About the University of Calgary Recovery Community (UCRC) - A 1st of its kind in Canada
Everyone deserves the opportunity to pursue recovery.
Over 25% of young adults aged 18–25 will experience a substance use disorder—that translates to more than 7,500 students at the University of Calgary alone. Problematic substance use is on the rise among both students and employees and is a significant cause of student dropout and workplace leaves in post-secondary institutions.
The University of Calgary Recovery Community (UCRC)—a first-of-its-kind initiative in Canada—is a peer-led, all-pathways-to-recovery program supporting students, staff, and faculty affected by addiction. Catalyzed by the lived experience of an academic in recovery, UCRC is rooted in a recovery-oriented system of care that centers peer support, inclusion, and long-term academic and professional success. Today, we are proud to be leaders in the campus recovery movement, both nationally and provincially.
Collegiate recovery programs have been shown to reduce dropout rates and improve GPAs, creating the conditions for students in recovery to thrive.
Reached 15,000+ UCalgary community members through recovery-positive events and outreach
- Provided 25 scholarships and awards to students and staff in recovery
- Trained 300+ campus members through our Addiction and Recovery Allyship training, resulting in a 43% reduction in stigmatizing attitudes
- Created a for-credit course, Addiction and Recovery—the first of its kind in Canada
- Host 8 peer support meetings per week, with 96% of participants reporting an increased sense of belonging
- Through our collaboration with Recovery on Campus Alberta, UCRC serves as the provincial model for campus-based recovery, supporting all 26 publicly funded post-secondary institutions across Alberta
- Backed by the Recovering in Place Lab and Knowledge Hub, leading Canada’s first post-secondary recovery science research initiative
This Giving Day fund supports stigma-reduction and community-building projects such as:
- Recovery champion scholarships
- Substance-free residence housing
- Training and workshops
- A dedicated drop-in space offering one-on-one professional support, group peer support meetings, and substance-free social events
With your donation, you are helping create a campus where recovery is visible, valued, and supported. Every dollar makes a difference in the lives of students, staff, and faculty affected by addiction.
Donate today and be part of building a recovery-friendly future at the University of Calgary.
