This week’s inspiring Albertan: Kimberly Courtney
Founder of Narrow Road Home recovery centre helps women during difficult times in their lives.
Founder of Narrow Road Home recovery centre helps women during difficult times in their lives.
News, Media & Events
Written by Dan Marcinkowski at the High River Times
https://www.highrivertimes.com/news/local-news/great-food-at-the-narrow-road-creperie-co
The newly opened Narrow Road Creperie & Co located on 130 – 3rd Ave SE, has some amazing and great tasting crepes on their menu. Open 9 a.m. to 4 p.m. each day except on Sundays, the Creperie offers multiple crepes fitting for breakfast or lunch, for those wanting something savory or something sweet. The Creperie also serves salads, soup, fruits, and coffee. From first-hand experience, the service and food was great and it is highly recommended to go have breakfast or lunch or just come by for a coffee.
The Narrow Road Creperie & Co. is an extension of the Narrow Road Home and all the women working in the Creperie have been treated or continue to heal at the Narrow Road Home, which is a women’s healing house of recovery (from addictions like drugs and alcohol) for women over 18-years-old.
A little history about the Narrow Road Home…
Kim Engbrecht, Founder and Executive/Director of Narrow Road Home came up with the idea for the place of healing for women after some personal things had happened in her life.
“My sister and best friend both died from alcoholism,” she said.
“That got me going on the path that led me to work as a volunteer interventionist, as well as going to school studying social work.”
“I’ve kind of always had my foot involved in something with helping women. Mostly it was on my own, where I would open my doors and take on young women who were struggling.”
Engbrecht had one girl that was staying with her from the States and they both believed that she needed more help than Engbrecht could provide at the time.
“I started calling around to organizations and churches, but there were long wait-lists or costs were too high,” she said.
“We couldn’t wait because six months down the road, she probably wouldn’t be alive.”
“This was kind of my light bulb moment where I thought I could make a change. I thought I have this huge house that already lends itself to being a treatment facility and then began my journey in May 2014 to start canvassing the community and doing my due diligence to get this house zoned.”
Vist the Narrow Road Creperie in High River Alberta
Many people have stigma about addictions, but Engbrecht also received a lot of support early on and High River Town Council was a 100 per cent with her.
“We showed them that we would be supervising these girls 24 hours a day,” she said.
Once it got going on Dec. 2 2014, the Narrow Road Home filled up within a month.
“We’re not a religious organization, but we believe in that spirituality side of turning it over to God and having him kind of running the house,” said Engbrecht.
The Narrow Road Home is a safe haven for women that could have long term transitional healing.
“Rather than the 30-days standard, we wanted to start somewhere from crisis, to giving back, to then watching here in the Creperie, to becoming your own person and launching people into their business,” said Engbrecht.
The Narrow Road Home has helped these women a lot. Just recently one woman received her GED for the first time, and they have women that are in University or College getting their degrees. There are two transition homes as well.
“It’s like we trying to build a support village,” said Engbrecht.
The organization is not a non for profit one.
“We decided not go down this route at this time, because of a lack of resources, and the fact that we do want women to pay some fees even if it is only a couple $100’s,” said Engbrecht.
“Even though we are a private treatment centre, we take women regardless of their financial picture.”“The story is so powerful, some of these girls went from being drug dealers or being alcoholics and they now have literary built this place and run it,” said Engbrecht.
The Creperie will help raise money for the organization and help offset fees and also scholarship women who can’t afford treatment.
Great food at the Narrow Road Creperie & Co.
Written by Dan Marcinkowski at the High River Timeshttps://www.highrivertimes.com/news/local-news/great-food-at-the-narrow-road-creperie-co The newly opened Narrow Road Creperie & Co located on 130 – 3rd Ave SE, has some amazing and great tasting crepes on their menu. Open 9 a.m. to 4 p.m. each day except on Sundays, the Creperie offers multiple crepes fitting for breakfast or lunch, …
INFORMATION NIGHT / OPEN HOUSE Thursday, November 22, 2018 6:30 – 8:30 pm
We would love to share our experiences and our story by hosting an Information Night! We are going to host the event at the Creperie. It will be a public open house for all those who want to learn more about who we are and what we do.
Everyone is welcome! Friends, Neighbors, Supporters you’re all invited.We want to thank the entire community for all of the Love, support and encouragement that you have demonstrated to the women working and volunteering at the Creperie.
Come and tour the Creperie & Coffee Co. and join us for refreshments and fellowship at 36 – 2 Ave. SE, High River, AB
In order to house, feed, coach, counsel and provide 24 hour supervision at the NARROW ROAD HOME recovery House, costs close to $4000 per month per woman. These costs are impossible for the majority of our clients and their families to afford. We NEVER want to turn anyone away due to a lack of finances.
With much gratitude, The CREPERIE along with some loving donations from our supporters allows these courageous women to walk through a door to freedom!
Please come out and hear from some of the women of NARROW ROAD how all of this has been made possible.
For more information call 403-710-0744 or email Kim.
Narrow Road Home Information Night
INFORMATION NIGHT / OPEN HOUSE Thursday, November 22, 2018 6:30 – 8:30 pm We would love to share our experiences and our story by hosting an Information Night! We are going to host the event at the Creperie. It will be a public open house for all those who want to learn more about who …
As previously reported, Narrow Road Home operates as a place of spiritual healing, acceptance and empowerment for women who require assistance through interventions and life crises.
Engbrecht, who is the executive director, said staff witness lives being touched and help received on a daily basis.
Representatives remain humbled the house was selected as recipient in 2016.
“It’s a long journey and many women do need financial help along the way, who don’t have family or any personal supports in their lives to keep going,” she told the Times.
It’s a very expensive operation keeping women going and housing them, funding them, and making sure there’s lots of supervision and lots of programming for them,” she told the Times Engbrecht said her vision is the cycle of giving continues and that it’s contagious and further instilled in the clients seeking help at the Narrow Road Home.
Support The Narrow Road Home
As previously reported, Narrow Road Home operates as a place of spiritual healing, acceptance and empowerment for women who require assistance through interventions and life crises. Engbrecht, who is the executive director, said staff witness lives being touched and help received on a daily basis. Representatives remain humbled the house was selected as recipient in …
Congratulations to Kim & The Narrow Road Home
Calgary, AB – The Calgary chapter of an international volunteer service organization, Soroptimist International, celebrated its award recipients last night at a banquet at the Delta Hotels Calgary Downtown.
Local philanthropic group honours women in Calgary
Members of Soroptimist International of Calgary honoured Kimberley Engbrecht as the 2017 winner of the Making a Difference for Women Award. This award recognizes a woman who, through her professional or personal efforts, is making an extraordinary difference in the lives of women or girls.
Kimberley is a mother to six children and Executive Director of Narrow Road Home, a women’s recovery center in High River. It offers individualized recovery and healing programs for women who find themselves in unfortunate life crises and need professional support and recovery.
Kimberley founded Narrow Road Home two and a half years ago. In that time approximately 75 women and their families have come through the program. Narrow Road Home accepts women regardless of race, religion, lifestyle or financial status – no one is turned away. Kimberley says: “A transformed life is achievable no matter how far down you think you have fallen. The light is not gone and it will penetrate the darkness if you reach out and take the hand of those who have gone before you.”
I am very honoured and humbled to receive this “Making a Difference for Women” award,” said Kimberley. “This award is for the amazing staff at the house working together as a team in doing God’s work. All of the women in the program are a constant inspiration. This is why I do what I do everyday. These women are my heroes and true overcomers!
SI Calgary also issued its Live Your Dream: Education and Training Awards for Women, monetary awards granted to women who are the sole financial support for their family and are enrolled in post-secondary education. Three local women received Live Your Dream awards, one in the amount of $4,000 and two in the amount of $2,000. Unlike most scholarships and bursaries, the grants are not tied to tuition – the women can use their discretion to spend the money where needed, whether books, tuition, child care or household expenses.
“Soroptimists strongly believe that education is the key to ensuring women’s financial independence, self-esteem, health and equality,” said Angela Bunting, president of SI Calgary. “The Live Your Dream Awards is Soroptimist’s signature program because the awards lead directly to women’s social and economic empowerment, our overarching goals. When single mothers receive the training they need to start their careers, they not only gain the ability to support their families, they become role models for their children and leaders in the community.”
In addition to issuing its awards, SI Calgary works to improve the lives of girls and women through its programs, including an annual conference for girls called “Dream It, Be It: Career Support for Girls” and by funding local and international agencies that share its objectives. SI Calgary was established in Calgary in 1934 and is part of an international network of similar clubs, comprised of almost 80,000 women in over 120 countries and territories.
Contact: Soroptimist International of Calgary Angela Bunting, President
Making a Difference for Women Awarded To Kim Courtney
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Kim Courtney, Executive Director of Narrow Road Home recovery house for women was named CTV’s inspiring Albertan in Feb.
Article by: Michael Franklin, CTV Calgary
An Alberta woman with a fair share of trouble behind her is happy that she can help other women with a recovery home that has opened in High River.
Kimberley Courtney, the founder of the Narrow Road Home Recovery House, says that she was finishing her Master’s degree in psychology when her life completely fell apart.
“I was a single mother with three kids and I really struggled with where to go and where I could go and fall apart somewhere safely.”
Kimberley Courtney founded the Narrow Road Home Recovery House in High River, which helps women who are struggling with a myriad of issues. She is this week’s Inspiring Albertan.
Three years ago, Courtney bought a historic home in High River for her to live with her three children, but the 2013 flood got in the way.
“It was a rough time for everyone,” says Courtney. “During that time, I took in some women, some young ladies that were struggling with addictions.”
CTV’s Inspiring Albertan – Kim Courtney
Kim Courtney, Executive Director of Narrow Road Home recovery house for women was named CTV’s inspiring Albertan in Feb. Article by: Michael Franklin, CTV Calgary An Alberta woman with a fair share of trouble behind her is happy that she can help other women with a recovery home that has opened in High River. Kimberley …
The woman behind the Narrow Road Home addiction’s program in High River went before town council Monday to bring the town up to date on what’s been happening.
Kim Engbrecht says they opened the door to the original house across from Spitzee school two years ago as of December 2.
Since then she says residents have become part of the community.
“When I went through my own journey, and I remember carrying a lot of guilt and shame and worthlessness, I realized that we don’t talk a lot about the drugs and alcohol or the shopping addictions or the eating disorders, it’s about dispelling the shame and the guilt and getting to the route of why we do what we do,” Engbrecht says. “I think what it is, is we’re not afraid to say we’re all broken, and we’re not afraid to say we need help, but actually saying we want to take a step at being over-comers and using that as a weapon for good because as soon as we talk about it, it loses that veil of secrecy.”
Narrow Road Widening Its Scope
The woman behind the Narrow Road Home addiction’s program in High River went before town council Monday to bring the town up to date on what’s been happening. Kim Engbrecht says they opened the door to the original house across from Spitzee school two years ago as of December 2. Since then she says residents …
High River, Alberta
By Kelci Nicodemus – MULTIMEDIA JOURNALIST, High River Times
The Ladies Evening to Pamper fundraiser in support of the Narrow Road Home women’s transitional home located in High River was held on Feb. 27.
The event, which was hosted by Jezibel’s Studio Boutique, featured several pampering stations, such as makeup and massage as well as a silent auction. The evening raised $2,000 for Narrow Road Home.
“It just sounded like a fantastic new organization in High River,” she said. “There’s a huge need for it. They take in women suffering from addiction and depression.” – Becky Webster
Becky Webster, owner of Jezibel’s Studio Boutique, said the idea of supporting the local organization came about through word-of-mouth. Webster said she enjoys helping charities and organizations in the community. Previously, Webster held a fundraiser for Habitat for Humanity in November 2014.
An Evening to Support Women
High River, Alberta By Kelci Nicodemus – MULTIMEDIA JOURNALIST, High River Times The Ladies Evening to Pamper fundraiser in support of the Narrow Road Home women’s transitional home located in High River was held on Feb. 27. The event, which was hosted by Jezibel’s Studio Boutique, featured several pampering stations, such as makeup and massage …
From Okotokes Online
A High River home that aims to be a beacon of light for women will soon be ready to open. The Narrow Road Home is holding an open house for everyone to come check out the post-flood renovations and changes.
Narrow Road Founder and life coaching consultant Kimberley Courtney says the transitional healing house has received a lot of support from the community.
“We had a unanimous decision that this could move forward and be rezoned as a residential care facility and just really the letters that have poured in from the people of High River and Okotoks and all in the surrounding Foothills saying that this is a much needed home. This is a place of healing and it really reflects where High River is going.”
Courtney bought the home last year before the flood with the vision of creating a place that could help set women free from the high pressures of life and allow them to press the reset button. She says that the home is not a detox or a rehab facility but it’s something else that many women need.
“It’s often for women who are coming post-treatment or just that need a transitional living place or time. Where they can go if things are not going well at home with their marriages or families but they just need an opportunity to sort of get off of the highway of life and kind of come onto the narrow road, so to speak and spend some time working with women and our staff walking with them through a process of healing.”
The open house takes place on Sunday November 2 from 1 to 4 pm. Courtney says it is a chance for people to walk through the home and get a feel for what the facility is all about.
“This is more for the community and supporters and everyone who just wants to come and see the house and see the changes and some of the renovations and have a feeling for how the house is gonna flow for the women that will be crossing the threshold in a month’s time.”
Narrow Road Home In High River Almost Ready To Open Their Doors!
From Okotokes Online A High River home that aims to be a beacon of light for women will soon be ready to open. The Narrow Road Home is holding an open house for everyone to come check out the post-flood renovations and changes. Narrow Road Founder and life coaching consultant Kimberley Courtney says the transitional …
Narrow Road Home In High River Almost Ready To Open Their Doors! Read More »
