About Us

With gratitude and a spirit of reconciliation, Sendero Centre recognizes that we work and live within the traditional, unceded lands and traveling routes of the Indigenous Peoples represented in Treaty 6 and 7 and the home of the Metis Region III who also share a deep connection with these lands.

We are thankful to offer services on these lands today.

Our Mission

The Sendero Centre is committed to ending sexual violence and helping to build safer communities through promoting awareness and healing, education, empowerment and renewal.

Our Vision

Central Alberta will be a safer, healthier and more informed community surrounding the issues of sexual assault and sexual abuse.

Our Goal

Individuals will be empowered to make informed choices about personal safety, sexual interactions and/or emotional distress.

Core Beliefs

In all we do, Sendero Centre operates with these core beliefs.

We believe:

People can heal
We are facilitators of the healing process
In valuing diversity and respecting all people
Individuals should be free to make their own life choices
Each person should have the opportunity to learn and to grow
In creating a safe environment and maintaining confidentiality
Services must be accessible to children, adolescents, women and men
Inability to pay should not be a barrier to receiving service
In providing support and advocacy for people who have been affected by sexual violence
Public education and advocacy are vital for eliminating violence
Offenders must take responsibility for violence
Teamwork is essential
Volunteers are crucial to our agency and provide a link to communities
In working with other agencies to further common goals.

Affiliates

The Sendero Centre is a member of the Alberta Association of Sexual Assault Services (AASAS). The member agencies of AASAS are responsible for day-to-day, front-line delivery of services such as crisis intervention, counseling, outreach and educational programming within their local communities and regional areas.

AASAS is a non-profit, registered charitable organization that began operations in 1995, as a provincial umbrella organization. To learn more about AASAS or to find Sexual Assault services in another part of Alberta visit their website.

Board of Directors

Sendero Centre is a voluntary non-profit organization serving the Central Alberta region under the direction of a community-based Board of Directors.

Chairperson – Kyle Kisio

Leigh Sands – Vice Chairperson

Coralie Mobley – Secretary

Patricia Arango – Executive Director

Cass Brunner – Director/Member

Heidi Ravenhill – Director/Member

Holly Erb – Director/Member

John Ferguson – Director/Member

Kellie Cummings - Director/Member

Kelly Sachatsky Ward - Director/Member

Maureen Banner - Director/Member

Wynny Sillito - Director/Member

Our Story

1983: A small group of concerned citizens recognized that there was an urgent need in the Central Alberta region for services to children, adults and families who have been traumatized by sexual violence. They put their heads together, formed a steering committee and applied for Secretary of State Funds to start a sexual assault centre in Red Deer. The original sexual assault centre came to being with a $35,000 government grant, a card table, a couple of chairs and a phone.

1985: Our agency began a 24-hour crisis line operated by volunteers. The crisis line started in conjunction with the Central Alberta Women’s Emergency Shelter. The lines, staffed by a pool of 15 volunteers, ran from 6 p.m. to midnight, 7 days a week, with the Shelter staff handling calls throughout the rest of the day.

1986: Family and Community Support Services (FCSS) began funding the Public Education Program and in January 1987, the United Way of Red Deer began funding the Sexual Assault Crisis Line project.

1989: The first Executive Director, Dianne Howarth, was officially hired in May of 1989. Under her leadership the services offered began to expand into the community.

1992: On a request from the RCMP, the Sexual Assault Centre began offering crisis intervention to victims of sexual assault and their families. This service included providing accompaniment of victims making reports to the police and accompaniment 24 hours a day to hospitals or clinics. Funding for this position came from Alberta Justice.

1995: The 24hr crisis line expanded into a generic help/distress line.

2003: The Board of Directors made the decision to change the name of the Central Alberta Sexual Assault Centre to the Crisis Centre. School Wellness Workers, counsellors and clients asked for the change. The purpose of the change was to encourage young persons to access our services without feeling the negative stigma of “sexual assault.”

2005: We moved into our previous location at A201 5212- 48 Street in Red Deer. The Rotary Club of Red Deer Sunrise provided a $50,000 donation to furnish the new space (Our Boardroom was named after the Rotary Club of Red Deer) while a donation of $125,000 from Alberta Lottery (Community Facility Enhancement Program Grant) provided dollars to construct the interior.

2005-2007: In October of 2005, the provincial government began funding sexual assault centres across Alberta. In 2006 the Crisis Centre hired a full-time educator and, with the help of this funding, professional counseling services were able to expand. By 2007 the staff also included 1.5 FTE counselors and a part time children’s therapist.

2008: The Crisis Centre re-focused its 24-hour help line service to sexual assault, discontinuing the generic crisis line. Anyone experiencing an issue that has a sexual connotation was encouraged to call. This includes victims of recent and historic sexual assault, sexual harassment, stalking and criminal harassment, and child sex abuse.

Executive Director Dianne Howarth retired, leaving behind a solid legacy committed to the provision of services and supports to Central Albertans dealing with the aftermath of sexual assault/sexual abuse.

2012: By 2011 it became evident that the name “Crisis Centre” was no longer a good fit for an organization fully focused on providing education, support and counseling specifically to those affected by sexual violence. On April 3, 2012, the name was once again officially changed to the Central Alberta Sexual Assault Support Centre (CASASC). This long name clearly denotes who we are, what we do and where we provide the services.

2014: Patricia Arango came onboard as Executive Director and implemented preventative programming including the No Secrets program and the #iRespect campaign.

2016: In May 2016 the Centre launched the 24-Hour Sexual Assault Text and Webchat Crisis Line, to accompany the long-established crisis phone line. This line was one of the first (and the very first in Alberta) sexual assault text lines in Canada. Operated by a dedicated team of volunteers, the texting and webchat crisis line offers those affected by sexual violence another highly accessible channel to receive affirmation, support, referrals and information.

2023: We moved into our current location at the Sheldon Kennedy Centre of Excellence.

2024: Our name changed to the Sendero Centre. Sendero means “pathway” or “trail” in Spanish and represents the pathway to healing from sexual trauma. This name change happened on November 1st, 2024.

Our Values

LEADERSHIP

We are the leaders in the cause against sexual violence.

RESPECT

We respect the diversity of people and are committed to providing support to all who are affected by sexual violence.

CARING

We show compassion and help those in need.

ACCOUNTABILITY

We are responsible for our decisions and actions on behalf of Sendero Centre. We demonstrate due diligence in fulfilling our commitments to our clients, their families, and friends, volunteers, funders, and all others who provide support to those we serve.

COMMITMENT

We strive to make a positive difference in the lives of people affected by sexual violence. We share this commitment and encourage others to share in our vision.

COLLABORATION

We work openly and in a coordinated manner within our organization and with others.