Proud Partner · Calgary Folk Music Festival
Community is everything.
Not everyone has it.
Let’s change that.
By the numbers
We see the need.
Everyone deserves to feel like they belong.
Yet too many people in Calgary are disconnected from the people and places around them.
1 in 4
Calgarians don’t feel a sense of belonging in their community.
Social isolation can affect physical health, mental well-being and overall quality of life. It can make everyday challenges feel even harder and limit access to the relationships and supports people need to thrive.
- Everyone deserves a moment like this.
A song that hits. A neighbour who waves. A place to land. Belonging is the soundtrack of a healthy city.
- We see the need.
United Way of Calgary and Area partners with more than 150 local agencies to help over 270,000 Calgarians access supports that build stability, improve mental health, strengthen relationships and foster community connection.
- Change is a shared responsibility.
It takes all of us. Donors, volunteers, festival-goers, employers and neighbours. United, we can build a Calgary where everyone belongs.
Soundtrack of Community
The songs that bring us together.
Curated with support from Calgary Folk Music Festival artists and United Way, the Soundtrack of Community is a living playlist of songs that make us feel connected, hopeful and at home.
Press play, settle in on your tarp (or your couch) and listen to the artists who remind us that we’re stronger together.
Why United Way and Calgary Folk Music Festival?
Belonging starts with the power of community.
United Way invests in programs and partnerships that remove barriers to social inclusion and create more opportunities for people to connect with others, participate in community life and build meaningful relationships.
The Calgary Folk Music Festival brings people together through shared experiences, music and community. That’s why we’re proud to be part of a festival that reflects the kind of city we all want to build: one where everyone feels like they belong.
Need support? Help starts with 211.
211 is a free, confidential service funded by United Way that connects you to supports across Calgary and area 24 hours a day, 7 days a week. If you’re facing financial strain, mental health challenges or simply don’t know where to turn, trained specialists are on standby to listen and connect you with local programs that can help.
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Don’t miss the stories that matter, the moments that move us and the chances to step up for your city. Be the first to know how you can make a difference.
Let’s get social!
Follow along as we build our Soundtrack of Community.
We’ve been listening closely and every community has a soundtrack.
Sometimes it’s the chorus everyone sings together. Sometimes it’s a song that makes you feel, if only for a moment, like you belong…
At a time when 1 in 4 Calgarians don’t feel they belong in their community, opportunities to connect matter more than ever. For over 45 years, the @calgaryfolkfest has been doing just that: bringing Calgarians together to laugh, sing, dance and connect through the power of music…
The Soundtrack of Community is more than a playlist. It’s a collection of songs that remind us what brings people together. 🎶❤️
For @brock__geiger of @raleighsound, this song is a reminder that kindness matters…
Created with support from @calgaryfolkfest artists and United Way, the Soundtrack of Community is a living playlist filled with songs that inspire connection, hope and a sense of belonging.
For @katestevensofficial, this track is one she always comes back to. Every time she hears it, it reminds her of Calgary and the people and moments that matter most.
The Soundtrack of Community keeps growing. 🎶❤️
Kyle Tenove, bass player for @jadeelephantmusic shares a song that reflects the strength of Calgary’s arts community and the collaborations that inspire creativity, connection and a sense of belonging.
A new playlist. A shared story. Introducing the Soundtrack of Community. 🎶❤️
We’re kicking things off with @cleaanais, who is performing with her band @raleighsound at Folk Fest. She invites us into her world through a song that makes her feel connected, hopeful and at home.