VolunteerConnector

Join the Conversation

Join us on June 30 for Volunteer Calgary's 2026 Annual General Meeting and a community conversation featuring:

• Yasmeen Nosshi, Volunteer Engagement Specialist, Brown Bagging for Calgary's Kids
• Francis Boakye, Executive Director, Action Dignity
• Alyssa Lindsay, Capacity Building Associate, Calgary Foundation

Together, they'll share their perspectives, experiences, and insights as we explore the future of volunteerism and what it means for our communities.

📅 June 30, 2026
🕥 10:30 AM MT
📍 Hybrid Event

Register today: https://lnkd.in/gbDaq7Hb

Stampede season is just around the corner!

To kick things off, the Edmonton Chamber of Voluntary Organizations is hosting a Calgary Stampede networking event in partnership with the YEG Metro Group.

The YEG Metro Group was established to tell the Edmonton Region's story by fostering partnerships, facilitating information sharing, and bringing organizations together to advocate for shared priorities and collaborative regional initiatives.

📅 July 2, 2026
🕔 5:00 PM – 8:00 PM
📍 Calgary Marriott Downtown Rooftop

Dress Code: Western wear encouraged!

Interested in volunteering?

This is a great opportunity to connect with elected officials, business leaders, and nonprofit leaders, learn about province-wide initiatives, and hear directly from those helping shape the future of our communities.

Apply now: https://www.volunteerconnector.org/edmonton/edmonton-chamber-of-voluntary-organizations/guest-arrival-specialist

Open Hearth Mentorship Network

Are you looking to grow your leadership skills or support the next generation of nonprofit leaders?

The Open Hearth Mentorship Network, a partnership between Capacity Canada and Volunteer Calgary, is now accepting applications for its Calgary cohort beginning in August 2026.

Designed for women, non-binary, and trans individuals working or volunteering in the nonprofit sector, Open Hearth creates opportunities for mentorship, connection, learning, and leadership development.

Whether you're interested in participating as a mentor or a mentee, we encourage you to apply.

📍 Calgary, AB
📅 Program begins August 2026
📌 Application deadline extended to June 28, 2026

Apply as a Mentor: https://capacitycanada.wufoo.com/forms/x35y1we0d50w6q/
Apply as a Mentee: https://capacitycanada.wufoo.com/forms/xanu2yj18w5g1v/

Last week, Volunteer Calgary had the privilege of joining Habitat for Humanity Southern Alberta in celebrating the completion of 11 beautiful homes in Airdrie's Bayview community.

Although the weather was rainy and a little chilly, there was plenty of warmth under the tent as Habitat staff, partners, volunteers, donors, elected officials, and community supporters gathered to celebrate the collective effort that made this development possible.

One of the most impactful moments was hearing directly from a future homeowner about their journey to homeownership and having the opportunity to tour their new home. It was a powerful reminder that housing is about more than buildings. It's about creating stability, opportunity, and a place where families can build their future.

Tristan Abbott, Capacity Building Specialist at Volunteer Calgary, had the opportunity to connect with many of the incredible staff, board members, and volunteers from Habitat for Humanity Southern Alberta and the ReStore. A special thank you to Sue Lee and Lauren Riley for sharing insights on the state of volunteerism in Alberta and the critical role volunteers play in bringing projects like this to life.

Congratulations to Habitat for Humanity Southern Alberta and the 11 families who will soon call this community home. We are grateful to have been part of such a meaningful celebration and to witness the impact that can be achieved when communities come together.

Some volunteers do more than give their time. They create connection, foster belonging, and leave a lasting impact on the people around them.

For this month's Volunteer Spotlight, we're proud to feature Megan, a dedicated Volunteer Calgary volunteer who has been supporting our community for the past year and a half. Whether she's helping at the Volunteer Fair, Volunteer Managers Conference, casinos, or other events, Megan brings warmth, humour, and a genuine ability to make people feel welcome.

Living with an invisible disability, Megan understands firsthand the barriers that can prevent people from fully participating in their communities. Rather than letting those experiences define her, she has transformed them into empathy, advocacy, and a commitment to helping others feel included and valued.

Today, Megan volunteers throughout the year and is passionate about helping organizations recognize the strengths, talents, and perspectives that people with disabilities bring to their communities. Her story reminds us that inclusion is not about removing standards or lowering expectations. It's about creating opportunities, building relationships, and ensuring everyone has the chance to contribute in meaningful ways.

One of the most powerful messages from Megan's story is this:

"Don't make assumptions. Build relationships. Be adaptive and understand the skills they have, then adapt the roles to that. They might just surprise you."

Megan's journey is a powerful reminder that volunteerism is about more than giving time. It's about creating the kind of community where everyone feels they belong.

Read Megan's full Volunteer Spotlight story on our blog: https://www.volunteerconnector.org/news/2026/6/15/more-than-a-volunteer-megans-story-of-connection-inclusion-and-community

Join us for the 2026 Annual General Meeting of Volunteer Calgary.

This gathering is more than a meeting. It's an opportunity to come together as a community of volunteers, nonprofit leaders, partners, and changemakers who believe in the power of people helping people.

As we reflect on the past year and look ahead to what's next, we'll celebrate the impact we've made together, share important organizational updates, and explore the future of volunteerism in our community.

Whether you've volunteered with us, partnered with us, attended one of our programs, or simply care about building stronger, more connected communities, we'd love to have you there.

📅 June 30, 2026
🕥 10:30 AM MT
📍 In-Person or Online

Together, we'll celebrate our shared achievements, strengthen connections, and continue shaping a community where everyone has the opportunity to belong, contribute, and make a difference.

Register today: https://www.eventbrite.com/cc/volunteer-calgary-2026-annual-general-meeting-4848305?utm-campaign=social&utm-content=creatorshare&utm-medium=discovery&utm-term=odclsxcollection&utm-source=cp&aff=escb

Last week, we hosted two cohorts of Equity in Action, exploring how dignity, respect, and relationships help create a sense of belonging in volunteer spaces.

Grounded in Ubuntu and Indigenous ways of knowing, participants came together to reflect, share experiences, and learn from one another through conversation and relationship-building.

Across both sessions, we explored how belonging is shaped not only by who is invited into a space, but by how people are welcomed, valued, and connected once they arrive. These conversations encouraged participants to consider how their volunteer engagement practices can help foster more inclusive, equitable, and meaningful experiences for everyone.

Thank you to everyone who joined us for Cohort 1 and Cohort 2. Your openness, curiosity, and willingness to share made these sessions impactful and inspiring.

A special thank you to Nitu Purna for thoughtfully facilitating these sessions and creating a space for meaningful dialogue, reflection, and shared learning.

This was just one part of our ongoing Equity in Action learning journey, and we look forward to gathering again next month for the next session in the series.

Together, we continue building volunteer spaces where everyone has the opportunity to belong.

Please join us in welcoming Skylar Johnson to the Volunteer Calgary team as our Outreach & Project Coordinator!

Skylar brings a passion for learning, community engagement, and meaningful connection. She has studied sociology, communications, and shelter support work, and has worked in five of Canada's provinces (with plans to add more to the list one day!).

In her role, Skylar will support Volunteer Calgary members by helping organizations access and make the most of our programs, services, and digital tools. She will also play a key role in coordinating outreach initiatives and supporting exciting projects focused on equity, leadership, belonging, and culture change in the nonprofit sector.

When she's not working or volunteering, you'll likely find her engaging with youth, playing handbells, reading, cooking for friends, enjoying a good cup of coffee, or biking around the city.

We're excited to have Skylar on board and look forward to the impact she'll make in strengthening volunteerism and community connections across Calgary and beyond.

Welcome to the team, Skylar!

This Pride Month, we're highlighting events, resources, and organizations that support 2SLGBTQIA+ communities in Calgary and beyond.

A few highlights include:
• Q***r Prom at The Confluence (June 6)
• Airdrie Pride Festival (June 20)
• Resources and community support from Calgary Outlink, Skipping Stone, and the Centre for Sexuality
• National resources from Egale Canada, pflag Canada, and The Trevor Project
• Opportunities to learn more about the history of Pride in Calgary and across Canada

Whether you're looking to attend an event, access support, learn something new, or discover organizations making a difference in our community, we invite you to explore and share these resources.

We believe stronger communities are built when everyone feels welcomed, valued, and able to participate fully.

Explore the full Pride Month Guide: https://www.volunteerconnector.org/news/2026/6/3/pride-month-in-calgary-events-resources-and-ways-to-connect

This month is National Indigenous History Month, a time to recognize and honour the histories, cultures, traditions, and contributions of First Nations, Inuit, and Métis Peoples across Canada.

It is also a time for reflection — to acknowledge the ongoing impacts of colonization and deepen our understanding of truth, reconciliation, and our shared responsibility in building more equitable communities.

This month, we encourage our community to learn through Indigenous voices and experiences by:
• Reading books by Indigenous authors
• Supporting Indigenous artists, creators, and businesses
• Attending local events and community gatherings
• Learning about treaties, residential schools, and Indigenous histories
• Celebrating National Indigenous Peoples Day on June 21

Reconciliation is not a one-time conversation, but an ongoing commitment to learning, listening, and action.