When I first joined United Way of Calgary and Area in 2014, I knew I was stepping into something special. This organization already had a rich legacy built over decades by people who cared deeply about this city and the people who call it home. I felt honoured to be part of that.
But I also felt a strong sense of purpose. I came here to help lead differently. To channel everything I’d learned from serving Calgarians, from building community facilities to responding to the 2013 flood into creating real, lasting change. I always believed we could grow into a true force for social impact, bridging community, business, and government. And that’s exactly what we’ve become.
Over the past decade, we’ve faced incredible challenges together—a recession, a global pandemic, inflation—and through it all, I’ve seen how strong and generous this community is. When COVID-19 hit, we didn’t wait. We launched the Community Response Fund and raised more than $13 million for 181 agencies fast. That’s what United Way does best: we bring people together to get things done. And we do it with heart.
I’m passionate about creating systems that work better for people. The work we’ve done alongside Indigenous communities is especially meaningful to me. Our Akak’stiman Strategy, which means “a journey of creative planning to achieve goals” in Blackfoot, wasn’t something we created on our own. It was developed with guidance from Indigenous Elders and leaders and continues to guide how we invest, build relationships and step up with humility and respect.
I was gifted a Blackfoot name, Mii Ga Kii, or “Red Woman.” It’s a name that reminds me every day to lead with compassion and kindness and leave something meaningful behind for the next generation.
My vision was always to move beyond traditional funding models and build something that creates lasting impact. Over time, we’ve made a fundamental shift from being a conventional funder to becoming a true community impact organization. We’re now focused on prevention, early intervention, collaboration, systems change, equity and inclusion, which is the core of everything we do.
One of the ways this has come to life is through our Signature Initiatives, community-driven programs that address complex issues like poverty, youth success and mental health by tackling root causes and focusing on long-term solutions. Healthy Aging Alberta, All In for Youth (AIFY), Community Hubs and Planet Youth Calgary push for systems change and large-scale impact. In other words, instead of treating the problem, we’re shifting the conditions that hold a problem in place.
Social impact in action
Healthy Aging Alberta was our first province-wide Signature Initiative, made possible through our partnerships with the Government of Alberta and other funders. This initiative unites senior-serving organizations under a shared vision, allowing us to reach more seniors and make a difference in every corner of Alberta.
AIFY, an initiative focused on improving high school completion rates, started in two high schools in Calgary. When we first launched in 2012, only 75% of Albertan youth were completing high school on time, now 84% of our youth in Calgary are completing high school on time. As of fall 2024, AIFY is in 36 high schools across Calgary. It takes a community, and we’re grateful for our partners, the Calgary Board of Education, the Calgary Catholic School District, Trellis Society, YMCA and many corporate partners and philanthropists who share this vision with us.
I’ve always believed that we are here to help and listen. Our Community Hubs Initiative, a partnership between The City of Calgary and United Way of Calgary and Area, with Rotary Clubs of Calgary as a founding partner, is built together with residents. We engage with families and communities to understand their needs and support them in creating their own solutions. Since the launch of Community Hubs in 2017, more than half a million people were reached. In 2024, more than 65,000 people were supported by Community Hubs.
Now with Planet Youth Calgary, our initiative based on the Iceland Prevention Model to reduce rates of substance use amongst young people, we focus on prevention and early intervention to make long-term changes in the community. This work brings together parents, teachers, school boards, academics, social sector organizations, and the municipality into one powerful coalition.
Innovating for the future
My vision for the next decade is to break the cycle of poverty, prioritize mental well-being and redefine community leadership to be more inclusive. That’s why we are currently investing in data-driven prevention, pushing for policy change and unlocking new models of philanthropy, especially ones that speak to younger generations and women. The voices of those with lived experience are embedded in everything we do. That’s how lasting change happens.
In my time at United Way, we’ve raised nearly $600 million. But those numbers only tell part of the story. What really matters are the people behind them. The donors who give generously. The volunteers who roll up their sleeves. The agency partners doing the hard work on the ground. And together, we’ve supported children, families and communities, helping to improve lives.
This year, as we celebrate our 85th anniversary, I find myself thinking just as much about the future as I do about the past. United Way has never stood still and we won’t start now. The next 85 years are about going even deeper. Tackling root causes. Building systems that are fair, inclusive and centred on people. And continuing to show up for each other because that’s what makes Calgary strong.
Our legacy is powerful, but it’s not finished. It’s still being written by all of us.
And I couldn’t be more hopeful about what comes next.