Our Story

More than three decades ago, a new community “help” centre equipped to deal with a broad cross-section of social problems opened in the City of Brampton. This initiative, which evolved from a proposal made by Rev. Gordon Williams of St. Paul’s United Church, opened its doors on January 17, 1973, as a volunteer-based call-in and drop-in centre providing emotional support to those in need of physical and mental relief.

Having witnessed first-hand the needy in body and spirit knocking on the doors of the churches, Rev Williams, with the assistance of Rev. Bruce Besley and Rev. David Jones, fought the subtlety of adverse public opinion to open a centre which would provide emergency counseling and accommodation.

Initially, the centre was open 12 hours a day but within a few weeks of operation, the demand for the services necessitated it being open 24 hours a day with a drop-in/hostel component for the marginalized, transient and helpless people in Brampton. Although the centre was primarily run by volunteers who responded to the telephone calls, through sponsorship by several churches and a Federal Local Initiatives grant, it was able to employ 12 paid night staff to manage the 22-bed hostel.

In its first year, the centre received 2,777 calls and 3,136 drop-ins. But in 1975 the hostel was forced to close due to lack of sufficient funding. However, the telephone line continued to provide confidential crisis and befriending support for adults to discuss their personal issues with a non-judgmental listener.

Today, more than 34 years later, Telecare Distress Centre still offers a 24-hour service, seven days a week, staffed by dedicated volunteers, and receives approximately 20,000 calls per year. The reasons why people call have not changed significantly; the majority of callers still deal with loneliness, mental illnesses, grief, abuse, social isolation or interpersonal relationship problems.

Telecare Distress Centre is run by a volunteer Board of Directors. Day-to-day operations are managed by an Executive Director, Manager of Programs, Community Outreach Coordinator and other part-time staff.

We are often supported by placement students from various schools such as York University, Ryerson University, Sheridan College, Humber College, and George Brown College.  Telecare Distress Centre provides excellent training opportunities along with hands-on experience in the field of Social Work to all the Placement students.