quality social and recreational activities.

between friends annual report 2013

At Between Friends, we can look back with great pride upon 2013. It was an extremely challenging year for many individuals. Many services, charities and individuals within the city were devastatingly affected by the flood of 2013. The volunteerism and dedication, which we saw rising to the challenges here in our city, reminds us that we are part of a larger community with a passion to help wherever there is a need.

Within Between Friends, we were fortunate that we were not directly impacted by flooding; however, many of our staff and members were. Notwithstanding these challenges, these amazing individuals still managed to step-up and provide quality programming throughout 2013. I am proud of the efforts of our staff, volunteers and members to participate and make a difference at Between Friends. It is our goal at Between Friends to give our members, and their families, the support and structure to build joy, friendships and new experiences.

When I look back on 2013, of course I think flood…who wouldn’t? It was a devastating time that had devastating effects on so many…and I am grateful. Grateful … that Riveredge Park, the home for Camp Bonaventure did not sustain damage, despite being located on the bank of the Elbow River; grateful … that we only had to postpone one Adventurers trip, but that otherwise we were able to start our camp season as scheduled; grateful that … although some of our families and staff were affected, we were able to continue to provide respite, relief and a much needed distraction for those families; grateful … that Between Friends did not suffer like many other organizations did. The year provided perspective and made me very, very aware of the things that are important in life and what I discovered is no surprise. It is relationships that are important and as long as those are not lost, I can do without a lot.

It reminds me of how important Between Friends is to our participants and their families and to all of our staff and volunteers. We have created a family and I am confident that our family will persevere through good times and bad.

As the Chair of Between Friends, I am pleased to see the development of friendships and the support provided by everyone involved. This is why Between Friends has become an integral part of the fabric of life for all those connecting through this organization. I look forward to continuing the work of this organization, and to enhancing our focus on public support, by informing the larger community around us of our unique identity. Getting that message out to others, that have yet to discover us, is vital. To know us is to love us. The more that people know and understand Between Friends, the more we can gain in members who will benefit and add to what we have to offer.

My key objectives as Chair are to:

Dave

I am proud to say that our programs were a huge success in 2013, proving once again that our programs are needed and desirable. Camp Bonaventure filled to 96%, W.E.S.O.A.R! Programs to 81% and Adventurers and Camp Fun’zAmust both filled to 100% capacity.

Although our fund development results in 2013 were not stellar, we continued to develop and strengthen relationships with our donors. This is extremely important, because the majority of our fundraising dollars are used to ensure that there are no financial barriers to participation. The demand for adult programs has continued to grow and the organization has been responsive and we look to our community to help us meet those needs. Our accomplishments are possible because of the tremendous support from our families, donors, volunteers and staff. I thank all of you for everything in 2013…but most importantly I thank you for your support.

Suzanne

from the chair

from the ceo

Dave Boomer Board Chair

Suzanne Jackett CEO

• Support and promote our story

• Support social interaction for our members

• Seek new members, new experiences and long-term supporters for Between Friends

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highlights & impact

staff & volunteers

We subsidized our programs and provided fee assistance in the extraordinary amount of $814,802 to our FAMILIES and PARTICIPANTS, a 22% increase over 2012.

We welcomed 125 new MEMBERS and provided them with opportunities to CONNECT, GROW, and BELONG

We provided 60,000+ quality programming hours

Program fees are subsidized by a minimum 44% and as much as 80% with an average subsidy of 60%

FRIENDS IN MOTION raised a net profit of $68,437 to subsidize Adventurers and Camp Bonaventure

CAMP BONAVENTURE filled to 96% capacity

We awarded 10 LUCY MILNE SCHOLARSHIPS to program staff for their commitment to people with disabilities

Our ADVENTURERS and CAMP FUNZ’AMUST programs were filled to 100% capacity

37 Junior Volunteers and future leaders, ages 12-15 contributed 2,437 hours

Camp Bonaventure had 111 volunteers spend 6,549 hours at camp

148 training DAYS were invested in staff and volunteers

11,530 hours were donated by 312 individual volunteers who filled 426 program volunteer spaces

68 Volunteers contributed 343 hours to our dances and program special events

W.E.S.O.A.R.! programs had 201 volunteers contribute 4,638 hours

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our donorsCorporations, Service Clubs & Foundations

Individuals

Individuals (continued)

Gifts-in-Kind

Alliance PipelineAllies for Autism FoundationAon Reed Stenhouse Inc.Armour EquipmentATB Corporate Financial ServicesATCO PipelinesBellport Resources Ltd.BFI Canada, Inc.Big Hearted Mavericks FoundationBlake, Cassels & Graydon LLPBP Canada Energy Group ULCCalgary Catholic Teachers’ Charities SocietyCalgary Children’s FoundationCalgary Flames FoundationCREB® Charitable FoundationCash CasinoCatalyst LLPCenovus Employee FoundationCenovus Energy Inc.Century Coals LimitedCharlie’s Angels Fund at The Calgary FoundationChildren’s Hospital Aid SocietyChinook Energy Inc.Chymko Consulting Ltd.CIBC Asset Management Inc.

CIBC Children’s FoundationCountry Hills Golf ClubCrescent Point ResourcesDick & Lois Haskayne Fund at The Calgary FoundationElbow River Marketing LPEncana Cares FoundationEncana CorporationEnmax CorporationFidelity Investments Canada LimitedFluor Employee Giving CampaignGanotec West ULCGibson Energy Ltd ULCGovernment of Alberta Culture and Community SpiritGranTierra Energy Inc.Harry & Martha Cohen FoundationHusky Community Rebate ProgramHusky EnergyIA Clarington Investments Inc.James Electric Motor Services Ltd.John A & Fern R White for Handicapped Children’s Fund at The Calgary FoundationJSS BarristersKBM Commercial Floor Coverings Inc.

Kathy BuckmanDennis & Barbara ClaeysOlivia FitchLeif HansonRobert & Eileen KraftMarton MurphyBevis & Diane OstermannBob & Liz RivardDan & Lorraine RudiakLeonard & Faigel ShapiroDavid WaymouthCraig WilkieAlex WoelfleAcushnet Canada Inc. Alberta Health Services BOND Creative IncBowcycleBuild-A-BearCalaway ParkCalgary Co-opCalgary Hitmen Hockey ClubCalgary ZooCanadian Rocky Mountain ResortCandy Bouquet 646Canyon Meadows Golf & Country Club

Rick LuchakGrant MacArthur & Suzanne StalderSteven MajorSteve & Laurel MasonHoward MasonTara MatheronKeith MaximnukSusanne MazurGlen & Darcie McArterMichael McCachenCarl & Heide McClintockCatherine McCunnDavid McDonaldBruce McFarlane & Janice HeardJeanie McKibbonDouglas McLeanDavid & Karen McLellanShirley McLellanSean McMasterPaul & Michelle McMillanWayne & Patricia MeilleurChristoper & Leona MikoJames MilesMyrna MillerPaul MillerBernard MitchellBradley MooreMaureen MoulCherry MullerIan & Marline MurdochMarton MurphyGeoff Murray

Capture the FlagCarnmoney Golf & CCChianti CafeChinook BowladromeCity of Calgary Parks & RecreationCoco BrooksContours Hair DesignCrossIron MillsEmergo Counselling ServicesFrilly Lilly CrowfootFunnyfestHanson’s Fishing OutfittersHeritage ParkJanet Horbacio PhotographyJanice Beaton Fine CheeseJewels by Maxime’sMarlborough MallMavericks Chuckwagon Racing SocietyMoosehead BreweriesMount Royal UniversityNLN Investments Ltd.Paramount ResourcesPinebrook Golf & Country ClubPurdy’s ChocolatesPure Potentials Wellness Inc.

Melissa MushkaStuart MyronBrad NadeauGrant NatlandLouise NesterenkoLarry & Dorothy NicholsTom & Kaj NielsenVictoria NielsenErick & Krista NoriegaJennifer O’CarrollDan O’HearnJohn O’RourkeKyle OstermannRobert PattersonMichael Patterson & Janice Hum-PattersonAndrew PearsonGary & Elaine PeaseGrant PellegrinHarry PeltonDavid PetrieKim PiconeIan PietersmaDonna PiwarczykAlex PourbaixRichard PressArie PrinsMichael PriorSteven QuealVasim & Lubna QureshiStephen RabyDelaney RivardBob & Liz Rivard

Sue AcornLinda AndersonDarren AngermanAli AssafEvan BahryShannon BaileyKyle BanburyMara BarbaroLance BellangerChris BestJohn BlackGreg BoggsDeborah BookDavid BoomerDavid BooneJack BroodoKathryn BrownsonSandy BruceLucia BucciniRoss BuchholzPaul & Carly CampeauDrew CarpenterPhilip CarrMichael CavillaPhong & Phuong ChauDavid CheneyBrenda CherryCandy CheungDavid ClarkCatharine ClaytonRobert CochlanPenny ColemanRonald ConleyDouglas & Dorothy CookJohn Cordeau

Bernard & Sandra CorenblumShannon CosmescuErik CramerTerry CzechowskyjGerald DavidEdmond de PalezieuxTony DemassiBrent DiemertPeter DonnellyGerri DornstauderSean DrysdaleJohn & Susan DuckettFrancis & Velma DunlopChristoper DushinskiDoug & Rebecca ElderKeith & Astrid EliassonGavin EmburyWes & Linda FairsKatie FipkeKathy FisherGavin FitchJohn FitzgeraldPatrick FitzpatrickDavid FokenLaurie FrancisBrian Frank & Claire MacKinnonJudy FungRolando Gabriel & Rita BenjaminRichard GallantJordan GibsonHugh GillardJohn & Diane GladstoneDerek GlowaDerek GoodmansonAllan Gordon

Jean Grand-MaitreTimothy GunnDarryl GurevitchKeith & Ellie HallAhava HalpernJonathan HalpernNelson HalpernSidney HalpernRussel HanthoBradley HarringtonTerry HarrisonBrian HeffernanWilhelm & Melaine HeilmanAmy HenschRay & Frieda HerringtonGuttried & Patricia HerrmannEric HobsonRichard HoganDarin HolstStephen HopeSteve HornerRobert HosieAudrey HovisBrad HowardLisa HowellsMichael & Astrid HryciukCameron HughesScott HumphreysNoreen IrvineGordana IvanovicSuzanne JackettAudrey JacksonTim JanzenJong JayHenrik & Denise Jensen

Karl JohannsonConnor JohnsonGarth & Kathryn JohnsonRobert JonesGloria JorgensenBill & Lynn JuddDaniel JurijewJohn KanderkaPeter KarlJ. Douglas KayBrian & Betty KedroskyBeverly KellerDavid KendallGordon KerrRobert KerrRobert KirkbyNicholas KirtonWendell KlassenSterling KochVince KosteskyMatthew KraftPeter KruselnickiSonia KrykolowichCheryl KrylukKen KunzTsutomu & Emiko KurosakiDevin KuseyBrigitte LaingRyan LavertyDavid LawlorJune LeechuyKeith LeechuyCharlie LewPhilip LibinGreg Lohnes

Keldo Holdings Ltd.Keyera Corp.Macquarie Private WealthMcDaniel & Assoc. Consultants Ltd.McElhanney Land Surveys Ltd.McLennan Ross LLPMoss Fabrication Ltd.Murco Industries Ltd.Newalta CorporationNexen, a CNOOC Limited CompanyNickle Family FoundationNLN Investments Ltd.Northmount Kiwanis Club of CalgaryNorthwest Tank Lines Inc.OJ Pipelines CanadaOlympia Trust CompanyOrdman CorporationPeople Engaged in (P.E.I.) Benevolent Activities AssociationPinecrest Energy Inc.Pellarin Inc.RBS Bulk Systems Inc.Real Estate AdvisorsRic McIver, Calgary Hays PC AssociationRiddell Family Charitable Foundation

Ridout BarronRobert Rivard Professional Corp.Rundle Energy Services Ltd.RW Kap’s Consulting Ltd.Samaritan Club of CalgarySelect Delivery SystemsShaw Communications Inc.Smith Mack LamarshSNC-Lavalin Inc.Springfield Contractors LimitedSt. Paul’s Anglican ChurchSuperior Janitorial ServicesSupport Excellence Inc.Taipale I Design Inc.Team TELUS CaresTELUS Calgary Community BoardThe Prosser Charitable FoundationThe Royal Bank of Scotland N.V., (Canada) BranchTimberWest Forest Corp.TransCanada 12th Annual Charity Golf TournamentTransCanada CorporationUnited Way of Calgary and AreaValeura Energy Inc.Watson Family Foundation at The Calgary Foundation

Re/MaxReal Canadain SuperstoreRedwood Meadows Golf & Country ClubRiverside ChateauSpringbank Cheese Co.Stewart Creek Golf & Country ClubTalisman CentreTerraMer Inc.The Barbecue GuyThe Bavarian Inn RestaurantThe Italian FarmhouseThree Rivers Rock & Fossil MuseumTrico Centre Massage for HealthWillow Park Wines & SpiritsWine InkWintergreen Golf & CCZulu Medispa

Media Supporters

CityTVCountry 105 & Q107

Gayla RogersKaren RothTony RowsellMaurice RoyMartin & Debra RudeIan SanchezAnna SarvisSharon SaulLarry & Cathy SchlampRoy SchumacherLeonard & Faigel ShapiroMorley & Cheryl ShoreDavid SinghShannon SlabotskyCaroll SmithDavid SmithNeil SmithMurray SmithMegan SnyderRussell SnyderJohn SoiniGlenn SolomonJade SolticeMike SouthamLawrence & Joy StalderNikki StevensNancy-Lynn StevensonBeverly StewartCathleen StrandSara SwanKen TateMark TerrillCheryl Terry

Robert & Sharon ThiessenJim ThompsonRhea ThomsonLori ToppPung ToyCuong & Anh TranElvia TwaTamara TwaTim & Clara UlrichsenLee Van HerewegheBlain van MelleSrikanth VenugopalFrancois VincentVictor VogelKeith WalshMarion WaltersWendy WaltersBruce & Cindy WangPatricia WeatherupDon & Marg WeberJohn & Elizabeth WheatleyHarry WheelerKathleen WhelanJoe WilcoxRoger WilliamsAndrew WilsonLloyd & Trudy WilsonP L WolstenholmeMatthew WoofterStanley WrightBruce & Gwen YaholnitskyAlice YamMaggie YeWaclaw Zietara

Thank you to all of our Friends in Motion, Charity Golf and Between Bands donors.

Also thank you to our donors who have chosen to donate to us through the United Way Donor Choice Program and to those donors who have chosen to remain anonymous.

Every effort is made to ensure the accuracy of our lists. If your name has ben missed, we extend our sincere apology and our heartfelt thanks for your support. Please call 403 296 0257 so that we may rectify our errors.

76 annual report 2013 annual report 2013

impacting livesI am a single mom with two children, both who have a disability. I am only able to work part time as the care of my girls requires me to be available to take them to regular doctor appointments, meet with many professionals at their school regarding therapy and stay home with them when they are sick.

My girls have both been involved with Camp Bonaventure for many years. In January, they begin talking about camp and wonder who their leader will be. They talk about camp at school and with the many professionals they encounter on a daily basis.

I smile when I see my girls talk with such excitement about their experience at camp. I need to let you know that this wonderful experience that my girls get every summer would not happen without the Between Friends Subsidy Program.

Parent

My son Brady, who has autism, has been a member for 7 years. During this time, he has been involved in several programs as well as Camp Bonaventure during the summer.

Without your subsidized help for these programs, I’m sure Brady would not be the happy kid he is. He has thrived so much and looks forward to all the activities during the week. He literally runs to the Handi-bus when it comes.

I am a single mother of 3. Brady has twin sisters only a year older than him. Your programs not only benefit Brady but give my twin girls a break when I have to work. The male staff has also been great role models in Brady’s life. Brady’s father lives in California and doesn’t see him much. You have truly given Brady and our whole family “breathing room” and knowing that he is with your amazing staff and in excellent care while I’m at work keeps stress levels down.

Brady has been in bowling, swimming, laser tag, music therapy, floor hockey, movie nights, and several other activities over the years. Camp Bonaventure has been a blessing during the summer months. He actually counts the days on the calendar ‘til he gets to go back to camp! Not having to pay for expensive recreational programs really makes a HUGE difference in our lives.

I cannot thank you enough for your help. Not only has your agency enriched his life but our whole family.

Parent

This past fall, I volunteered at Girl Power with Penny. Every Sunday brought new and interesting activities that made me cherish my time with those girls. One instance that stood out for me was the night we were invited to join one of the local guide groups in their Monday night session. Having been on a different day than usual, we had some “drop-outs” right off the bat, then with the snowy winter conditions, we only had one out of the eight girls show up. Penny, Savannah and I spent the evening doing crafts and learning the fun campfire songs that the girls were all familiar with.

It was a great experience but, most of all, I was so impressed with how welcoming and including these girls were towards Savannah. As soon as she arrived, a couple of the girls took her to meet everyone and socialize, then when it came time for singing and dancing, they encouraged her and helped her do it as best as she could. There isn’t anything more rewarding than seeing the love and compassion of people toward total strangers. I would take the girls back there in a heartbeat so all of the girls could have that same great experience.

Jamey , W.E.S.O.A.R! Volunteer

The year 2013 had certain challenges for the organization. While the organization continued its focus on fundraising with some positive initiatives that began during the year, our fundraising revenues actually decreased by $56,037, which given the flood issues in the Calgary area last year was certainly an understandable result. Overall, with some additional revenues earned from government grants and small increases in investment income, the net effect was only a decrease of $14,183 from 2012. We continue to rely on fundraising, the United Way and program fees for the majority of our revenues and their continued support will be important for us moving forward.

Unfortunately the revenues were not able to keep pace with the expenses. During the year, wages and benefits and direct program costs increased by a combined amount of $156,305.

These costs were necessary to attract and retain our excellent staff and continue to provide our programs at the expected levels. Other expenses were also up a combined amount of $30,384 led mostly by an increase in fundraising costs, many of which were made as an investment to build sustainable relationships to help us in the future.

All of the above led to a deficiency of revenues over expenses from operations of $174,755, a reduction of $200,892 from 2012. With strong financial markets, our endowment fund had an increase in market value of $153,667 to reduce our overall deficit to $21,088.

Dave

a messagefrom ourtreasurer

Dave McLellan Treasurer

98 annual report 2013 annual report 2013

independent auditors’ report

1110 annual report 2013 annual report 2013

Between Friends creates opportunities for people with disabilities to connect, grow, and belong through quality social and recreational activities.

about usBetween friends is a charitable organization that creates opportunities for people with disabilities to connect, grow and belong through quality social and recreational activities.

Since 1982, Between Friends has been offering children, youth, and adults a variety of programs that remove the barriers of isolation and truly function as the building blocks of friendship.

We run close to 150 social and recreational programs designed to meet the needs of more than 59 disability groups. We also encourage inclusive program participation by offering program spaces for those who do not have a disability.

We encourage diversity by connecting our community with their fellow citizens with disabilities, providing ongoing development and benefiting all people through the sharing of unique talents and perspectives.

Our I.C.A.N! (Inclusive Community Activities with No Barriers) programs and camps facilitate involvement in community recreation. Discovery and social interaction with typically-developing peers is a key experience.

W.E.S.O.A.R.! (Weekend & Evening Social Opportunities and Recreation) run throughout the year and include a variety of social and recreational group activities for all ages.

In the summer months, Camp Bonaventure, Camp Fun’zAmust, and Adventurers provide unforgettable experiences for children, youth, and adults.

Between Friends ensures that every child, youth and adult with a wish for the thrilling adventure of attending our programs is granted the opportunity through subsidies and fee assistance.

Charitable Registration No: 11921 7925 RR0001

205 8989 Macleod Trail S Calgary AB T2H 0M2 Tel 403 269 9133 Fax 403 269 3919 betweenfriends.ab.ca