Advocacy Award

By Patchen Barss 

In just a few years since its creation, Stories for Caregivers has grown to become the Canada’s largest online community for people who care for kids and adults with disabilities, developmental needs, or other medical complexities. Built on a foundation of storytelling, it provides people who often feel isolated with community, empathy, support, and a sense of belonging.

Canadian film producer Bannister Bergen is the organization’s founder and executive producer. Though he built this digital space to bring others together, he discovered that he also benefited from empowerment and knowledge these stories provided.

“When we began Stories for Caregivers, I was reluctant, even fearful of having the difficult conversations with my wife and family about the very real possibility of caring for our aging parents. Listening to caregivers’ stories changed that. They changed me,” he said. “While we create content for caregivers, another key goal is to reach those who aren’t caregivers yet. I realized I was part of that very audience, feeling unprepared for the responsibility of caregiving and uncertain about what the future might hold. If Stories for Caregivers could help me face my fears, it could do the same for others.”

Caregivers (and caregivers-to-be) often grapple with distress, anger, and depression. With support from TELUS Fund, Bergen created Stories for Caregivers in 2017. In video series and one-off episodes, this digital platform gives voice to carers from across the country who often otherwise feel invisible or forgotten.

Uplifting and profound, these videos pay special heed to caregivers who come from marginalized or discriminated-against groups. Notably, producer Moses Latigo Odida’s series, Down: Canada’s Black Caregivers, documents the interconnected challenges of caregiving while black.

Stories videos have garnered 35 million views, and been featured on national television, radio, and news media across the country. With the number of Canadian caregivers expected to keep growing, the Stories community offers an antidote to the isolation these people might otherwise feel. That includes people at TELUS Fund who supported the project.

“Having personally experienced the profound journey of caregiving, I know how isolating and overwhelming it can feel,” says Elizabeth Friesen, Executive Director of TELUS Fund. “These stories create connection, reminding caregivers they are not alone and that their role is invaluable. We are proud to support content that makes a real difference in people’s lives.”