Saying goodbye to Calgary’s Terminator Foundation as the non-profit closes

A Calgary not-for-profit organization that helps people who are struggling with or at risk of addiction is closing its doors.

A popular not-for-profit that aids Calgarians struggling with addictions has closed its doors.

The Terminator Foundation helps those in need through activity-based recovery therapy. Participants go through extensive programs — mainly focused on running, cycling and swimming — as a way to build mental and physical strength.

It’s helped hundreds of people in its decade of service; known around Calgary for its advocacy work, counselling services and for its annual Terminator Run for Youth Addiction Awareness.

But earlier this year, Terminator’s founder says provincial government money was pulled.

“Some of our funding was cut right from the get-go, at the start of this last year,” Vanisha Breault said. “And it was almost like the organization was at a place where we couldn’t scale back anymore.”

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“We already had a waitlist and needed more money and more resources to fill the services and the need that was already there. To think about downsizing and scaling back and turning more people away: I wasn’t going to do that.”

So, in January, the foundation laid off its trainers and counsellors.

That was a hard thing to hear, according to a running coach, who says multiple Calgarians were in the middle of their sessions at the time.

“I didn’t come into the program with money on the line or fame or anything,” Llew Edwards told CTV News. “I came in to help the athletes. So I said ‘whatever you need, I’m here.‘”

Edwards wasn’t alone.

Staff at the Terminator Foundation saw the last group of recovery athletes through their program.

Now that those involved have “graduated,” Terminator has shut its doors.

Some of its alumni will continue to run bi-weekly meetups to connect with friends made in the foundation, but the official programs are finished.

Breault says it’s a tough pill to swallow, but she won’t stop advocating for those in need.

“I know times are tough, but don’t stop giving,” she said. “There are so many people in this city who need a hand.”

The province tells CTV News it is still offering Terminator some funding, but says it is unable to accommodate any more.

A statement from the Ministry of Mental Health and Addiction says it is saddened to hear about the closure.