How Kids Kottage began

The proud story of the Kids Kottage Foundation

In 1995, evidence from the Child Abuse Team at the Alberta Children’s Hospital showed that child abuse and neglect was most often attributed to parents undergoing extreme stress. These parents had nowhere to turn for immediate help or support during a crisis. In response to this evidence, Kids Kottage, Edmonton’s first and only crisis nursery, opened in 1995 with a mission to prevent child abuse and neglect before it became a way of life.

In June 1995, more than 40 corporate leaders and individuals committed their support to make Kids Kottage a reality. Leaders like the ‘First Lady’ of Alberta at the time, Mrs. Colleen Klein, and community leader and businessman, Mr. J.R. Shaw were two of the first to put their support behind the Kids Kottage vision.

The Kottage first opened with six crisis beds and a full-time home visitation worker that provided follow-up service to families. Families were offered up to 72 hours of crisis care for infants and children up to the age of 11 years old, and parents were given follow-up counselling, support and referrals to other needed services in the community. Families accessed the services of the crisis nursery by way of the 24-hour crisis line, run entirely by volunteers. 

With the help of our supporters, Kids Kottage has become a trusted place where children are cared for and kept safe, and a source of relief and counsel for parents as they resolve issues of crisis or distress.