Fresh Start Recovery Centre was originally known as CLASP and incorporated under the Alberta Societies Act on November 9, 1992. Four years later In May of 1996, the organization officially changed its name to Fresh Start; the impetus for this was to remove the religious connotation. As it is today, Fresh Start encouraged their residents to develop their individual belief systems. Fresh Start is completely non-denominational. Fresh Start operated a co-ed substance abuse treatment centre in the Calgary district of Midnapore.

In March 2002 Fresh Start Society acquired their current facility which is located at 808 Abbeydale Drive NE Calgary. This new location was opened with 19 beds for male residents. The majority of the funds for this facility came from the Calgary Homeless Foundation and an Anonymous Donor.

The bed numbers increased to 23 in 2004 in the main facility. In January of 2005 Fresh Start became a United Way of Calgary and Area Funded Member Agency and in April of 2006 Fresh Start became an AADAC funded agency, both sources combined making up for approximately 10% of Fresh Start’s annual operational budget. Fresh Start’s capacity increased in 2005 to 33 beds across two stages of treatment. The main facility increased its beds by five with the support from an Anonymous Donor (now deceased) and the other five beds came in the form of a long term housing component that was funded through Service Canada and the Calgary Homeless Foundation.

In 2006 Fresh Start began the process of acquiring another stage two home and opened its doors in February of 2007 thanks again to the Calgary Homeless Foundation and the Federal and Provincial Governments. This latest acquisition brings Fresh Start’s total capacity to 38. In response to the growth in demand for the Fresh Start recovery program based on wait list numbers, the Calgary Addictions Sectors’ strategic plan recommendations and initial recommendations from Calgary’s Ten Year Plan to End Homelessness, we are currently in the process of moving towards the construction of a new purpose built 50 bed facility.

With the amazing support of the Calgary Homeless Foundation, the Federal Government, Provincial Government and an Anonymous Donor, Fresh Start was able to purchase another five bed stage two home and also purchase an acre of land in the cities North East, garnering unanimous city council approval for the construction of a new 50 bed recovery facility.