Natalie was born on November 4, 1979, in Berwyn, Alberta. She spent the first ten years of her life with her family in the Peace Country before moving to Drumheller and later Edmonton. Natalie spent the last 25 years of her life in Calgary, where she was a devoted single mother to two beautiful children.

In adulthood, Natalie faced significant challenges while living with Bipolar Disorder. She and her family encountered unexpected and overwhelming barriers in accessing appropriate mental health treatment. Over time, her circumstances became increasingly complex, marked by isolation, domestic violence, the loss of her children, and struggles with addiction. Tragically, Natalie passed away on April 19, 2022, due to an accidental fentanyl overdose.

In the months leading up to her passing, her mother made efforts to have Natalie transferred to Grande Prairie Hospital, then to rehabilitation but these requests were denied by the system. A plan was to eventually get her to Crossroads Women’s Shelter—hoping to give her the chance to begin a new life with family support nearby in Fairview. 

In Natalie’s memory, her mother partnered with Crossroads Women’s Shelter to co-create this fund. The fund supports women accessing the shelter who are affected by mental illness, domestic abuse, and/or addiction. Over the past three years, the charity has seen growing success in helping women who are committed to making meaningful changes in their lives and in the lives of their children.

When you give to this fund, please know that you are helping a daughter, mother, sibling, or neighbour create the opportunity for a healthier, safer future.