case manager

support worker

maintenance person

development director

navigator

Calgary Dream Centre

To sum this up as everyone else has:

If you're not Christian, upper management won't develop or promote you.

Horrible pay, especially with the current inflation. 

Horrible benefits that you have to pay an arm and a leg for (best option: don't). 

Upper management will not listen to ideas from other staff and they do not take concerns brought forward seriously. Many people have had great ideas that would improve the building immensely - only to be shut down immediately without a second thought.

The Dream Centre is a ship that is sinking and if you want my honest advice, I would seek a company that actually cares about their employees, pay them well and treat them with dignity (oh, the irony, providing we are told we are to restore clients' dignity .. how can we do that at our best when you take staff's dignity away on a daily basis?)

Lots of turnover and the good, core staff is gone. 

Oh - the kitchen serves horrific food.. better to bring your own lunch instead 

The CDC as a whole does good work; it plays an important role in offering men and women a chance at living sober lives. There are employees and case managers that truly love and care for their clients. 

It does make it difficult to work for the CDC however when their are huge issues that aren’t addressed. They seemly only hire those who have the “DNA” aka Christian beliefs and promote those within their church circle. I’ve never worked for leadership who trusts their employees so little. This has in turn caused an entire department to turn over within one year. When that happens, it’s usually not because of disgruntled employees or employees who do not have the right chemistry but instead issues that need to be addressed at the top. The culture is toxic and is washed over by fake positivity. 

It’s hard to find a place to fit in at CDC and some teams are cliquey. I eventually decided that I wouldn’t ever fully fit in on the team I was with so I decided to just go to work, do my job to the best of my abilities, and then leave work at work and go home.  It’s amazing getting to see clients succeed and do well and to know that you had a part in their healing. There is some departmental siloing and that can be difficult to go around because one never really knows where they stand with their coworkers. Micromanagement is unfortunately an issue here. Benefits are expensive but they are really, really good with 100% drug and dental coverage. The HR and Finance teams are amazing and they truly take care of their staff. 

The Dream Centre is a good first job. The experience you'll have is incomparable. The clients will teach you and help you with your personal growth equally to how you support them. You will also find safety and comfort with your coworkers. But, if you look beyond the day to day, it's all problems. Some of management is incompetent. Some put emphasis on those from only one walk of life. It feels hard to feel heard; expect having to have the same conversations multiple times. It's also hard to progress, and grow within the company. Others will be given opportunities based on who they know or what religion they practice. 

Despite some past negative reviews, the leadership of the Calgary Dream Centre is moving forward with a focus on building a healthy workplace culture.

Executive Office is committed to nurturing a diverse and inclusive environment where everyone from the janitor to the CEO has a voice at the table.

Team work really does make the dream work and the collaborative approach makes the workload fun and engaging.

The clients you will meet are absolutely inspiring, their stories of courage and hope will forever imprint your heart.

My time working for the Calgary Dream Centre is mixed with a lot of ups and downs.  
There are a couple incredible individuals in management that truly care about there staff and clients, however that sadly is a rare thing to find working for the CDC. 
Most of their staff are under paid for the work they’re expected to do. If you’re one of the rare staff members that are offered benefits you’re paying an arm and a leg for anything decent and they’re still not worth it. 
If you live your life matching with the same religious beliefs and views of the CDC and 90% of management you’ll probably succeed. However if you don’t, I won’t recommend trying to make a career in this organization. 

The Calgary Dream Centre has been an excellent place to work. They listen to staff concerns and actually make changes as a result. This has led to a lot of changes in the culture over the last few years in really positive directions. It has led to changes in benefits (excellent mental health benefits) and it has led to changes in pay (as much is possible in the non-profit world). The leadership genuinely cares about staff but also the clients. 

The hardest part of the job is the work itself, it can be emotionally taxing, however, the work itself is also the most enjoyable part of the job.

The Calgary Dream Centre is a CARE focused work environment where both clients and staff are appreciated and celebrated for their achievements. The CEO is a kind and compassionate leader who genuinely cares about the organization as a whole. His empathetic approach to leadership makes for a safe and positive working environment for everyone. 

This organization is truly an amazing place to work, I have learned a great deal from the management as well as the amazing team of qualified individuals that are encouraging, supportive and fun to work with. I felt supported from all departments within the Dream Centre especially management. If you are thinking about applying to this organization, I would highly recommend this. Watching  the people that the Dream Centre supports and the transformation that happens is truly life changing. 

Really, all I want to say is that I had some serious insomnia difficulties when I was an employee there.
Hence,I was asked, in a very concerning manner if in fact there was anything the management could do for me as my productivity had declined. 

I eventually had this issue with sleep, rather the lack thereof, was remedied ...I may once again gain full time employment with this organization in the future.

Top Job Titles	Average salary
Case manager 5 salaries reported	$54,000 per year
Support worker 1 salary reported	$18.00 per hour
Maintenance person 2 salaries reported	$24.00 per hour
Development director 3 salaries reported	$100,000 per year
Navigator 2 salaries reported	$54,000 per year

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