Turtle Lodge: Developmental Treatment Centre (formerly Cottage Seven)

Submitted on Friday, 01/24/2020 - 2:16 am

sspoppi moyis


In March  2021, Cottage Seven changed its name to Turtle Lodge: Developmental Treatment Centre, sspopii moyis in Blackfoot. This program was gifted the name by Casey Eagle Speaker, Hull’s Indigenous Resource Coordinator, through a naming ceremony. The name stems from the Blackfoot culture’s understanding of the word and how it represents the young people and the treatment in the program.
A turtle represents creation and motherhood; it is a symbol of longevity, endurance, persistence and the continuation of life. The turtle gently teaches us the art of adapting to new surroundings and environments.
“We believe that sspopii moyis beautifully describes the young people at Turtle Lodge: Developmental Treatment Centre, particularly with regards to the concept of resilience in the face of incredible odds and the capacity to adapt to new environments,” said Nadège De Pape, Program Director. “Turtle Lodge: Developmental Treatment Centre authentically represents the youth in the program, captures our commitment to Indigenous relationships, and honors the clinical work that is being done every day.”
“The Blackfoot names are significant in recognizing the ancestral lands of the Blackfoot Confederation that Hull is situated on, as is the city of Calgary,” said Eagle Speaker. “To have Indigenous inclusion is important to create a culturally safe place with humility, to give those we serve a sense of freedom and direction.”

About Turtle Lodge

Turtle Lodge: Developmental Treatment Centre is an intensive campus-based treatment program that provides clinical interventions for children and youth with developmental and intellectual disabilities, and complex-severe mental health and behavioural challenges.

Through evidence-based clinical interventions, the program strives to reduce significant behavioural challenges, enhance functional social skills, bolster connection with natural supports and prepare youth for a less-restrictive community setting. The program involves parents and natural supports as critical agents of change and resilience.

Who this Program Supports 

Turtle Lodge: Developmental Treatment Centre is a therapeutic campus-based (and day) program for children and adolescents ages 6 to 17 years with developmental delay and severe behaviour/mental health problems.

Diagnostically, these youths present with multiple childhood disorders including but not limited to: Pervasive Developmental Disorder, Attention Deficit Hyperactivity Disorder (ADHD), Conduct Disorder, Learning and Language Disabilities, Post Traumatic Stress Disorder (PTSD), Anxiety, Depression, and significant Intellectual and Developmental disabilities.

Through evidence-based clinical interventions, the program strives to reduce significant behavioural challenges, enhance functional social skills, bolster connection with natural supports and prepare youth for a less-restrictive community setting.

Our Approach 

The program is an evidence-based multi-component program for youth guided by principles of Positive Behaviour Support (PBS), developmental neuroscience, and trauma-informed approaches including the Neurosequential Model (NM). The curriculum is individualized, intensive and focused on building new skills with precise behavioural teaching and counselling in the context of normative daily activities in a relational milieu.

Committed To Excellence 

  • In addition to post-secondary training, staff receive training in trauma-informed care approaches, such as the Neurosequential Model and are trained in Therapeutic Crisis Intervention (TCI).  The staff receive core agency training as well as in program training, continuous coaching and reflective supervision.
  • The program staff are Child and Youth Care Certified through the Child and Youth Care Association of Alberta (CYCAA).

How to Access this Program

Turtle Lodge (Formerly Cottage Seven) is a managed referral program

Please note: This program can only be accessed for youth with Children’s Services status and referral by a case worker.

For more information contact

Nadege De Pape Program Director

  • 403-251-8040

Rob Hampshire Program Coordinator

  • 403-238-6228