Resources to navigate serious events
Knowing where to turn for assistance when your home community is experiencing a serious issue such as political upheaval, social unrest, or a natural disaster can be difficult. On this page, you’ll find resources to help you deal with a social, political, or environmental crisis while you’re studying at UCalgary.
Options for support
- Academic advising: Faculty Advisors can support students with questions related to their degree program, including, course selection, program progression, academic standing, taking time off, withdrawing from courses and more.
- Enrolment Services (ES): ES can support you in exploring options if your courses, registration, or finances are affected. You can reach out to an ES advisor who will guide you through the available resources.
- Graduate academic and international specialists: Graduate students can access these specialists at the Faculty of Graduate Studies to discuss any matter that may impact their academic success. The specialists can provide referrals to other university services.
- Faith and Spirituality Centre (FSC): Contact the FSC to meet with a faith representative or access peer support.
- International Student Services (ISS): ISS can provide international students with general advising support, and details on how to navigate UCalgary’s supports and services.
- Student Success Centre (SSC): Academic development specialist (International) within the SSC provide support for students who may be experiencing academic challenges. Students can email success@ucalgary.ca to arrange an appointment.
- Student Wellness Services (SWS): SWS is UCalgary’s on-campus resource for health and wellness support. Contact them for medical and mental health care. SWS is open weekdays 9 a.m. to 4:30 p.m. and they’re located in MacEwan Student Centre (room 370).
- If you're an international student, and you require additional support to help you access and navigate campus resources, please submit this form. A member of the ISS team will reach out to you within five (5) business days.
Support offered by local providers
- Distress Centre: Calgary’s Distress Centre is available 24 hours per day, 7 days per week. You can access support by phone (403.266.4357), and online via chat or text.
IRCC updates
Click the links below for details on how Canada is handling various international situations
- Canada - Wildfires
- 2024 Wildfires in Canada: Temporary immigration, passport and citizenship measures - Canada.ca [Expires November 30, 2024]
- Afghanistan: Canada’s response to the situation in Afghanistan - Canada.ca
- Gaza: As of October 16, 2024, financial aid for Gazans includes a free open work permit and study permit extension. Find more details here: Financial Assistance for Gazans
- Haiti: Measures for Haitian nationals / passport holders and family members in Canada - Canada.ca [Expires November 19, 2024]
- Hong Kong: Permanent residence pathways for Hong Kong residents - Canada.ca [Expires August 31, 2026]
- Iran: Situation in Iran: Temporary immigration, passport and citizenship measures - Canada.ca [Expires February 28, 2025]
- Israel and the Palestinian Territories : Measures for Israeli nationals, Palestinian passport holders and family members in Canada - Canada.ca [Expires July 31, 2025]
- Lebanon: Canadians, permanent residents and their immediate family members in Lebanon – Documents to travel to Canada - Canada.ca
- Sudan: Conflict in Sudan: Temporary immigration, passport and citizenship measures - Canada.ca [Expires October 27, 2024]
- Ukraine: Immigration measures and support for Ukrainians and their families - Canada.ca
Available food security supports
Here are some ways UCalgary students can access support related to food security:
The SU Campus Food Bank offers a year-round emergency food relief service to UCalgary’s campus community. This relief is provided through nutritionally-sound hampers assembled in accordance with the Canada Food Guide. The SU Campus Food Bank also provides access to emergency snacks, the Good Food Box program (affordable produce) and can pass along information regarding food relief resources available both on and off-campus.
To speak confidentially to one of our volunteers about your food security needs, call 403.220.8599 or email foodbank@ucalgary.ca.
In addition to regular hampers available all year, the SU Food Bank provides Ramadan food hampers for campus community members who need support to celebrate the occasion, as well as Holiday hampers prior to the winter break. Ramadan and Holiday hampers can be requested as an add-on to a regular hamper request, or they can be ordered as a stand-alone hamper.
The SU Food Bank also runs an annual Adopt-a-Family program that provides holidays gifts to student families with limited resources. This program accepts applications in November, and gifts are distributed in early December.
In emergency cases, grocery store gift cards are distributed to students in immediate need of necessities. This form of assistance can be access by referral from a Student Support Advisor in Student Wellness Services. This initiative is supported by the Students’ Greatest Need fund.
Foothills Community Pantry
The Foothills campus community pantry of nonperishable food and essentials is a grassroots initiative designed to help address a need. You can find the pantry in the Health Sciences Centre atrium (also known as Hippocrates Mall), near the staircase that leads up to the library. It is available to all self-identified Foothills campus community members with needs, and stocked by all members wishing to donate nonperishable food and essentials.
This initiative operates on a Take what you need, Share what you can model.
See more information – including Frequently Asked Questions.