spurCalgary Foundation fall 2019 Hub of Creativity cSPACE King Edward comes alive as our city’s arts incubator Home Base Giving people a way to build equity and stability Greening the Future Laying the groundwork for sustainability ‘Lighter and Brighter’ Martha Hart and the Owen Hart Foundation Eva’s message Shared Knowledge WHETHER IT’S listening to and The article Shared Stories it can be used in the present and learning from diverse perspec- (page 4) introduces Elizabeth taken into the future. tives, or building partnerships Peters, our new board chair, who Sharing knowledge and that encourage collaborative believes “communities are strong sharing stories has always been, communities, Calgary Foun- because people share stories, and will forever be, the bond that dation’s greatest asset is our time, passions and commitments. connects us. knowledge of community needs. It’s what binds us.” It’s a unique and treasured trait You’ll learn about the Ed- that brings value to donors and to ucation & Lifelong Learning the charitable sector we serve. committee members (page 6) Knowledge expands, deep- who share their knowledge and ens and enriches our collective valued perspectives as volun- work in building a healthy and teers who support in a significant vibrant community where ev- way our role as an effective eryone belongs. But the value of grantmaker. knowledge is only as great as it And you’ll discover a group of is widely shared. Elders and Knowledge Keepers In this issue, Martha Hart (page 18) whose shared vision “to shares her story of honouring her climb a hill and look out to where husband’s memory by helping we need to go” guides them in Eva Friesen others over the past two decades promoting and preserving tradi- President & CEO, through the Owen Hart Foundation. tional knowledge of the past so Calgary Foundation In the spirit of reconciliation, 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 Métis Nation (Region 3) and all people who make their homes in the Treaty 7 region of Southern Alberta. Calgary Foundation Fall 2019 2019 – 2020 Board of Directors: Media & Marketing Solutions Chair Elizabeth Peters President and CEO: Pete Graves Statements expressed herein Vice Chair Eva Friesen Publisher: Pritha Kalar do not necessarily represent the spur Murray Laverty President & CEO Editorial Director: Jill Foran views of the publisher. Catherine (Kay) Best Taylor Barrie Managing Editor: Miles Durrie Copyright 2019 by RedPoint Jim Brownlee VP, Communications Client Relations Manager: Media Group Inc. No part of this Cathy Cochrane Natalie Morrison publication may be reproduced Sherry Ferronato Janice Francey Art Director: David Willicome without the express written John Fischer Communications Associate Graphic Designer: consent of the publisher. Blaine Lennox Rebecca Middlebrook Gregory Lohnes Production Manager: 100, 1900 11 St. S.E. Mike Matovich Calgary, AB T2G 3G2 Siân M. Matthews Kahanoff Centre #1180, 105 12 Avenue S.E. Audience Development/Reader Ph: 403-240-9055 Melanie McDonald Services Manager: Rob Kelly redpointmedia.ca Dr. Alykhan Nanji Calgary, AB T2G 1A1 403-802-7700 Staff Photographer: Jared Sych Wes Peters calgaryfoundation.org Contributing writers: Published twice yearly by Calgary Foundation Patti Pon Elizabeth Chorney-Booth, Canadian Publications in partnership with Phil Scherman Karen Rudolph Durrie, Mail Product Agreement RedPoint Media & Marketing Solutions. Hugh Williamson Mike Fisher, Jennifer Friesen No. PM 40030911 Calgary Foundation | Fall 2019 2 contents people 04 Shared Stories Elizabeth Peters continues her family’s legacy of community-building. 06 ‘A Collaborative Approach’ Grant applicants are an inspiration for the Education and Lifelong Learning Committee. 08 Two Decades of Giving For Martha Hart, the Owen Hart Foun- dation is a powerful way to honour her husband’s memory . features 11 Opening Doors Habitat for Humanity and NPower are helping people take charge of their futures. 14 Building a Sustainable Future The Weaselhead/Glenmore Park Preser- vation Society and Relay Education each set a course for a greener future. 18 New Energy, Traditional Knowledge P.11 Youth and Elders are both strengthening Indigenous ways of life through Seven- Habitat for Humanity: Gen and Knowledge Keepers Helpers. building a sense of belonging 22 Making Connections The Longview Seniors’ new bus and Green Shield Canada’s Six 4 Six program connect people with important services. 26 Nurturing Creativity From dance and theatre to writing, painting and sculpture, all things creative come alive at the cSPACE King Edward arts incubator, a vibrant hub for our city’s artistic community. calgaryfoundation.org - 3 board member It was always my grandfather’s belief that you had to give back to the community that has given you so much. My mother followed in his footsteps “ Elizabeth Peters is continuing a and so did we. It’s sort of morphed through the generations of my family.” family tradition of philanthropy. Calgary Foundation | Fall 2019 4 Shared Stories Community involvement is a family affair for Elizabeth Peters By Jennifer Friesen • Photography by Erin Brooke Burns FOR ELIZABETH PETERS, shared stories make up in his footsteps and so did we. It’s sort of morphed through the thread that runs though all of her years of volunteer the generations of my family.” experience. The Galvin Family Fund was Peters’ first hands-on work “When you get down to it, everything is about sharing with Calgary Foundation. Later, she joined the Foundation’s stories,” says Peters, who heard this idea expressed by Environment Committee, where she spent six years review- Blackfoot Elder Hutch Sitting Eagle at a Calgary Foundation ing grant proposals and visiting organizations to get a better event earlier this year. “He said that sharing stories is what understanding of their work. gives people a sense of belonging. I think community is Peters calls those first site visits “a profound experience,” built on this idea, and communities are strong because peo- because it was the first time she really had the opportunity ple share their stories, time, passions and commitments. It’s to get out into the community and see what was being done. what binds us.” “When I was on the environmental grants committee, I Peters took on the role of board chair for Calgary Founda- think the thing for me was seeing the number of people who tion earlier this year, but her connection to the organization are so hands-on, boots on the ground,” she says. “People started much earlier than that. making change in the areas they’re passionate about. And Her grandparents, Ed and Frances Galvin, lived next that’s humbling, to have the privilege to be on a granting door to the Harvie family when the Foundation was in its committee and appreciate the vision and dedication people early stages. Eric Harvie was a well-known local philanthro- have for their community.” pist who believed strongly in Calgary Foundation, and his Peters stayed involved with Calgary Foundation, joining excitement jumped the fence into the Galvin family as well. the Board in 2013 and subsequently sitting on the Investment Ed Galvin made an initial gift to the Foundation when Committee, which she eventually chaired, along with the Frances passed away 25 years ago, establishing the Audit, Governance and Impact Investing committees. Frances E. Galvin Fund. In 2005, it was expanded and Peters recently began her new role as Board chair for a renamed the Galvin Family Fund. two-year term. She overlooks every aspect of how commit- The family—including Peters, her mother and sisters and tees and the board run, and helps build consensus. all of their children—remains engaged in keeping the Fund “It’s kind of like being inside the machine with perspec- going strong. All 12 members decide which organizations tive on how all of the mechanics work together,” she says. and community initiatives they will support through the It’s a new chapter in her Calgary Foundation story—and donor-directed portion of the Fund. with every new chapter, she says her passion for the com- Ed passed away in 2004, and Peters now lives in her munity “grows exponentially.” grandparents’ house. As she walks through her kitchen, she “My grandfather was passionate about this organization, smiles and points out an east-facing window. so I think he’d be pleased to see me now,” she says with a “It all started because my grandparents used to talk over smile. “To think that 20-some years later I’m now chairing that fence with the Harvie family,” she says. “It was always this philanthropic organization that started with a couple of my grandfather’s belief that you had to give back to the guys like him. He would be pretty happy to see the family so community that has given you so much. My mother followed actively involved with the Foundation.” calgaryfoundation.org - 5 committee profile ‘A Collaborative Approach’ Education and Lifelong Learning Committee members are inspired by applicants’ passion By Elizabeth Chorney-Booth • Photography by Jared Sych IN 2013, WHEN HE WAS working That’s why the Foundation’s committee years. “The face-to-face meetings are with The Immigrant Education Society, volunteers are so important. the joy of this volunteer work. It just Noureddine Bouissoukrane applied The Education and Lifelong Learn- brings colour to the whole process.” for a grant from Calgary Foundation to ing Committee is one of eight grant The 13 culturally diverse volunteer start a project-management course for advisory committees that help decide members who make up the committee newcomers seeking employment. His which applicants receive funding. include business experts in the field application was successful, and the The process is similar for each of technology and communications process left him impressed.