Calgary Foundation Winter 2023
Serving Up Solutions
Addressing food insecurity
Building Brighter Futures Calgary Black Chambers empowers Black youth
Revitalizing a City Landmark Contemporary Calgary enriches community
Remembering Thea
Carson Taylor honours a friend whose shining light and love touched so many
Eva’s message
In Service
There are two groups that we exist to serve, and we aim to serve both to the very best of our ability. In the first group are the charitable organizations, the grantees, who do the important work in community. These are the people who do the heavy lifting each day to make this city great for all. Whether it’s addressing food insecurity on Eden Valley Reserve, innovating ways to promote wellness for everyone at Vivo for Healthier Generations, supporting Black youth through scholarships or reimagining the iconic planetarium, the charitable sector is working hard in this city for you and me.
In this issue, you’ll meet these and more, and be inspired. In the second group are the philanthropists. The generosity of Calgarians, even in tough times, never ceases to amaze me. Last year, over $112 million was contributed to community through Calgary Foundation, and 55 new fundholders joined the Calgary Foundation family. Young and old, donors are as varied as our city. You’ll enjoy meeting a few of them in this issue. Big or small, all gifts to community make a difference. Fun(d) Fact: The minimum recommended amount to start an endowed fund at Calgary Foundation is $10,000, and we allow this to be achieved over several years, if needed. It is an honour and our pleasure to serve all fundholders/donors and charities who, together, work to solve today’s most pressing challenges, and make this city vibrant – a place where everyone belongs and can thrive.
Eva Friesen President & CEO, Calgary Foundation
In the spirit of reconciliation, the Calgary Foundation acknowledges that we live, work and play on the traditional territories of the Blackfoot Confederacy (Siksika, Kainai, Piikani), the Tsuut’ina, the Îyâxe Nakoda (Stoney Nakoda) Nations, the Otipemisiwak Métis Government of the Métis Nation within Alberta District 6 and all people who make their homes in the Treaty 7 region of Southern Alberta.
Calgary Foundation Winter 2023
2023 - 2024 Board of Directors: Blaine Lennox Chair Narmin Ismail-Teja Vice Chair
Published twice yearly by the Calgary Foundation in partnership with RedPoint Media & Marketing Solutions.
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Denise Bright Sherry Ferronato Alice Lam Jamie Leong-Huxley Ken Lima-Coelho
Melanie McDonald Michael Mezei Chima Nkemdirim Susan O'Brien David Phillips Kirby Redwood Ivor Ruste Julianna Spiropoulos Hugh D. Williamson Q.C.
Eva Friesen President & CEO Taylor Barrie VP, Communications Janice Francey Communications Associate
Kahanoff Centre #1180, 105 12 Avenue S.E. Calgary, AB T2G 1A1 403-802-7700 calgaryfoundation.org
President Käthe Lemon Director of Strategy Meredith Bailey Managing Editor Colleen Seto Art Director David Willicome Staff Photographer Jared Sych Contributing writers Elizabeth ChorneyBooth
Jennifer Friesen Déjà Leonard Karin Olafson Michaela Ream Lynda Sea Statements expressed herein do not necessarily represent the views of the publisher. Copyright 2023 by RedPoint Media Group Inc.
No part of this publication may be reproduced without the express written consent of the publisher. 1721 29 Ave. S.W., Suite 375 Calgary, AB T2T 6T7 (letter mail only) Ph: 403-240-9055 redpointmedia.ca Canadian
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contents people 04 Singing Calgary's Praises Ken Lima-Coelho uses his voice to help others.
06 Mission of Love Friends and family honour the legacy of Thea Roelofsen.
08 A Ripple of Positivity The Ohlson Family Endowment Fund provides stable funding for cancer research.
features 10 Serving up Solutions to Food Insecurity Three local organizations tackle the complex issue.
16 Taking the Pulse of Calgary Food insecurity stats from the 2023 Quality of Life report.
18 A Space for Healthy Living Vivo for Healthier Generations opens its vibrant new facility.
20 Supporting Black Youth Calgary Black Chambers provides scholarships to help build a better future.
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Serving up Solutions > BGC Foothills Clubs helps tackle food insecurity on Eden Valley Reserve.
Cover photo by Jared Sych; above photo by Jodie Sieben.
22 Adapting to a New Funding Reality The Thriving Non-Profits program brings new approaches to long-term success.
24 Belonging Matters The power of community and connection.
28 Reimagining a City Landmark Contemporary Calgary brings new life to the iconic planetarium space.
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board member profile
“
It’s a great experience to learn about hundreds of charitable organizations, and get a sense of the people, the opportunities and the challenges.” Ken Lima-Coelho in the magical Reading Room at the Big Brothers Big Sisters of Calgary and Area office.
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Singing Calgary’s Praises As a musician, volunteer and community leader, Ken Lima-Coelho uses his voice to lift others up By Colleen Seto • Photography by Erin Brooke Burns
L
ike many of his community forays, Ken Lima-Coelho became a Calgary Foundation volunteer through his a cappella quartet, The Heebee-jeebees. Former Foundation VP of Communications, the late Kerry Longpré, hired the group and later contacted Lima-Coelho about joining the Arts & Culture grant committee. Lima-Coelho recalls, “At my first meeting, these luminaries are sitting at the table, and I'm thinking, ‘I’m out of my league.’” Being arts curious and involved in the community, he soon realized he did bring value to the committee. “It’s a great experience to learn about hundreds of charitable organizations, and get a sense of the people, the opportunities and the challenges.” Twenty-three years later, Lima-Coelho continues to participate as both a member of the board and the Major Grants committee. “Volunteering at the Foundation allows me to see some of the community heartbeat and the contradictions. And it allows me to do something about it, too.” That includes supporting the Foundation’s evolution of moving beyond grantmaking towards becoming more inclusive and accessible by building genuine partnerships. “There's a different spirit,” says Lima-Coelho. “It’s not the big Foundation giving money to the little guys and hoping they do well. We now ask charitable organizations, ‘What else can Calgary Foundation do for you?’” Lima-Coelho references Shane Gauthier, CEO of the Aboriginal Friendship Centre of Calgary, who responded to that question by saying, “Walk beside us.” Lima-Coelho says, “It was a beautiful answer.”
With $1.3 billion in assets, Calgary Foundation is one of the largest community foundations in the country. “That can be a barrier for a lot of people,” says Lima-Coelho. “If I'm a small grassroots organization or a person that cares about a problem in the community, where do I fit in? It's our responsibility to find ways into different communities and help walk beside them.” After three decades of performing together, The Heebee-jeebees continue to be Lima-Coelho’s gateway into community. “From small gatherings to huge events, the group has provided so many opportunities to truly understand the community. I really love that.” And Lima-Coelho is no stranger to Calgary. As a born and raised Calgarian, he decided long ago that he wanted to stay. “I’ve had lots of opportunities to live elsewhere. But I’ve always loved Calgary. It’s a very nuanced and interesting place. Some people choose not to engage, but for me, it’s more interesting to show up.” For the past 20 years, he’s done just that by sitting on non-profit boards and positions at YMCA Calgary, CBC Calgary, Glenbow Museum and is the current president and CEO of Big Brothers Big Sisters of Calgary and Area. He confesses his engagement with community is self-serving. “I want to make Calgary great so my kids stay here. That used to be a bit of a flippant answer. But now my son is 18 and my daughter's 15. They’ve got choices in the world. If we can work on the challenges and lift up opportunities, it'll be a more attractive place for our families. It's our responsibility to do what we can to make this place awesome. The other piece is, if you've got a voice, it’s important to use it.”
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donor profile
Mission of Love
To honour the legacy of Thea Roelofsen, friends and family aim to change the world for those who have felt the impact of a cancer diagnosis By Elizabeth Chorney-Booth • Photography by Jared Sych
T
ypically, teens tend to hang out with other teenagers. But for Carson Taylor, he welcomed having a special friendship with his young neighbour, Thea Roelofsen, who would run to meet him as he pulled into his driveway after a long day of work or school.
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Thea’s exuberance and bright spirit always put Carson in a playful mood. He’d chase Thea, affectionately known as T-Bird, around the yard or invite her over for a “Princess Noodle Party” where they’d eat a cup of noodles along with Carson’s two younger sisters. “Thea was like a third sister to me,” Carson says. “Seeing
Left: Carson Taylor holds a photo of Thea Roelofsen, taken on that same ridge in Cranston. Below, from top to bottom: Roelofsen family; Carson at his haircut fundraiser; Patrick Roelofsen and Carson face off at the T-Cup hockey tournament with Brynn Roelofsen preparing to drop the puck.
“
Seeing Thea always made my day better, no matter how tired or grumpy I was. It was impossible not to be happy when she was around.” —Carson Taylor
her always made my day better, no matter how tired or grumpy I was. It was impossible not to be happy when she was around.” In 2016, Carson, along with the rest of the close-knit neighbourhood, was devastated when Thea was diagnosed with Ewing sarcoma, a rare form of bone cancer. She passed
Inset photos courtesy of Roelofsen family. Top family photo by Janet Pliszka.
away 18 months later at just eight years old. Carson, now 28, remains close with Thea’s parents, Patrick and Lesley Roelofsen, and her sister, Brynn, who keep Thea’s name and spirit alive through the Thea Roelofsen Legacy Fund, administered by the Calgary Foundation. To raise money for the Fund that supports children’s cancer charities, the family published a children’s book about Thea’s journey and earthly mission, The Adventures of T-Bird the Tiny Titan, and they host an annual T-Cup hockey tournament that doubles as a celebration of Thea’s favourite sport. While she was undergoing cancer treatment, Thea became friends with pro hockey player Dougie Hamilton. In honour of Thea, Hamilton generously designed custom T-bird-inspired hockey sticks with proceeds going to the Fund. Carson always participates in the fundraisers. “Carson's a special individual,” says Patrick, Thea’s father. “He’s thoughtful in his actions. He's sincere. He selflessly took on a big brother role with Thea, even though he has younger siblings.” Recently, Carson took his thoughtfulness to another level. His hair was always on the longer side, but he really let it grow during the pandemic. By the time the Roelofsen family began organizing the 2023 T-Cup hockey tournament, Carson’s 14-inch mane was long enough to donate to make a wig for someone undergoing cancer treatment. Carson would only cut his hair once he raised $10,000 through Trim for T-Bird, his online fundraising campaign. After meeting his goal in less than two weeks, he decided to increase the amount, eventually raising more than $25,000 for the Thea Roelofsen Legacy Fund. “I just wanted to help a little bit and do a small part,” Carson says. “To see it take off and know the extra money is going to help more families and more kids was the most rewarding thing ever.” “The money that gets raised for local pediatric oncology organizations is a tremendous way to give back to our community,” says Patrick. “Seeing the overwhelming support of people wanting to participate really speaks to what an impact Thea had on others.” “Thea was the happiest sick child you would ever meet,” says Lesley, Thea’s mother. “She battled with a fearlessness, confidence and spirit that left even her doctors in awe. As a parent of a lost child, you never want them to be forgotten. It has been amazing to see our growing and supportive community gather to share their common love for Thea.”
→ Learn more at thealove.ca. calgaryfoundation.org - 7
donor profile
A Ripple of Positivity The Ohlson Family Endowment Fund provides stable funding that supports life-saving research By Michaela Ream
W
hen Dr. Joe Dort helped treat Elizabeth Ohlson’s cancer, it set off a ripple effect that would not only impact their own lives, but the fate of others facing a frightening cancer diagnosis. As a head and neck oncology surgeon, researcher and clinician, Dort has spent his career seeking ways to improve patient outcomes, with a focus on developing systems to improve post-surgery care. In gratitude for saving her life after being diagnosed with nasal cancer, Ohlson established the Ohlson Family Endowment Fund at the Calgary Foundation in 2007, with the request that Dort share his considerable expertise as the Fund advisor to guide the grantmaking decisions. The result has been significant. Ohlson’s initial gift of $11 million has provided grants totalling $5.5 million but through the power of endowment, the Fund has grown to a current value of $18.7 million. “The Fund provides a real advantage because it allows us to build stable infrastructure that isn’t buildings; it’s creating a team of people focused on improving head and neck cancer outcomes — that’s the power of the Ohlson gift,” says Dort. Motivated to help others with head and neck cancers, Ohlson, along with her son and her daughter, helped establish the Ohlson Research Initiative, which is dedicated to creating knowledge that will lead to personalized therapy for head and neck cancer. “I am so thankful to Dr. Dort,” says Ohlson. “Not only is he a great doctor who operated on me, but he’s a fabulous
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human being. I feel really confident in him and his work, and he and his team are doing a fantastic job.” Sustainable and secure funding is critical for supporting long-term research. Aligning with the Ohlson Research Initiative’s collaborative and multidisciplinary approach to research, Dort has built a small team of researchers that adhere to three core research pillars. The first pillar focuses on clinical effectiveness that looks at ways to design and deliver better approaches to health care for head and neck surgery patients. The second pillar looks at tumour biology research, specifically at tumour DNA and RNA sequencing, to find ways to predict what treatments will be most effective and prevent recurrences. The third pillar develops virtual reality tools to train residents and help surgeons plan safer and more effective surgery. “It’s about making health-care design and delivery more effective, safer and helping patients recover fully after what they’ve been through,” says Dort. As fate would have it, Dort was diagnosed with head and neck cancer in 2018. Through the treatment, surgery and recovery, Dort kept a positive outlook. “There aren’t many surgeons that have the privilege of walking in the same path as their patients,” he says. Dort brought that hard-earned knowledge from his own cancer journey back to his research, the Fund and his patients. Ohlson has stepped back to let her children, along with Dort, continue the important work of the Fund. What started as a ripple has grown into a wave that will impact and save people's lives for generations.
“
The Fund provides a real advantage because it allows us to build stable infrastructure that isn’t buildings; it’s creating a team of people focused on improving head and neck cancer outcomes — that’s the power of the Ohlson gift.”
Dr. Joseph Dort
Photo courtesy of Dr. Joseph Dort.
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Serving Up Solutions to Food Insecurity In Alberta, one in five households experience food insecurity. That means they lack reliable access to affordable, nutritious and culturally appropriate food because of financial barriers, systemic disparities and economic inequities. Here are three groups supported by the Calgary Foundation who are addressing food insecurity issues while providing access to additional services and programs. by Lynda Sea
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1
Best Help Family Foundation With one of the largest Sudanese populations in Canada, Calgary is now home to many refugees who fled the civil war in South Sudan. “The community itself has a traumatic background of war, PTSD and a lot of child soldiers,” says Dr. Akeir Kuol, founder and executive director of Best Help Family Foundation (BHFF). She advocates in the judicial, educational and government systems for Black communities and, in particular, the city’s South Sudanese population. “Language and culture are big barriers,” says Kuol. “A lot of South Sudanese just close the doors to finding resources and finding someone to help simply because they can’t find people that look like them, who speak their language.” BHFF has helped more than 5,000 families to date with food services and resource referrals as well as counselling services in various languages including Arabic, Swahili, Amharic and Nuer. Every week, BHFF used to distribute 100 food hampers but switched to providing Superstore gift cards due to rising food costs. The cards allow families to buy culturally appropriate food including okra,
“
Language is a big barrier and culture is a big barrier. A lot of South Sudanese just close the doors to finding resources and finding someone to help simply because they can’t find people that look like them, who speak their language.”
—Dr. Akeir Kuol
BHFF founder and executive director, Dr. Akeir Kuol
molokhia (similar to spinach), lentils, fava beans and halal meats so they can enjoy traditional South Sudanese dishes. Traditionally, in South Sudanese culture, a woman is expected to have
Left: photography by Erin Brooke Burns; above photo courtesy of Best Help Family Foundation
many children. Adds Kuol, “More kids means extra costs for food and clothes, but things are so expensive right now.” “We have to tackle food security because some families don't know
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BGC Foothills Clubs (Eden Valley Reserve)
Above: Best Help Family Foundation volunteers (left to right) Achan Jal, Nemisa Simon, Madalana John, Sabrina Stans, Benadita Nyiker with Dr. Akeir Kuol (centre front), BHFF founder and executive director. Left: Madalana John sorts food for hampers.
if they can afford to feed their kids or pay rent. The worry is always, ‘If I don't pay rent, I'm gonna get kicked out. If I don't feed the kids right, they'll have malnutrition issues, and Children and Family Services will come and take them away.’” In addition to food support, BHFF helps families access critical services. Distributing hampers and gift cards act as entry points for families to connect to mental health, financial literacy, translation services, and support to navigate the courts and education system. Kuol, a youth and family counsellor, established BHFF in 2020 after she helped a family with an incarcerated youth to navigate the judicial system.
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Word spread among Calgary’s South Sudanese community and “the next thing I know, more and more families were coming to me asking for help,” she recalls. From cultural barriers and racism that affected employment, to housing and disproportionate rates of incarceration among South Sudanese youth, families voiced all sorts of issues. “Where we come from, the police are not our friend. Here, police are willing to lay down their life for you,” says Kuol. She connected with the Calgary Police Service (CPS) to support probation officers and surveillance team members in taking a cultural approach with the South Sudanese community. She continues to build trust and connections in her new position with the City of Calgary, working as a community liaison between the African community and the CPS. Kuol’s role is indeed making a big difference.
→ Learn more at
facebook.com/besthelpfamilyfoundation.
Situated in the foothills west of Longview, Eden Valley Reserve is home to around 700 Indigenous people, mainly from the Bearspaw First Nation. There’s a breathtaking view of the Rocky Mountains to the west but not a single grocery store on the reserve. “The closest grocery store is in Diamond Valley, which is 35 to 40 minutes away,” says Shirley Puttock, CEO of BGC Foothills Clubs (BGCF), formerly Boys and Girls Clubs of the Foothills. Jodie Sieben, BGCF director of operations and Indigenous relations, adds, “It's fairly isolated; a lot of people don't have transportation to get into town to get groceries. There's nothing on reserve, just a gas bar with junk food and eggs that are ridiculously expensive. I think they sell sugar, Ichiban noodles and cans of Alpha-getti.” Even before the COVID-19 pandemic, most of the children, youth and families living on the Eden Valley Reserve who accessed programs and services provided by BGCF were financially marginalized, food insecure and on the verge of homelessness. Sieben says poverty is extreme, there’s low employment opportunities, and high rates of addictions and violence. Even with government assistance, many of the reserve’s families remain very food insecure. COVID-19 worsened the situation as many BGCF programs couldn’t be offered during the pandemic. Pandemic Recovery Program funding and corporate support helped BGCF with the purchase of
“
Having this community kitchen is extremely beneficial because people are getting at least one meal a day.”
Counter-clockwise from top left: Rainbow Lefthand and Jodie Sieben prepare bannock at the community kitchen; Santanna, Sara and Sonya Lefthand help with community healing by preparing a funeral feast; Rainbow Lefthand and Shelby Wesley help kids with crafts in the after-school program; Rainbow and Santanna Lefthand prepare dinner for the youth program; Kids at Eden Valley's local swimming hole during the Summer Camp program.
—Jodie Sieben
food kits and basic necessities. For the Backpack Program in Eden Valley, Sieben purchased large bags of rice, dry pasta and canned goods so families could make multiple meals. Elders and community members
taught youth culturally significant cooking including fry bread, bannock and different stews. “The price of food is really hard on families. Some work two or three jobs, just to maintain housing,” says
Puttock. “We need to feed our children and youth, and a big part of that is teaching them how to feed themselves. So, cooking and nutrition are a huge part of our programs.” BGCF runs a community kitchen
Left: Photos courtesy of Best Help Family Foundation. Above: Photos by Jodie Sieben and youth from BGC Foothils Clubs (Eden Valley Reserve).
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Muslim Families Network Society
Rossalyn Rider and Jodie Sieben prepare and serve Christmas dinner to community members.
where Sieben operates a few different programs. “During the day, it’s like a community drop-in centre and we offer a hot lunch every day. Anybody in the community can come in. Having this community kitchen is extremely beneficial because people are getting at least one meal a day.” Eden Valley youth also help Sieben with making the meals and she will often share tips with them about meal planning, budgeting and nutrition. But because transportation is an issue, she often drives a lot of the kids home after the program and even takes them and other community members into town for groceries and other necessities. In addition to losing a longtime key sponsor, rising food costs continue to present funding challenges for BGCF. Nonetheless, BGCF continues support for Eden Valley families who rely on its programs, especially the healthy meals for children. The kitchen not only offers a place for community members to socialize, it’s a way to connect to resources in a non-clinical way. “You can't even begin to tackle addictions or trauma if you’re hungry,” Sieben says. “You can't tackle any of that until basic needs are met.”
→ Learn more at bgcfoothills.com/eden-valley. Calgary Foundation | Winter 2023
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In 2008, Idrees Khan, chair and founder of Muslim Families Network Society (MFNS), found herself operating a halal food bank out of the trunk of her car. She saw how many newcomers, and Muslims in particular, were living in poverty and struggling to access culturally appropriate halal foods. Halal means the food has been slaughtered and blessed according to Islamic laws. Today, MFNS continues to operate this food bank, now out of a 745-square-foot office in the city’s northeast. It also provides education and awareness, poverty relief and social support to empower individuals and support families. In 2023, they held a citywide food and clothing drive, which fed and clothed nearly 2,500 people in five hours. It happens twice a year as the need continues to grow. While a large number of MFNS’s clients are Muslim, the group serves all Calgarians regardless of religion, race, gender and ethnicity. Though the majority of people accessing support are typically newcomers to Canada, Khan says they serve anyone in need of food. No one is turned away. Recently, the majority of clients are Afghan and Syrian refugees, and she estimates thousands of families are benefiting from the halal food bank. Clients can get halal chicken and food staples like oil, sugar, salt and flour but MFNS also distributes food gift cards. “Through this food bank, we came to know how many single mothers there are in the community,” says Khan. “It's not all about food. It's about the behaviour and situations that people are struggling in. I have
seen that if food is not on the table, families are splitting up. That's how women are becoming abandoned by their spouses or affected by domestic violence. Food insecurity changes people’s behaviour.” As an immigrant from Pakistan, Khan knows from personal experience how expectations and reality don’t always line up. “People think Canada is a land of opportunity, so they are coming here hopeful. If their hopes are shattered, then perhaps they cannot survive. With programs like ours, it’s giving them a sense of belonging. We see this with our single mothers’ self-sufficiency program.” Partnering with the Calgary Police Service, Alberta Health Services, Centre for Newcomers, United Way of Calgary and Area, and Alberta Works, MFNS has expanded its work in teaching women about developing healthy relationships, mental health, emotional regulation, law enforcement and legal services, and financial and basic literacy. MFNS also offers anti-racism events. Board member and lead of the single mothers’ program, Dorethea Sautter, adds, “We know that when we help them to help themselves, then they can also help their children. And the children are not falling through the cracks down the road. But everything starts with having something on their plate to eat.”
→ Learn more at muslimfamilynetwork.org.
Right: Idrees Khan, founder of Muslim Families Network Society, at the halal food bank. Top far right: Khan with MFNS volunteers (left to right) Erfan, Issa and Mohammad Al Itani, Nigla Salih and Amira Hafex. Middle far right: Marwan Baballah helps fill shopping carts for families in need. Bottom right: Stacks of rice ready to be distributed sit below framed photos of past food drives.
“
It's not all about food. It's about the behaviour and situations that people are struggling in.”
—Idrees Khan
Left: Photo courtesy of BGC Foothils Clubs (Eden Valley Reserve). Above: Photos by Erin Brooke Burns.
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2023 Quality of Life Report Calgary Foundation has annually published a quality-of-life report since 2007. As a community leader and a funder that supports all Calgarians through the work of thousands of charities and non-profits, Calgary Foundation recognizes the value of annually taking the pulse of our city and measuring the resiliency and community spirit of Calgary.
69% 64% 69% of Calgarians rate their quality of life as good or excellent; an increase from 64% in 2022 .
Calgary is a good place to live but affordability is a growing issue.
93%
of Calgarians like the neighbourhood they live in and 81% feel a healthy sense of belonging to their community but it’s getting harder to afford the basics; 25% of us can’t.
40% 36% 41%
of Calgarians can’t afford to buy a home
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can’t afford to rent, up from 27% in 2021
of renters can’t find a suitable place to live
Food Insecurity: A selection of statistics from the 2023 Quality of Life Report → Read the full results at calgaryfoundation.org.
We’re relying on community food services.
$ Higher food prices mean healthy isn’t happening.
29%
of Calgarians cannot afford healthy food, an increase of 8% from 2022.
With the high prices of food, Calgarians have adjusted how they purchase food:
27% 45% 55% 57%
eat less food to cut costs. buy less fresh vegetables and fruits. buy less meats, fish and/or other proteins.
serve smaller portions.
We’re not eating out.
72%
eat at restaurants less frequently
16%
of Calgarians access community-based food programs (i.e., food hampers/gift cards, mobile grocery stores, neighbourhood free pantries or fridges, and food banks) That rises to 26% for Calgarians aged 18 to 24.
We’re struggling to feed our families.
70%
purchase fast food because it’s affordable.
60% 29%
serve smaller portions.
of families sometimes skip meals.
And it doesn’t feel great.
29% 31%
can’t access culturally appropriate food. feel a loss of dignity accessing programs or services. calgaryfoundation.org - 17
A Space for Vivo For Healthier Generations' newly renovated facility creates a community space for everyone By Karin Olafson
ince opening its doors nearly two decades ago, Vivo For Healthier Generations has ensured people of all ages, cultures and abilities can live a healthy life. Located in the northeast community of Country Hills Village, Vivo was built in 2003 to serve approximately 75,000 people in that area, but attracts visitors from all over the city and Airdrie. With Calgary’s north central population expanding to more than 150,000 in 2019, and many new north Calgary communities being developed, Vivo looked for ways to meet the growing and changing needs. “By 2013, we knew we needed an expansion,” says Cynthia Watson, Vivo’s chief evolution officer. “And we really wanted to make sure that this expansion reflected what our diverse community needs.” That’s because nearly half of individuals living in Vivo’s surrounding area self-identify as a visible minority. In 2018, Calgary Foundation provided $1.5 million through its Major Grants program in support of Vivo’s $62 million expansion. Vivo’s
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All in for Community campaign meant more than adding more square footage — the Vivo team connected with community members to ensure the new space encompassed a shared vision. “Our community wants to have more opportunities for spontaneous play, because everything in life is becoming so scheduled and routine. We heard that people wanted to get to know their neighbours better — in our area of town, there isn't a lot of social gathering space,” explains Watson. “And we heard that we have a whole generation of kids who aren't connected to nature.” Those community responses shaped the design of Vivo’s 135,000-square-foot expansion. As well as improved areas for physical health — for example, a 60 per cent bigger fitness area — the new space has social, cultural and environmental connectivity in mind. A 30,000-square-foot indoor park — the first of its kind in Canada — provides space for spontaneous play and feels connected to nature. It’s designed to look like an outdoor park, with rubberized turf to simulate grass, lots of natural light and undulating hills (unlike
the flat ground typically found inside buildings). Different skyscapes are projected onto the ceiling and sounds of nature, like wind rustling through the trees, can be heard. The indoor park provides space for everything from music events, recitals and exercise classes to soccer games, parties and meet-ups. “When people are new to the country and not used to Calgary’s harsh winter weather, or you're a parent stuck at home with your kids in the winter, this indoor park will be a place to play, move and connect together,” affirms Watson. The expanded centre fully opened to the public in fall 2023. And Watson says Calgary Foundation was a key partner in making it possible. “Calgary Foundation was the first supporter for our project. Without its support, it would have been really difficult to expand Vivo. The Foundation’s belief in our project acted as leverage for other funders to step up and support our vision,” she says. “Now, we will have the space to bring people together in unconventional ways.”
→ Learn more at vivo.ca.
Healthy Living Vivo’s new expansion includes a bigger fitness area and a 30,000 square-foot indoor park, ideal for play, games and gatherings of all kinds.
Creating a sense of belonging, the Calgary Foundation Community Hug is a semicircular, beautiful outdoor courtyard that provides a much-needed meeting space for enjoying nature, exercising and making connections. Main photo and exterior photo by Jason Dziver. Inset photos courtesy of Vivo.
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“
We can help change the narrative and make the city more equitable — and be the best place for Black individuals to settle in Canada when they arrive.” —Michael Lee Hing
“
The goal is to provide scholarships so that finances will not be an issue for Black youth to progress.” —Chi Iliya-Ndule
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Supporting the
Next Generation of Black Youth
Calgary Black Chambers provides scholarships that help build better futures
A
ccording to City of Calgary data, 3.5 per cent of Calgarians self-identify as Black. Because Calgary’s Black population is relatively small, it can be challenging to develop a strong sense of community. That’s why the Calgary Black Chambers (CBC) works to create a unified, thriving local Black community. CBC is a not-for-profit organization that looks to increase the leadership capacity of Black individuals by uplifting and supporting them in the community through volunteering, scholarships and more. CBC operates under four main pillars: fellowship, mentorship, scholarship and advocacy. Recently, CBC has increased its efforts in providing scholarships to Black youth in Calgary, recognizing education is key to building strong and resilient communities. The idea for the scholarships started during the pandemic, when CBC began collecting and redistributing funds, food and gift cards to people in the community who needed them most. To formalize a scholarship program for Black youth, the Calgary Black Chambers Scholarship Fund
By Déjà Leonard • Photography by Erin Brooke Burns
was established at Calgary Foundation in late 2020. “The goal is to provide scholarships so that finances will not be an issue for Black youth to progress, allowing them to focus more on studying because we find a lot of our Black youth are working part-time while going to school,” says CBC co-founder and president, Chi Iliya-Ndule. Statistics Canada data shows that while Black youth in Canada are as likely to graduate from high school as their peers, they are less likely to complete post-secondary education. “We find that sometimes Black youth self-select out of scholarship applications because they think they're not going to get it,” Iliya-Ndule says. By creating student awards specifically for Black youth, CBC supports students directly, removing barriers and encouraging and empowering Black youth as they work toward their goals. This year, the scholarship fund provided 20 awards, totaling $85,000 in funding for students. The student awards are primarily supported through donations by Calgary corporations, organizations and individuals, and are awarded based on academic achievement, financial need, leadership and community
contributions in alignment with CBC’s core values. “We can help change the narrative and make the city more equitable — and be the best place for Black individuals to settle in Canada when they arrive,” says CBC co-founder and treasurer, Michael Lee Hing. Iliya-Ndule and Lee Hing enjoy hearing about the impact of the scholarships via letters that award recipients send sharing their gratitude, and how the scholarships help to alleviate financial barriers and stress as students pursue their academic interests and career goals. CBC aims to make Calgary a city where everyone can thrive. Its mentorship program is open to all youth and enables young people to connect with relevant professionals to learn and grow their skills before moving on to post-secondary education. Lee Hing says this positive momentum helps create a better future for more people. “I would love for these students to, down the road, turn around and do the same thing. Get involved with community organizations and just help any way they can, whether it's financial or giving time.”
→ Learn more at calgaryblackchambers.ca. calgaryfoundation.org - 21
Adapting
to a New Funding Reality
The Thriving Non-Profits learning program brings a new approach to revenue and fundraising
by Michaela Ream
he COVID-19 pandemic brought about many changes and impacted many lives. While some were temporary, other changes continue to be deeply felt, especially within the non-profit and charitable sectors. During those difficult times, government funding was largely directed towards urgent needs. The pandemic may be over, but the struggle for funding remains a challenge as traditional fundraising methods, such as special events and galas, have yet to return to full capacity. “I think it is important for donors and others to know that while an increase in demand for services is
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up across the board, the funding landscape has drastically changed,” says Allison Schulz, VP capacity building at Calgary Foundation. “This is causing organizations to think differently — to reimagine their funding models.” Seeing the pressure within the sector to deliver community programs and services on shoestring budgets, Calgary Foundation looked for opportunities to provide support beyond its role as an effective grantmaker by assisting charities with access to resources and tools to raise money differently. Calgary Foundation learned about the Thriving Non-Profits program offered by Scale Collaborative, a group that helps organizations trans-
It’s about creating and strengthening the relationship at all levels in the organization.”
—Allison Schulz, VP capacity building, Calgary Foundation
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form through coaching, consulting, programs and capacity building. Coming from non-profit backgrounds, the founders of Scale Collaborative realized the need for specific educational opportunities. The Calgary pilot program was offered in the fall of 2021. Kristi Rivait, director of partnerships and programs at Scale Collaborative, describes Thriving Non-Profits as a program developed by non-profit leaders for non-profit leaders. “The coaching helps organizations diversify their revenues and plan strategies to improve their sustainability and increase their impact,” she says. Scale Collaborative also supports access to resources and capital by tapping into the different networks across Canada it is involved in.
Thriving through diversification Over the course of five months, organizations in Calgary’s pilot program were given the time and space to network by working through the program’s eight entrepreneurial revenue
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The coaching helps organizations diversify their revenues and plan strategies to improve their sustainability and increase their impact.”
—Kristi Rivait, director of partnerships and programs, Scale Collaborative
diversification strategies. Participants have access to peer learning spaces, online and in-person learning modules, and seven hours of tailored coaching. The program requires the participation of a board member, executive director or CEO, and a senior member of the organization. That participation is key to breaking down barriers, increasing communication and building relationships to ensure that innovative changes will happen. “It’s about creating and strengthening the relationship at all levels in the organization,” says Schulz. “Everyone then understands how much time and energy it takes to do something while still trying to meet the community’s needs and the people they serve.” Calgary Foundation provides funding for Thriving Non-Profits, which allows the program to be offered free of charge and removes any financial barriers to organizations that wish to participate. Successful applicants must be ready to commit to the work involved. The program is more than a learning opportunity, it’s a “launching opportunity” for organizations to develop a tailored, financial diversification strategy and implementation plan that will successfully guide their work. “We’re not providing a grant; we’re giving organizations the opportunity to participate and build their capacity through other support,” says
Images used with permission.
Schulz. “So it’s really about ‘How do we meet the needs of the community in a way that is responsive to what they need?’” So far, 28 different organizations have participated in Calgary’s Thriving Non-Profits program. Each cohort includes up to 12 organizations from a variety of backgrounds. Calgary Foundation recently launched a Thriving Non-Profits Alumni program that encourages past participants to continue building skills and sharing resources.
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Thriving Non-Profits was one of the most timely and relevant learning opportunities that I have participated in during my career (and as a life-long learner I have been part of many!). The content, and community, inspired our Calgary Reads team to wisely engage in deep, divergent thinking. The result was clarity and commitment to our financing strategy.”
—Steacy Pinney, former CEO, Calgary Reads, Participant in Calgary’s 2021 Pilot Thriving Non-Profits cohort
A win-win collaboration It’s been a mutually beneficial experience for all involved. By partnering with the Calgary Foundation, Scale Collaborative now has greater reach and further expanded its Thriving Non-Profits program, allowing it to support more organizations across Canada. Meanwhile, Calgary organizations have gained Scale Collaborative’s expertise and support. “Calgary Foundation has done a terrific job of listening to what community organizations are telling them they need and identifying proven capacity-building tools that were created by non-profit leaders for non-profit leaders and bringing them into the region,” says Rivait.
→ Learn more at thrivingnonprofits.ca.
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Our biggest takeaway from Thriving Non-Profits is that we have to act and put things in motion to have beneficial results down the road — to venture into other revenue areas that are a good fit for our organization. We realized that to break out of a grant-dependent cycle, we needed to venture into either social enterprise fee-for-service or leveraging our assets in other ways.”
—Robert Toth, VP of communication and community engagement, The Immigrant Education Society, Participant in Calgary’s 2022 Thriving Non-Profits cohort
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Belonging Matters by Elizabeth Chorney-Booth • Photography by Jared Sych
eeling connected to community is critical to our mental well-being. Working side-byside and engaging with different community groups is a powerful way to weave inclusivity into the social fabric of community. Calgary Foundation is proud to support a wide range of initiatives that help bridge people from all walks of life and collectively build a healthy sense of belonging.
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Strathmore High School Community Greenhouse High schools are designed to create educational opportunities for students, but sometimes the learning goes well beyond the curriculum, and the benefits extend further than the classroom. In the 2021/2022 school year, Strathmore High School (SHS) took on a project that taught students about construction, green energy and urban agriculture, and helped them to develop meaningful connections and value within their community.
With support from local Strathmore businesses who overwhelmingly provided in-kind donations, SHS students and faculty built a passive solar geodesic greenhouse on an under-utilized patch of the school’s property. The construction and installation of the dome-like greenhouse was sectioned into a series of projects so students could focus on aspects that aligned with their interests. “We tried to equip students with specific skills while giving them space where they could be experts on something,” says Cole Hintz, the
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We tried to equip students with specific skills while giving them space where they could be experts on something.” —Cole Hintz
Top: Strathmore High School (SHS) teacher Cole Hintz speaks with his students inside the greenhouse. Bottom, left and right: SHS students tend to their greenhouse vegetables. Bottom centre: The exterior of the SHS community greenhouse.
SHS teacher overseeing the greenhouse. “In a typical science class, it can be hard to really tap into those abilities.” The completed greenhouse doubles as a year-round hub that offers free space to community groups. SHS hosts elementary school groups; the non-profit Communities in Bloom
offers free gardening classes; a local church has re-engaged with its congregation after the lifting of pandemic restrictions; and members of CONNECT, a community support team that helps adults with developmental disabilities, grow herbs and vegetables at the greenhouse. It’s also a welcoming space for
former SHS students to connect and appreciate the evolving opportunities the greenhouse has created. “We looked at how we could use this space and turned it into a community space without any cost to the taxpayer,” Hintz says. “It’s a winwin for both the community and the school.”
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The school tries to set the tone at the beginning of the year for diversity and inclusion.”
—Caroline Adshade
Tom Baines School Pride Flag Flags hold the power to unify, and for 2SLGBTQIA+ individuals, a pride flag acts as a visual cue to let them know they’re welcome. It’s critically important that youth from all backgrounds feel safe and included at school, and a pride flag helps support that sentiment. In the 2022/2023 school year, the staff and students at Tom Baines School in northwest Calgary elevated the spirit of the pride flag with a contest to get the student body excited about celebrating 2SLGBTQIA+ inclusion. “It was a student initiative from the gay-straight alliance and student
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Diversity and Inclusion Council,” says Caroline Adshade, a leadership and humanities teacher at the school. “They came up with a contest the entire school could participate in.” Students from grades six to nine submitted designs. The winning artwork was contributed by grade nine student Yuqi Wu who combined the Tom Baines logo with the standard rainbow pride flag and a picture of a boa (the school mascot) holding a paintbrush as a nod to the school's strong arts programming. With the mantra Respect yourself, respect others and respect the school, Adshade says, “The school tries to set the tone at the beginning of the year for diversity and inclusion. If a nega-
Above: (Left to right) Yuqi Wu, Fei Tang, Yuqi Wang, Caroline Adshade and Angelina Au hold up the flag with the winning artwork, designed by Wu. Tang, Wang and Au came up with the flag contest. Inset: The winning flag design.
tive incident does happen, our school is proactive and willing to speak up about it.” The flag will be located in the centre court of the school, which complements the outdoor positivity mural students completed in partnership with the Westminster Presbyterian Church next door. It’s all part of an ongoing effort to ensure that everyone feels safe and valued when coming to school.
South Sudanese Healing and Reconciliation Conference Calgary is home to one of, if not the largest, South Sudanese diaspora in Canada. Many of these approximately 18,000 Calgarians face the twin challenges of displacement by protracted civil war and a resettlement journey in Canada made more difficult by racism and systemic barriers. “Research shows a large majority of the community are affected by mental health issues,” says Khor Top, executive director of the Komkan Africana Institute and president of the South Sudanese Community Association. “Then COVID-19 became another trigger for the pre-existing issues people are struggling with.” It was the sense of many South Sudanese leaders that the circumstances for their community continued to worsen here in Alberta, and ongoing rifts and resentments made it hard to collectively confront mounting challenges. The time was ripe for positive change. Leaders from across the province formed a working team to pull the community together in what would become a landmark moment: the first Alberta-focused gathering of South Sudanese residents through the community-designed and community-led South Sudanese Healing and Reconciliation Conference. They carried out extraordinary outreach efforts to reach into the diversity of their community to invite participation. For two days in November 2022, South Sudanese men, women and youth drew from the expertise of professionals and leaders in their own community to discuss topics like family crisis, post-migration trauma, barriers to employment and integration challenges. They welcomed representatives from various govern-
“
The community now feels like the system is behind us. It really gives people hope now that we are being supported.” —Khor Top
ments and service agencies to listen to their conversations and recognize ways of working together. The 300-plus delegates came up with a list of recommendations to empower and heal the community. Calgary Foundation was honoured to be at that conference, as a supporter and a listener, and continues to support important South Sudanese community efforts through grants.
While the success of this initiative is due to the wisdom and commitment of the South Sudanese community itself, its leaders suggest that the role of Canadian institutions and people of all backgrounds is important too. “The community now feels like the system is behind us,” Top says. “It really gives people hope now that we are being supported.”
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Reimagining an Artistic City Landmark Contemporary Calgary brings new life and purpose to the iconic planetarium space By Jennifer Friesen • Photography by Jared Sych
Years before David Leinster took over as CEO of Contemporary Calgary, he came to Calgary to work in advertising. One of his first projects was a campaign for the Telus World of Science (now Telus Spark), where he toured the walls of its original home in the Centennial Planetarium — a space that’s captivated the imaginations of generations of Albertans. “It was really interesting to tour the building and see this structure that’s so different,” Leinster says. “It’s not just iconic for Calgarians
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who grew up here and visited this place as a planetarium, it presents itself as a place of discovery.” The Centennial Planetarium was first built at the western end of downtown in 1967 to mark the 100th anniversary of Confederation. The Brutalist-style building became the science centre in the ’80s, but in 2011, the science centre moved to its current location, leaving the structure vacant. Contemporary Calgary began as a collaboration between the Institute of Modern and Contempo-
rary Art, the Art Gallery of Calgary and the Museum of Contemporary Art Calgary. The arts groups joined forces in 2013 to answer the City of Calgary’s call for what to do with the empty planetarium site; their proposal to create a permanent contemporary art gallery there was successful. The art gallery received federal funding for the construction of the Observatory Gallery and auditorium, and local funds from the Calgary Foundation and the City of Calgary. Morris and Ann Dancyger
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It’s not just iconic for Calgarians who grew up here and visited this place as a planetarium, it presents itself as a place of discovery.”
—David Leinster
contributed an additional $500,000 through the Dancyger Philanthropy Fund. The auditorium was originally designed as a science lecture hall, but quickly became a community venue for much more than science programming in the 1960s and ’70s. The Contemporary team realized the auditorium could return to its function of diverse content and community hub, according to Leinster. “It became a place where there were piano concerts, lectures and even murder mysteries,” he says. “So, in the bones of this building, the theatre space has always been a place that featured and celebrated many different types of content — both with a scientific and artistic lens. We always wanted to bring it back to the way it was in the ’60s and ’70s, and the renovation of the auditorium has really been kind of an archeological dig back to how it existed before.” The former auditorium eventually became the home of the Pleiades Theatre, now known as Vertigo Theatre, which moved to the base of the Calgary Tower in 2003. Since opening in June 2023, the new auditorium has hosted public programs, music festivals and other performances. The stage is outfitted with updated technology to support the latest audio-visual and live-streaming capabilities, which Leinster
says better serves the community by allowing partnerships and collaborations that "celebrate the arts in all its formats.” Up on the third floor, the original observatory had a dedicated elevator with a retractable roof and four telescopes for the public to stargaze and observe meteor showers. Currently under construction, the new space will soon become the Morris and Ann Dancyger Observatory Gallery — a space designed to showcase timely art exhibitions that are a reflection of what is happening in contemporary society. “People want to have conversations about the things going on around us,” says Leinster. “And art offers accessibility and a safe and welcoming platform to have
conversations about things that are impacting contemporary life.” The approximately 1,500-square-foot gallery space provides a more intimate area for people to have such impactful conversations. The smaller size also affords quicker turnover to incorporate new exhibitions that reflect changes in society. Public programming will be attached to the exhibitions, and Contemporary Calgary plans to bring in both experts and artists to drive these discussions. “The observatory used to be where we would look through a telescope to the heavens and the
Facing page: The Centennial Planetarium Dome space. Top: Exterior of the iconic Planetarium, now home to Contemporary Calgary. Top right: David Leinster, CEO, in the newly renovated auditorium.
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Top left: The newly renovated auditorium. Bottom left and centre images: The atrium featuring Niitoyis by Star Crop Eared Wolf, the inaugural Ksahkomiitapiiks resident artist for 2022-2023. Below: Artist rendering of the new gallery space; Morris and Ann Dancyger.
stars,” Leinster says. “Now this space is really about the telescopes being turned around, and us investigating the things that are going on around us in a relevant and responsive way.” The gallery is expected to begin offering programming in spring of 2024. Leinster says he’s excited for those who remember the space as it was to see the transformation and for new visitors to make memories.
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“This is a building that inherently and intrinsically has memory,” he says. “People tell me about their field trips or coming for the Pink Floyd laser light show in 1981 or even that they got married here. The space itself is a work of architectural art and presents itself as a space of exploration, and what better way to show that than through contemporary art? It feels like it's always been an art gallery.”
→ Learn more at contemporarycalgary.com.
The Morris and Ann Dancyger Observatory Gallery is named in honour of the two long-time supporters of contemporary art in Calgary, and their $500,000 gift from the Dancyger (Morris and Ann) Philanthropy Fund at the Calgary Foundation. Once a place to be inspired by the stars and planets, the gallery will provide an inspiring space for community members to discuss and explore relevant societal issues.
Artist rendering courtesy of Contemporary Calgary. Photo of Dancygers by Phil Crozier.
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Gifts to the Calgary Foundation become part of our endowment. It earns interest each year, which flows to every corner of our city supporting causes as myriad as our citizens.
That is the power of generosity. Learn more at calgaryfoundation.org
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