Cities involved
Calgary
H.E.R.O.S. launched its third operation in Calgary's Forest Lawn district in 2006.
Located in the city's southeast, it looks like many other standard issue, middle–class neighbourhoods across Canada.
But under the surface of strip malls, mini–marts, vacant sports fields and long sweeps of low–rise houses, a darker picture emerges.
Calgary, with its boomtown energy and lure of big money and plentiful jobs, also faces increasing crime and social decay.
This area has one of the highest homicide rates in the province. Next to neatly painted bungalows are unkempt, ramshackle buildings fronting grow ops, crack houses or illegal massage parlors.
A scattering of trailer parks indicates a large transient population and a city's fraying infrastructure racing to catch up.
Kids raised in the Forest Lawn area face the double challenge of learning to make positive lifestyle choices while being surrounded by the mentality of making a quick buck and fast living.
Through its hockey program for at-risk youth, H.E.R.O.S. provides these children with a commitment to strong social values. The organization also provides a clear understanding of effective life skills to help them build a solid foundation for the future and to make healthy life choices.
