0226 - Global Heroes February 2026

AUTUMN PELTIER

GRAPHIC

A FEARLESS LEADING VOICE AUTUMN PELTIER

BY RAYE MOCIOIU

S

ince she was 12 years old, Autumn Peltier has heard the four words too many young women know all too well: “She’s just a kid.”

She first stepped into the public eye before most teenagers ever learn how to speak comfortably in front of a classroom, let alone in front of heads of state. Even then, her ambition and intrinsic call to demand justice were anything but childlike.

“Over a decade later; ‘the kid’ continued to grow,” she said. “While the nay-sayers were looking away, that ‘she’ is now recognized as a leader.”

Her impressive resume of accomplishments makes it all the easier to ignore those who seek to minimize her—but reflecting on how often she found herself in rooms dominated by older men and big institutions, Peltier admits that, at the time, she did feel out of place.

A lot has changed since then. At 21, Peltier is entering a new chapter as an adult and a globally recognized activist. The core of her work, though, remains the same: water is sacred, water is life, and justice is not optional. Her message hasn’t changed, just her certainty that she has every right to deliver it.

“The biggest difference reflects how womanhood can change perspective,” she said. “My mom instilled such strong rooted strength in me from an early age… My culture holds matriarchs in high respect, and growth for me has been my dignity knowing that I belong. You belong. We all deserve to be heard.”

I BELONG. YOU BELONG. WE ALL DESERVE TO BE HEARD.

THE TEACHINGS THAT LIVE ON

Peltier’s leadership is braided tightly with the women who raised her, guided her, and walked before her—especially her mother, Stephanie Peltier (Niwijiwaakikwe), who passed away on April 28, 2025.

Peltier says that many of her mother’s teachings still feel alive in her work.

“My belief system was rooted in Mom’s teachings,” she explained. “My mother was fierce and welcoming at the same time… she took the time to understand and continue to walk through adversity. My mother was my first teacher, and I can feel it in my voice and in my walk.”

Peltier shared that she wouldn’t be where she is today in her work without her mother’s support. Public advocacy is far from easy, especially when it begins at a young age. Stephanie, a single mother raising three daughters, was a source of inspiration and grounding, teaching her daughters resilience and bravery rooted in pride for their culture and the need to seek justice. She carried teachings from Elders and knowledge keepers, and insisted, through words and example, that giving up was never an option—exactly the kind of nurturing that leaders need. Peltier carries that insistence into every room she enters.

WATER ISN’T AN “ISSUE”

Ask Peltier about water, and she won’t speak about it in terms of statistics or policy. She speaks about it like a relationship, because in her worldview, it is.

“My advocacy is just one way of honouring the waters we come from,” she said, “and how we should respect it like we do those we love around us. Water is what connects us all. We all need water, whether it's for survival, bringing new life into the world, or the plants and animals within our environment. Honouring and protecting the water is not just a message for Indigenous peoples, it's a message for all.”

It sounds like common sense, and yet in a country known globally for freshwater abundance, too many First Nations communities have lived under long-term boil-water advisories, forced to plan daily life around bottled water, jugs, and fear. Even after a decade of water advocacy, that contradiction is more than a political issue to her; it’s a personal one.

THE BURDEN OF BROKEN PROMISES

When you are the voice many people associate with clean water advocacy in Canada, the questions can become repetitive.

“The question I am most often faced with is: ‘Since meeting Justin Trudeau, have you seen any changes?’ So you can imagine when another Minister, leading executive, or public figure delivers a similar message, of course, I am filled with doubt,” she explained.

Peltier is careful with the word “fear.” She’s not afraid of microphones or headlines or confronting power, but there is still an emotional toll that comes with seeing commitments handed off to the next person in line, or, worse, recycled into empty campaigns and slogans that amount to nothing but another way to skirt responsibility. The burden of broken promises is a heavy one to bear, but to Peltier, it’s not one that she’s afraid of.

“‘Fear’ is a funny word depending on the context,” she shared. “I experience fear in haunted houses, but when I’ve sat with delegates on Parliament Hill or addressed the United Nations, expecting questions from world, peer delegates some would ask ‘Aren’t you scared?’. No. I’m strong. I am held up by my Mom, my community, and Elders that provide me strength to be a voice that carries responsibility.”

ECHOING

OUR ELDERS

This year’s Elders & Traditional Peoples Gathering theme is “Echoing Our Elders,” a phrase that feels tailormade for Peltier’s role in the world: a young leader carrying ancient

teachings into modern institutions and bringing those institutions back to the responsibilities those teachings demand.

“To me, honouring our elders means being resilient,” she said. “Being resilient by practicing and embracing all aspects of our culture, speaking our language, and the younger generations using their voices.”

She is, in many ways, a living bridge: between Elders and children, between the shore and the global stage, between prayer and policy. She knows that young people are watching her closely, often seeing themselves in the girl she once was, and she never forgets what it feels like to be underestimated.

WALKER

THE WATER

There is something surreal about seeing your own story turned into a production— especially when that story began as a child’s instinct to speak up for what’s right.

“The feeling itself is indescribable, really,” she shared. “To know at such a young age that I could be heard on that stage was quite unreal… and then to see it on a big screen, knowing even more are watching it, gives me a sense of pride and leadership.”

It’s one thing to stand in front of world leaders, knowing that adults across the globe are watching. It’s another thing to know that young people are watching too, and learning from her.

“I am left with a sense of joy as I feel they still see me as ‘a kid’ just like them, and I’m doing it,” she explained. “They see in the film me at eight years old, 10 years old… just stepping up. I always remind children that they, too, have a voice. Having said that, my own mentors have shown me that we can learn from adversity.”

In her decade-long career of advocacy, Peltier has found that it’s important to surround yourself with people who inspire you and mentors who widen your world. Her own mentors include actor Graham Greene, who narrated The Water Walker, and Dr. Jane Goodall, a long-time hero of Peltier’s and a trailblazer in climate advocacy.

“Graham is such a pivotal figure for so many Indigenous people and beyond,” she explained. “Spending time with him helped me rethink what matters: Being grateful for the morning, the laughter of people. When I relate that to my advocacy, it resonates. The water doesn’t care about your fancy shoes. You can’t eat money, and you can’t drink oil.”

Peltier explained that watching Dr. Goodall navigate the male-dominated

world of science consistently inspired her to boldly share the facts without fear of being questioned.

“Jane showed me how a woman can take a stand her way and hold strong while being respected,” Peltier said. “She always reminded me of our inter-connection to the planet and our ecosystem, and that we need to work in harmony. That resonates, too—my people have always believed that Mother Earth is our best friend.”

In 10 years, I hope that my responsibility is over. I hope I don’t have to fight and advocate for basic human rights like water accessibility.

A NEW CHAPTER

At the precipice of this new chapter of her life, Peltier is filled with hope for the next generation of young leaders who take up the charge to speak up for what’s right. More specifically, she hopes that they don’t have to.

“In 10 years, I hope that my responsibility is over,” she explained. “I hope I don’t have to fight and advocate for basic human rights like water accessibility. I hope an eight-year-old child one day doesn’t have to think that having to boil water is just as normal as getting dressed for the day.”

The future Peltier is fighting for is one where children don’t need to become activists just to have access to what so many take for granted. It’s a long road to water equality, so in the nearer future, her focus is on building something lasting.

“We will build The Autumn Peltier Institute with hopes to be operating mid2026,” she shared, “focusing on water accessibility, collaboration, justice and equality, education and literacy, while inspiring the next generation of voices.”

Her own voice has carried across borders, an inspiring story about a young woman who was brave enough to speak up. But Peltier tells it differently, focusing on the responsibility and resilience that her mother, her Elders, and her community taught her over the years. Most importantly, it’s about the water that connects us and the justice that must be carried out.

For her part, Peltier is more than happy to pass on her wunderkind title. The natural next step of her career as an exceptional leader is to spotlight the next generation of young climate activists who are more than “just kids,” and just like everything else in her life, she is taking it boldly.

Where the Most Fragile Hearts Need the Most Advanced Care

How community support is driving the next evolution of cardiac care at the Mazankowski Alberta Heart Institute

Heart disease doesn’t ask permission. It shows up quietly—or all at once. It changes plans, timelines, and lives. And when it does, outcomes hinge on one thing: readiness. Not someday readiness. Now readiness.

For families across Northern Alberta, the Territories, and much of Western Canada, that readiness lives at the Mazankowski Alberta Heart Institute—or the Maz, as many like to refer to it.

But here’s the part many people don’t realize: the Maz didn’t become one of the country’s most advanced cardiac centres by accident. It became that way because donors decided it should.

BUILT BY DONORS.

STILL MOVING BECAUSE OF THEM.

From day one, philanthropy has shaped cardiac care at the Maz. Community supporters helped fund one in every four dollars needed to build the institute itself.

Since then, donors have continued to step forward—funding the technologies, programs, and research that keep pace with a disease that never stands still.

“Donors don’t just support healthcare,” said Dr. Jodi Abbott, President and CEO of the University Hospital Foundation.

“They change what’s possible. They allow us to move faster, adopt innovation sooner, and deliver better outcomes for patients who don’t have the luxury of waiting.”

That donor-driven momentum is now focused on one of the most important spaces in cardiac care. Learn more about how donor support is advancing care at GiveToUHF.ca.

THE

ROOM WHERE EVERYTHING COMES TOGETHER

A few floors inside the Maz is a room built for moments that matter most: the Cardiac Hybrid Operating Room.

It’s where cardiologists and cardiac surgeons work side by side— at the same time, on the same patient—combining minimally invasive catheter-based procedures with open-heart surgery in a single, highly coordinated environment.

At the centre of the room is the C-arm, an advanced interventional imaging system that moves around the patient to deliver real-time, multi-angle views of the heart and blood vessels. Unlike traditional operating rooms that rely on limited two-dimensional images, the C-arm shows depth, orientation, and fine detail as procedures unfold, giving teams the clarity to act decisively when every millimetre counts.

“When heart disease strikes, ‘good enough’ isn’t a standard, it’s a risk,” said Dr. Steven Meyer, cardiac surgeon at the Maz. “The Hybrid OR gives us the flexibility to start with the least invasive option, while being fully prepared for whatever comes next.”

DEMAND IS RISING. SO ARE EXPECTATIONS.

Cardiac care has changed. Image-guided, minimally invasive procedures are now the standard for many patients, offering less trauma, fewer complications, and faster recoveries.

At the Maz, hybrid procedures have increased by nearly 45 per cent in just four years. That growth reflects progress. It also creates pressure on a room designed for an earlier era.

WITHOUT INVESTMENT, CAPACITY TIGHTENS.

WITH IT, CARE EXPANDS.

A donor-funded upgrade will modernize the Cardiac Hybrid Operating Room with a redesigned layout, enhanced imaging support, improved surgical lighting and communication systems, and a new CT scanner. These improvements will allow the Maz to grow from roughly 400 hybrid cases per year to as many as 1,500 over time.

For patients, that means shorter waits and safer care. For the healthcare system, this means fewer prolonged hospital stays and more effective use of specialised resources. For donors, it means measurable impact—again and again.

DONOR IMPACT, EVERYWHERE YOU LOOK

The Hybrid OR is only one chapter in a much larger donor story. Philanthropy has also helped make possible:

• Northern Alberta’s only Cardiovascular Intensive Care Unit, caring for patients requiring advanced mechanical circulatory and respiratory support

• Canada’s first Servier Virtual Cardiac Centre, where

clinicians and patients can see the heart in immersive 3D

• Canada’s only combined adult and pediatric Ventricular Assist Device (VAD) program, offering a second chance at life for patients with end-stage heart failure

• The Jim Pattison Centre for Heart Health, supporting rehabilitation and recovery after cardiac events

Each of these exists because donors chose action over indifference.

“Every advancement we make is strengthened by philanthropy,” said Abbott. “Donors are true partners in care. They help ensure Albertans have access to the most advanced cardiac treatment available anywhere.”

FEBRUARY: THE MOMENT TO LEAN IN February is Heart Month at the University Hospital Foundation—a time to turn awareness into action. With heart disease affecting one in four Canadians, Heart Month offers a powerful opportunity to support lifesaving care today while investing in prevention and primary care for the future.

It’s when urgency, impact, and generosity align.

LOOKING AHEAD: STOPPING HEART DISEASE BEFORE IT STARTS

Donor impact doesn’t end in the operating room—or even in the hospital.

Programs like Heartway™ are helping move cardiac care upstream, into communities. By empowering pharmacists, nurses, and primary care teams to help patients manage cholesterol and reduce the risk of secondary cardiac events, Heartway™ is closing dangerous gaps for patients who don’t have consistent access to a family physician after discharge.

And then there is Caring for Our Hearts—a new provincial cardiac strategy being convened by the Foundation. It’s designed to connect the dots across prevention, early detection, acute care, and recovery, bringing clinicians, researchers, system leaders, and donors together around a single goal: fewer heart attacks, fewer hospitalizations, and improved outcomes.

“The strongest cardiac system is one that prevents illness wherever possible,” said Abbott, “while ensuring world-class care is there when it’s needed most.”

THE OPPORTUNITY

BEFORE US

Along with raising funds focused on Cardiac Care, the Foundation is raising money to support the next evolution of the Cardiac Hybrid Operating Room at the Maz.

“This isn’t just about upgrading a room,” Abbott said. “It’s about giving thousands of patients safer care, faster recoveries, and the best possible chance at life.”

Because when the most fragile hearts are on the line, readiness isn’t optional.

And thanks to donors, it’s possible.

Give where it matters most. Visit heartmonth.ca

Recording a Generation: The Race to Preserve Canada’s Second World War Voices

RAYE MOCIOIU

Our lives are a collection of stories, full of experiences gained over a lifetime that make us who we are. Some live on for generations, others as cheerful or heart-pulling anecdotes, and others still are all but forgotten. The stories of Canada’s Second World War veterans are among the most consequential in our nation’s history, but the average age of a Second World War veteran is 100 years old—soon, there will be none left to tell their stories firsthand, only medals tucked away in drawers and black-and-white photographs with fading edges. It is in this narrowing window of time that filmmaker Eric Brunt has dedicated himself to listening, recording, and preserving the voices of Canada’s last remaining veterans before they are lost forever.

HISTORY THROUGH STORIES

Canada entered the Second World War on September 10, 1939, and did not return to peace until August 15, 1945.

In those six years, more than 1.1 million Canadians served.

Statistics tell part of that story, but the rest lives in memory.

Over 45,000 were killed, 55,000 were wounded, and countless others returned home with scars and haunting memories, both of which would last a lifetime—or longer, if someone cared to document them.

Over the past seven years, Brunt has interviewed and filmed more than 500 Canadian Second World War veterans, capturing over 700 hours of firsthand testimony. It began when his grandfather passed away while Brunt was studying film in university. Only afterward did Brunt realize that he had no record of his grandfather’s wartime experiences. How many other stories had been lost the same way?

That question became the foundation of what is now

known as The Eric Brunt Collection, a landmark oral history archive produced by MELKI Films, and preserved as part of the Canadian War Museum oral history collections.

Hundreds of these interviews are already publicly accessible through the Museum's collections database, with more being transcribed and catalogued so they can serve as a permanent resource for students, scholars, and future generations.

There’s more to war than battles and dates. When our veterans pass, the statistics won’t tell us their stories. To that end, Brunt’s interviews aren’t retellings of official reports—those already exist in textbook summaries. These interviews are intimate, like sitting down with a relative to hear a story from their youth. In between moments of humility and reflection, and alongside voices that crack when recalling lost friends, Brunt finds stories of fear and resilience in the lived experiences of those who were there.

VOICES OF THE UNHEARD

Many of the veterans Brunt interviews live quietly, far from public attention. Few had ever been filmed before, and some had never spoken openly about their wartime experiences at all. These interviews are a final opportunity to bear witness, to say the names of friends who never came home, and to share memories long carried alone.

As Brunt often tells his interviewees, remembering names matters. Saying them aloud preserves them in history; forgetting them risks erasing their sacrifice.

MADELINE SHAVALIER: COURAGE BEYOND THE FRONT LINES

The late Lieutenant Nursing Sister Madeline Shavalier was the only woman Brunt met who survived the sinking of a ship. In 1943, Maddy and her fellow nurses were en route to Italy when German forces attacked their vessel. Forced into lifeboats in the darkness of the Mediterranean, they waited in silence for hours, unsure whether rescue or capture would come first.

“It was pitch dark,” Maddy remembered. “You never heard such a quiet group of nurses in your life. We were too scared to speak.”

Eventually, a light appeared on the horizon—an American ship. The rescue that followed became the largest at-sea rescue operation of the war, saving 1,675 nurses and soldiers. Maddy went on to serve in mosquito-ridden regions of Italy, where malaria posed a constant threat. She treated Allied soldiers and, on one occasion, a wounded German patient, whom she cared for with the same professionalism as her own men, despite threats from others.

“There were hardships,” she said, “but they were valuable years. I learned a lot about life.”

THE THINKER’S BURDEN

A Nearly Six-Metre Sculpture at the United Nations Puts Human Health at the Centre of the Plastics Debate

HOLLY CAMBRUZZI

In August 2025, as delegates returned to Geneva for the resumed fifth session of plastics treaty negotiations, a new figure rose over the Place des Nations.

Benjamin Von Wong’s The Thinker’s Burden, a six-metre reimagining of Rodin’s classic, sat atop a globe, cradling a baby, with a strand of DNA winding around them. Built from wood, papier mâché, steel, and living vines, the artwork was designed to be slowly surrounded by piles of recovered plastic waste during the talks, a visible clock counting down the time left to act.

By mid-August, the clock had run out. After days of debate at the UN’s Palais des Nations, countries adjourned without a final text. The process will resume at a later date and place, but for now, the treaty remains unfinished. In December, looking back on Geneva, the sculpture’s warning feels even clearer: plastic pollution is not only an environmental crisis, it is a public health emergency.

“This is not just art, it’s a call to conscience,” said Professor Sarah Dunlop, Head of Plastics and Human Health at the Minderoo Foundation, which supported the installation. “ The Thinker’s Burden represents the moral, environmental, and health weight negotiators carry. This treaty is a once-in-a-generation chance to protect people from toxic plastics and to make

polluters pay.”

Von Wong’s message has always centred people. His large-scale interventions have appeared at the UN, the World Economic Forum, and COP gatherings, translating complex issues into scenes the public can grasp.

“From the air we breathe to the food we eat, microplastics and toxic chemicals are entering our bodies, and future generations will inherit the consequences if we fail to act now,” he said in Geneva. “The Thinker’s Burden is meant to remind us that the true weight of plastic falls on our health, disrupting hormones and threatening children before they are even born. This is not a distant problem; it is already inside us.”

The talks drew delegations from more than 180 countries and were intended to deliver a legally binding global agreement. The divide was stark. A High Ambition group pushed for measures that address plastics across their full life cycle, including limits on production and strict controls on hazardous additives. Others argued the treaty should focus on recycling and waste management. With neither side willing to concede ground, negotiators closed the session without consensus.

Even so, the case for action only grew stronger.

“This compelling art piece reminds us why our work matters. It highlights both the responsibility we carry and

the urgency to act,” said Luis Vayas Valdivieso, Chair of the Intergovernmental Negotiating Committee. Scientists echoed that view. “It captures our knowledge of the broadreaching impacts of plastics and chemicals on our health, and the interconnectedness of human health, the environment, and petrochemicals,” noted Dr. Bethanie Carney Almroth, co-coordinator of the Scientists’ Coalition for an Effective Plastics Treaty and Professor of Ecotoxicology at the University of Gothenburg.

The Thinker’s Burden was a community build, fabricated in Zurich by SLS Illusions and assembled with the help of local organizations and volunteers who gathered more than 20 cubic metres of discarded plastics. That collective effort is part of the point. For Von Wong, the piece is a reminder that solutions will be made, not wished into being.

“It’s a visual representation of the growing burden we bear to resolve the plastic pollution crisis for this generation, and for those to come. We must act decisively and fight for human health across the entire life cycle of plastics.”

The negotiations will reconvene. Until then, the giant Thinker keeps watch at the UN’s Alley of the Flags, asking leaders—and all of us—to lighten the load. An ambitious treaty is not optional. It is essential.

NOEL BUTCHER: THE FORGOTTEN BATTLE

The late Noel Butcher was just 25 years old when Victory in Europe was declared. His war took him to the Italian Campaign and into one of the deadliest and least-remembered battles in Canadian history: the Battle of Ortona. On Christmas Day, 1943, his unit was sent to stop a German patrol attempting to encircle another regiment’s headquarters. What Noel wryly referred to as a “Christmas party” ended when shrapnel from a potato masher grenade tore into his leg.

Three days later, Ortona was liberated, Canada’s first major standalone victory of the war. Yet it came at an enormous cost, one largely forgotten by Canadian history. Today, just five kilometres from Ortona, the Moro River Canadian War Cemetery still remembers, and holds 1,375 Canadian graves, one for each young life cut short in December 1943.

Educational and Theatrical Distribution of The Eric Brunt Collection is available both nationally and internationally through Melki Distribution. Brunt is currently developing a featurelength documentary titled Under Fire, drawing from some of his most powerful discoveries. As long as there are stories left untold, he intends to keep listening.

Introducing the Jayman BUILT COMPLETE Home

Jayman is raising homebuilding standards again in 2026. Jayman BUILT has been building homes to improve Albertans’ quality of life for over 45 years, so they know that when it comes to your dream home, every detail matters.

Which is why, this year, they are introducing the Jayman BUILT COMPLETE Home: the highest-quality homes with the most value. Every 2026 Jayman BUILT home comes packed with features that go above and beyond the standard. It’s Jayman’s commitment to providing you with everything you need, all in one home.

With the introduction of the COMPLETE Home, Jayman BUILT is bringing the most energy-efficient and high-performance features available. Whether it’s a complete appliance package including washer and dryer, innovative Quantum Performance Wall System powered by BTRBoard, or the inclusion of front yard landscaping and window blinds, your home will be ready with everything you need from day one.

NEW FOR 2026:

QUANTUM PERFORMANCE WALL SYSTEM POWERED BY BTRBOARD, WASHER & DRYER, AND BLINDS

INCLUDED

As part of their 2026 offering, Jayman is introducing the Quantum Performance Wall System, a revolutionary approach to home insulation powered by BTRBoard. Quantum Performance Wall System provides 50 per cent less air leakage, up to 20 per cent savings in energy costs, 41 per cent increase in R-value, and 26 per cent more soundproofing than the standard wall system. This means your home will stay warmer in the winter, cooler in the summer, and quieter all year round.

The COMPLETE Home now includes practical items every homeowner needs, like a washer and dryer, as well as window blinds and front landscaping. With these essentials already in place, you can take the stress out of moving day by avoiding additional purchases or installations. These added inclusions, along with the best in energy efficiency and comfort, make the Jayman BUILT COMPLETE Home the most comprehensive offering in the market. No more worrying about extra costs. From the moment you move in, your new home is ready for life.

QUANTUM PERFORMANCE IS THE SCIENCE OF HOMEBUILDING

What makes the Jayman BUILT

COMPLETE Home so ‘com -

plete’ is its foundation in Jayman BUILT’s Quantum Performance philosophy—a suite of features designed to maximize your home’s energy efficiency, comfort, and long-term sustainability. Here’s a quick rundown of a few of the inclusions that come standard with every Jayman BUILT home:

• Solar Panels saving you up to 50 per cent on your electricity bills annually, excluding administrative and other fees.

• 96% High-Efficiency 2-Stage Furnace with an ultra-violet light air purification system for cleaner air throughout your home.

• Triple-Pane Windows help keep the temperature stable while minimizing heat loss.

• Active Heat Recovery Ventilator to ensure fresh, filtered air circulation year-round.

• Tankless Hot Water Heater for an endless supply of hot water without the energy waste of traditional systems. Together, these features not only help you reduce your environmental footprint but also save you money on your energy bills.

The Smart Home Technology Package enhances your home’s

convenience and security with voice-controlled smart doorbells, locks, cameras, and light switches—all powered by Amazon Alexa. These energy-saving features and advanced technologies work in complete harmony to make your Jayman BUILT home the ultimate in modern living.

ADDITIONAL HOMEBUYER SERVICES

The Jayman BUILT COMPLETE Home goes beyond energy efficiency, adding convenience and peace of mind with features that make purchasing your new home simpler.

• Jayman Realty helps maximize your home’s resale value with a complimentary home evaluation and listing service—saving you up to $25,000 when it’s time to sell.

• Jayman Financial offers expert mortgage solutions, guiding you through the home-buying process with the best rates and customized options to suit your needs. Jayman Financial even covers legal and disbursement fees.

• styleMagic™ Design Centre lets you bring your vision to life with eight hours of one-onone design consultation with a professionally certified interior

designer, ensuring that every room in your home is a true reflection of your personal style.

• Gold Key Service Home Maintenance for Life gives you peace of mind with 128-point annual preventative maintenance services that not only support your home’s warranty but also help increase its resale value over time.

A QUANTUM LEAP IN PERFORMANCE

With the launch of the Jayman BUILT COMPLETE Home, Jayman BUILT is raising the bar in homebuilding standards again for 2026. These homes offer more than just the essentials— they deliver real, lasting value. They’ve included everything you need from day one: a full appliance package, washer and dryer, blinds, and the cuttingedge Quantum Performance Wall System powered by BTRBoard. It’s all designed to help you save money annually and provide convenience and peace of mind. If you’re ready to experience a home built with quality, innovation, and value, explore a Jayman BUILT COMPLETE Home.

Visit Jayman.com/COMPLETE to learn more.

More Than Just a Home

Emmanuel

Welcome to Lighthouse: Independent Christian Seniors Living in the Heart of Inglewood, Edmonton

Discover a new chapter of life at Lighthouse, a brand-new independent living community designed for seniors who value comfort, connection, and peace of mind. Opening its doors to residents in February 2025, Lighthouse offers a vibrant and faith-based environment where you can truly feel at home.

Nestled in the beautiful neighbourhood of Inglewood, Edmonton, Lighthouse combines modern living with a strong sense of community. As a Christian seniors living facility, it provides a welcoming space where residents can share in fellowship, enjoy meaningful activities, and experience a lifestyle rooted in care and compassion.

BRIGHT, MODERN

SUITES DESIGNED FOR EVERYDAY COMFORT

Inside, you’ll find light-filled, thoughtfully designed suites ranging from cozy 525 sq. ft. one-bedroom layouts to spacious two-bedroom suites with a den. Every suite is bright, airy, and designed to make

daily living easy and enjoyable— with plenty of natural light and modern finishes that create a fresh, inviting atmosphere.

SPACES TO DINE, RELAX, AND CONNECT

Beyond your suite, you’ll discover expansive common areas that encourage connection and community. Spend a quiet afternoon in the library, enjoy a workout in the exercise room, soak up the sunshine in the sunroom, or meet friends in the pub or café for a chat over coffee. The dining room offers delicious meals so you can enjoy

the comfort of home-cooked food without the need to cook every day. Whether it’s a casual lunch, a special celebration, or dinner with friends, dining at Lighthouse is always something to look forward to.

PROGRAMS AND ACTIVITIES THAT MAKE EACH DAY MEANINGFUL

Life at Lighthouse is active and engaging, with a full calendar of programs and activities designed to bring residents together. From faith-based gatherings and fitness sessions to movie nights and social clubs, there’s always

something happening to make each day meaningful.

24/7 SUPPORT FOR TRUE PEACE OF MIND

To ensure safety and peace of mind, Lighthouse offers 24/7 staffing, so help is always close at hand, if needed. Whether it’s a question, an emergency, or simply a friendly face to assist, support is always available. The staff’s goal is to provide a secure, welcoming environment where you can focus on enjoying life—worry-free.

A PLACE TO BELONG, ROOTED IN CHRISTIAN VALUES

Every detail of Lighthouse has been carefully planned to reflect the values of comfort, faith, and community. With its brand-new construction, modern amenities, and strong Christian foundation, it’s a place where residents can embrace independence while feeling supported and connected. Come see why Lighthouse is more than a place to live—it’s a place

to belong. Here, faith and friendship shine bright, and every day is filled with warmth, purpose, and joy.

Both Lighthouse and our flagship property, Emmanuel Home, are owned and operated by the Emmanuel Seniors Living Society. A non-profit organization that has been operating seniors residences in Edmonton since 1973. Emmanuel Home sits in Northeast Edmonton and features many of the same amenities listed above. Studio, one-bedroom, and two-bedroom suites are available.

Learn more

Thirty Years of Honouring Black Brilliance in Canada

This month, Canada marks a milestone 30 years of Black History Month as a nationally recognized celebration. In honour and celebration of this important time, the Government of Canada has unveiled the 2026 theme: “30 Years of Black History Month: Honouring Black Brilliance Across Generations — From Nation Builders to Tomorrow’s Visionaries.”

This theme recognizes three decades of national observance, shining a light on the leadership, creativity, resilience, and innovation of Black communities across Canada. The announcement was made by Marc Miller, Minister of Canadian Identity and Culture and Minister responsible for Official Languages, at the Black Cultural Centre for Nova Scotia, a cornerstone institution dedicated to preserving and celebrating African Nova Scotian history, and a fitting setting for such an announcement.

"The stories of Black communities are woven into the very fabric of Canada's history,” said Minister Miller. “As we mark 30 years of Black History Month in Canada, we honour the legacy and contri-

butions of Black Canadians across generations, from those who helped build our country to those shaping its future. This anniversary allows us to reaffirm our commitment to advancing equity, inclusion, and opportunity for Black communities from coast to coast to coast."

CELEBRATING THE PAST, SHAPING THE FUTURE

Black History Month is about remembrance, but more than that, it’s an opportunity to honour and celebrate the nation builders who laid foundations under extraordinary circumstances. Looking backwards is only half of it. The other half is looking to our shared future, amplifying the voices of today’s changemakers and tomorrow’s visionaries. In 2026, that vision is being brought to life through more than

$280,000 in federal funding supporting nine Black History Month projects across Atlantic Canada. From theatre festivals and cultural celebrations to educational colloquia and anti-racism workshops, these initiatives reflect the diversity of Black experiences and the power of community-led storytelling.

Canada continues to invest in its Anti-Racism Strategy (2024–2028) and Action Plan on Combating Hate, backed by hundreds of millions of dollars in federal funding. Internationally, the United Nations’ declaration of a Second International Decade for People of African Descent reinforces a renewed global call for recognition, justice, and development.

"Black History Month honours our past and achievements, highlighting the need for a just society where everyone can succeed,” said George Mbamalu, Chair of the Board of Directors, Africa Festival of Arts and Culture Society. “By taking the Black History Month message to our schools, AFACS is sowing the seeds of a fair and just society through its Black History Month initiatives."

Organizations such as the

Olds College: Leading Agriculture in Canada

Olds College of Agriculture & Technology has been a leader in hands-on, industry-focused education deeply rooted in agriculture for over a century.

At Olds College, agriculture is more than farming and ranching— it is a dynamic and interconnected system that sustains communities, fuels innovation, and shapes the future of trades, food, land, and resource management.

“Olds College exists to educate and train learners to become the next generation of agricultural professionals, leaders, entrepreneurs, and innovators,” said Dr. Debbie Thompson, President and CEO, Olds College. “As Canada’s Smart Agriculture College, we are dedicated to providing high-quality education, research advancements, and strong industry partnerships that together will advance agriculture for a better world.”

HANDS-ON LEARNING

Africa Festival of Arts and Culture Society, Afro-Canadian Initiatives Association of New Brunswick, and Black Cultural Society of Prince Edward Island will lead programming that connects history to action, so that we can use Black History Month as a way to shape Canada’s present and future by learning from its past.

FACES OF BLACK BRILLIANCE IN CANADA

ALPHONSO DAVIES

From a refugee camp in Buduburam, Ghana, to the world’s biggest football stages, Alphonso Davies’ journey embodies resilience, opportunity, and possibility. A star with FC Bayern Munich and a cornerstone of Canada’s Men’s National Soccer Team, Davies has become one of the most celebrated athletes in the country’s history. Beyond sport, his role as a Global Goodwill Ambassador for the United Nations High Commissioner for Refugees highlights how Black excellence extends into

global advocacy, education, and humanitarian leadership.

ROSEMARY SADLIER Often described as the architect of Black History Month in Canada, Rosemary Sadlier’s impact is woven into classrooms, museums, legislation, and public consciousness nationwide. As a former president of the Ontario Black History Society, she was instrumental in securing February as Black History Month and August 1 as Emancipation Day at municipal, provincial, and national levels. An author, educator, and social justice advocate, Sadlier’s lifelong commitment ensures Black history is recognized as central to Canadian history. These are just two of the many stories that should be celebrated. From nation builders to tomorrow’s visionaries, Black history is Canadian history, and its next chapters are being written now.

(Source: Canadian Heritage)

In addition, the College is home to Olds College Centre for Innovation and the 3,300acre Smart Farm, a nationally recognized research ecosystem that integrates crop and livestock operations, modern infrastructure, labs, greenhouses, and industrygrade equipment while providing students with hands-on learning.

Students from across Canada and around the world choose Olds College for its unique blend of practical, industry-focused training, cutting-edge technology, and applied research—resulting in 93 per cent of graduates being employed in agriculture within six months.

TECHNOLOGICAL INTEGRATION

Technology is revolutionizing modern agriculture across the world, making it smarter, more efficient,

Programming at Olds College includes agriculture, agriculture technology, horticulture, food production, land and environmental management, animal health, equine studies, business, and trades—with 94 per cent of programs having work-integrated learning opportunities.

and sustainable. Alberta is a global leader in agriculture—it’s deeply integrated into the economy by supporting jobs, innovation, and economic and environmental sustainability throughout the province. Olds College supports these advancements by aligning programs and research with industry needs and emerging technologies.

Precision agriculture, robotics, automation, AI-driven solutions, and real-world applied research are integrated into the classrooms and across the Smart Farm to ensure student success and help producers adopt new technologies and practices.

STRENGTHENING NATIONAL FOOD SECURITY

As one of Canada’s few post-secondary institutions focused exclusively on agriculture, Olds College plays a vital role in strengthening national food security through workforce development and innovative research that supports a strong agricultural economy.

Last year, the College hosted over 3,000 visitors from over 34 countries, highlighting the strength of Alberta agriculture to both urban and rural audiences and reinforcing Olds College as Canada’s leader in agricultural applied research. We’re all part of agriculture every day.

Invest in agriculture at Olds College by applying, partnering, or donating at oldscollege.ca

Stories Close to Home: What Happens When Writers Meet Their Readers

Children love a good story. Stories help them make sense of the world and learn important lessons, and as a result, they get inspired to write their own. As students get older and begin to correlate writing with schoolwork, reading can bring them back to the enjoyment of getting lost in a good story. Meeting an author can do the same, reminding them that writing can be a source of joy—and more than that, a potential career.

For decades, Alberta educators have seen firsthand how author visits spark a love of reading, writing, and storytelling. Thanks to the Young Alberta Book Society (YABS) and its flagship Taleblazers program, moments like these are happening in schools, libraries, and community spaces across the province throughout the year. By coordinating visits, subsidizing travel, and supporting artist fees, YABS removes many of the barriers that would otherwise prevent schools, especially those

in smaller or high-needs communities, from hosting authors, illustrators, and storytellers.

“I truly believe in the power of author visits,” said Kathy Oster, Teacher-Librarian. “It’s inspiring to see even the most hesitant writers find a spark. I can often hear the pride in the kids’ voices when they say ‘a real author helped me improve my story.’”

Having a “real author” is

important, especially for budding writers. Authors discuss their authentic writing process, including all the revisions, false starts, and mistakes that come before a polished final draft. They show students that writing is a process, not a test, and that the craft is in that process.

“I really believe that Taleblazers is invaluable to schools,” added Colleen Heffernan, Librarian.

“Authors encourage our students to see ‘errors’ as opportunities for clarification and revision as something all writers do, published or not.”

SEEING YOURSELF IN THE STORY

For many students, especially those in small towns and rural communities, meeting a local author can be life-changing. Exposure to authors from Alberta helps children realize that they could become authors or storytellers too—not just kids from somewhere else. It also opens up new ideas of “celebrity,” in ways that celebrate creativity, authenticity, and craft.

The effects of author visits don’t end when the bell rings, either. Teachers and librarians consistently report increased library use, renewed enthusiasm for writing, and deeper engagement with literacy after YABS visits. In the 2024–25 year alone, YABS facilitated over 170 sessions across 39 Alberta communities, reaching an estimated

12,000 children and youth. That spark of inspiration often turns into something more.

Each year, YABS invites students in Grades 4–9 to submit original short stories to the Martyn Godfrey Young Writers Award, a province-wide writing contest that celebrates creativity and young voices. Winners are invited to an exclusive Winners’ Circle writing workshop, where they work directly with professional authors. The deadline for this year’s contest is March 31, and it’s one more way YABS helps young writers see themselves as part of Alberta’s literary future. YABS is a registered charity, and its ability to bring authors into classrooms depends on community support. As David Poulsen, long-time YABS artist, put it: “YABS puts us in front of the people we create for.”

To learn more, book an author visit, support YABS, or enter the writing contest, visit yabs.ab.ca

Everything We Do Begins with a Story

Stories of individuals, families, and entire communities whose lives have been shaped—sometimes suddenly, sometimes quietly—by epilepsy. Each diagnosis marks a moment when life shifts: a parent holding their breath as their child seizes for the first time; a teenager masking fear with determination and sometimes isolation; an adult searching for confidence after the world changes without warning—driving and working no longer an option. A senior who gets confused and dismissed because of an incorrect diagnosis. These moments

carry weight. And these are the “stories we carry” with us, in our community. They remind us why our work matters.

COMMUNITY SUPPORT WHEN LIFE CHANGES

The challenges faced by people with epilepsy are deeply personal and often invisible to others. Seizures don’t just interrupt routines; they can stir anxiety, sadness, or a quiet sense of loss that only those closest truly witness. Yet even in the hardest moments, community can be a powerful force. While government support and, of course, medical interventions have

their place, many families cannot face the new life realities with epilepsy alone. That is where we come in! Our community of staff, volunteers, board of directors, and supporters bring the compassion, patience, and generosity needed to truly make a difference in these people’s lives!

Our grassroots foundation has always been our strength. Since 1960, our charity’s spirit shines in our programs—from our epilepsy book series to Kids on the Block, a puppet show that teaches elementary school students about empathy and inclusiveness through storytelling that

feels accessible and fun. Sixty-five years later, we’re still here—without core operational funding and with a small but mighty staff. What has carried us through is the determination of volunteers, doctors, caregivers, and individuals living with epilepsy. Their commitment has built an organization that is vibrant, compassionate, and adaptable, one that evolves with the needs of the community, while staying true to its original mission.

We won’t pretend the road has been easy. Uncertainty about future fundraisers or sponsors is a constant part of our reality. There are days when continuing the work feels heavy. But we move forward because we are anchored by the values that guide every conversation and every decision: empowerment, respect, compassion, dedication, and integrity. These principles are the reason people trust us—and the reason we endure.

The Edmonton Epilepsy Association may be the little charity you’ve never heard of.

But chances are, you know someone with epilepsy: a

colleague, a friend, a classmate, a family member. And whether they’ve needed support or not, our work has always been for them— and for you.

You may never need us. We hope you never do.

But if one day life changes—if fear creeps in, if questions feel overwhelming, if you simply need someone who understands—we’ll be here. Ready to listen.

HOW CAN WE HELP?

Reach out. Call our team. Talk to our volunteers. Ask your questions—big or small. If we don’t have the answer, we’ll find it. That’s the power of connection. HOW CAN YOU HELP? Connect with us. Call 780-488-9600, email info@ edmontonepilepsy.org, visit our website at edmontonepilepsy.org, or follow us on social media. Every act of support strengthens the next 65 years of direct, essential, and heartfelt service to those living with epilepsy. Together, we turn shadows into light—one story at a time.

Empowering Families

and

People with Disabilities

to Grow, Succeed, and Belong!

According to Caregivers Alberta, one in four Albertans is a caregiver, which translates to 929,000 caregivers based on national survey data. Our programs are designed to support individuals with diverse needs while giving families meaningful respite, connection, and peace of mind. Whether you’re looking for after-school care, weekend programming, summer experiences, or life-skills development, AdaptAbilities offers a safe, supportive, and engaging environment where participants can thrive.

WHY FAMILIES CHOOSE

ADAPTABILITIES

For over two decades, AdaptAbilities has provided purposeful programming that nurtures emotional regulation, builds confidence, and helps children and adults develop essential life skills. Our team members meet participants exactly where they are, adapting activities to each individual’s strengths, interests, and needs.

Our programs are built with both the participant and the caregiver in mind. You get reliable, structured respite while your child engages in purposeful, fun, and skill-building experiences.

A PROGRAM FOR EVERY NEED—FROM SUPPORT TO CONNECTION

BEYOU

Come as you are and join us for fun, friendships, and belonging. Planned activities may include swimming, fitness centre, open play in the gymnasium, indoor

Where New Beginnings Grow into Brave, Bright Futures

For more than 40 years, the Edmonton Newcomer Centre has stood alongside people starting over and continuing their lives in a new country, helping them navigate the Canadian system, build meaningful connections, and harness their potential.

Guided by our values of Empowerment, Compassion, Interconnectedness, and Accountability, we provide the services that anchor new beginnings, continuity, and progress through settlement support, English language training, therapy and mental wellness, and pathways to employment, career growth, and entrepreneurship. But what truly defines Edmonton Newcomer Centre, and what makes this work heroic, are the stories of people who demonstrate what courage looks like day by day.

A

DREAM REBUILT FROM THE ASHES OF WAR

Fourteen years ago, Marwa fled Syria with her family as war engulfed their home. She arrived in Edmonton with little more than determination and hope. Through the Edmonton Newcomer Centre's Youth Program, Marwa found mentors, community, and a safe place to dream again. She rebuilt her confidence step by step until she was ready to pursue what once felt impossible. Today, Marwa is a professional

shaping skylines and futures as a licensed architect in Alberta and British Columbia.

“The support I received helped me rebuild my life. That first step changed everything.” Marwa’s words are a testament to what is possible when newcomers receive support and services from a dedicated and knowledgeable team that believes in their potential to thrive.

RISING THROUGH LEARNING, LIFTING A COMMUNITY

When Leteyesief arrived from Eritrea, her English skills were limited, which made it difficult for her to find work and settle in Canada. With perseverance and the right support, she improved her English and went on to earn her Level 1 and Level 2 childcare qualifications, which became the springboard to a new career in early childhood education.

Today, she is gainfully employed, supporting her family and inspiring others to thrive.

Her journey reflects what we see every day: newcomers using their strengths, skills, and aspirations to shape their own futures and help build lasting, community-rooted change in the place they now call home.

Every year, thousands of newcomers bring talent, culture, experience, and wisdom that enrich our communities and strengthen the fabric of Canada.

playground, and a variety of other recreational activities!

COMMUNITY CONNECT

Encourages a supportive, social, and engaging environment that promotes independence and community involvement for young adults who have finished high school.

HEARTS IN ACTION CAMPS

Available in the summer and year-round, these camps provide fun, engaging, and purposeful activities on non-school days.

IN-HOME SERVICES

Offers one-on-one support for individuals with disabilities, giving caregivers a break while promoting community engagement and connection.

OUT OF SCHOOL CARE/HIGH SCHOOL TRANSITION

For youth ages 12–17 and adults continuing high school, these programs support structured after-school supervision, social supports, and personalized growth opportunities.

REMOTE SUPPORT PROGRAM

For adults 18+, this online program provides opportunities to build community and offers a range of programs tailored to individuals’ needs and goals.

SOCIAL NIGHTS

Provides teens and adults opportunities to make friends, develop skills, and have fun through weekly group activities.

WEEKEND RESPITE

Our Weekend Respite program provides essential, reliable support for families while giving participants a structured and enjoyable experience. These year-round sessions offer a safe environment where individuals can socialize, try new activities, and develop life skills.

BRINGING RESPITE

CLOSER TO HOME

AdaptAbilities offers programs at multiple convenient locations in Edmonton, St. Albert, and Leduc, making it easier for families to access respite services, social activities, and community support close to home!

If you're ready to join a community where your loved one can thrive, connect, and feel included, now is the time.

Register today for our programs and discover the difference AdaptAbilities can make by visiting adaptabilities.ca or calling 780-431-8446

WE ARE INSPIRED BY THE BRAVERY WE WITNESS EVERY DAY:

• The parent learning English after working night shifts. The youth healing from trauma, advocating for siblings and finding their voice in a new system.

The newcomer stepping into their first Canadian job with shaking hands and a determined heart.

• The entrepreneur opening a small business that becomes a gathering place for the community.

• The senior who shows up to every class, proving it’s never too late to learn, connect, and find belonging.

IN 2024–2025 ALONE:

More than 2,400 newcomers built employment skills, gained job-readiness support, and accessed pathways into the Canadian labour market. Over 300 LGBTQI+ newcomers found community, safety, and space to thrive.

Each story adds strength, depth, and colour to the tapestry of our society. With several locations across Edmonton, we meet newcomers where they are, walking with them as they take their next steps forward.

Our pledge is to keep walking beside them—because when newcomers thrive, Edmonton thrives. For more information, visit newcomercentre.com

work, learn English, get settled, and join a community.

As a significant component of Edmonton’s welcoming ecosystem, we provide newcomers with the tools connections, and resources they need to build fulfilling lives, contribute meaningfully to their new community, and fully engage in all that Edmonton has to offer.

Against the Current: The Island Girls Who Rowed a Nation Together

MOCIOIU

RAYE

When four women from Antigua and Barbuda pushed off from La Gomera in December 2018, none of them were rowers. But by the time they reached Nelson’s Dockyard 47 days later, they were finishers of the Talisker Whisky Atlantic Challenge (now World’s Toughest Row), and more importantly, they were symbols of a country’s resilience.

The quartet, comprised of Kevinia Francis, Christal Clashing, Samara Emmanuel, and Elvira Bell, united under the Team Antigua Island Girls banner.

More than finishing a transAtlantic campaign, the Antiguans made history as the first all-Black team to row any ocean. They galvanised a nation with their daring, with the government declaring a half-day holiday on their return, and they raised funds for a project to aid a girls' home that housed abused, abandoned, and neglected girls. In 2023, the team, minus Elvira (for personal reasons), conquered the mid-Pacific route from Monterey Bay, California, to Kaua'i, Hawai'i, in 41 days, seven hours, and five minutes in the inaugural Pacific Row.

A CALL, A CREW, AND EIGHT-AND-A-HALF MONTHS TO LEARN— ROW ONE

After two Antiguan men’s teams completed the race that finishes in historic Nelson’s Dockyard in

English Harbour, Antigua, Prime Minister Gaston Browne threw out a challenge: could an all-women’s team represent the island next?

Fifteen women answered. Coaches from the men’s team helped train and whittle the roster to five, then four. The Island Girls shipped a used boat back to the U.K. for repairs, crammed essential certifications into their calendars, and learned as they went.

“There was a lot of naiveté,” Kevinia explained. “We were checking boxes more than grasping the full scope. However, by the time the race started, the checklist was complete. We felt ready to go. Nothing could have prepared us for the breadth of the race—the unpredictability of the ocean, the extreme fatigue, the unique experience for each rower while still needing to function as a unit, and still, the beauty and privilege of the experience. By the time we were mid-Atlantic,

challenges and all, we knew we would conquer, because we weren’t just rowing, we were rowing home.”

“Home” mattered. Most ocean-row crews finish somewhere unfamiliar and then fly back. The Island Girls rowed toward their own shoreline, along part of the transatlantic slave trade route that delivered their ancestors under brutal coercion. As descendants of enslaved Africans, they experienced the Atlantic crossing as a reclamation of history and of their relationship to the sea.

“We wanted to show that we belong on the ocean on our own terms,” they said. “And we wanted girls to see that women can work together under pressure and achieve something extraordinary.”

EVERYTHING THAT CAN GO WRONG AT SEA

Plenty of ocean-row crews fracture under stress. The Island

Girls didn’t. They fought and forgave like sisters, kept the mission present, and protected the chemistry that carried them from “we barely know each other” to “once an Island Girl, always an Island Girl.”

And it was far from easy; the Atlantic tested them early. Seasickness scrapped their opening sprint. Then the autopilot failed repeatedly, forcing hand-steering by compass for punishing stretches.

“It was the only time I thought, ‘We can’t do this for two more weeks,’” said Kevinia.

Luckily, a late-night fix from the home team revived the system, just enough to finish the job. By then, Antigua and Barbuda were already watching.

The Island Girls had captured the attention of the predominantly non-seafaring community, and that attention cascaded into support and unity. When the

team crossed the finish line, the country met them—a sea of red, yellow, blue, black, and white flags waving them in. One mother said her daughter now wanted to row when she grew up.

“We went in with goals to win,” the women shared. “We came home with a sense that we’d helped pull our country together.”

A NEW TRIP—BACK ON THE ROW AGAIN!

In 2023, after years of school visits, talks, and local advocacy, the organizing body invited Team Antigua Island Girls to the inaugural Pacific race.

An unexpected turn of events just before the team was due to depart the island ruled Elvira out. The reduction to a trio forced tactical changes, many of which the team had to confront as they arose during the row.

As they did on the Atlantic, the team surmounted each challenge—even the currents during the final 24 hours that threatened to toss them off course, well beyond the finish line, and into disqualification.

The team plans to put funds raised toward establishing a dedicated facility for girls in conflict with the law. The stakeholders are close to finalizing the specifics, with hopes of breaking ground shortly.

“If we plant good seeds early, like skills, confidence, a sense of belonging in the water and in the world, we shape a better society,” the team said.

3 Canadian Youth Who Are Changing the World

Young people are proving, again and again, that meaningful change doesn’t require a title—it requires conviction. Across Canada, youth are turning creativity, energy, and passion into real-world action to protect the planet, with a growing focus on the ocean: the life-support system that sustains biodiversity, supports communities, and shapes our climate. Thanks to initiatives like the Ocean Action Grant Program, more young Canadians are being equipped to lead local environmental projects focused on ocean health and sustainability.

Backed by community partners and conservation organizations, they’re turning ideas into measurable impact. Here are three youth-driven projects supported by initiatives like the Ocean Wise Action Grant:

ANDREW POLANYI DETECTING GHOST GEAR WITH SONAR AND ARTIFICIAL INTELLIGENCE (AI)

Andrew’s passion for technology and marine conservation led to an innovative solution to a global problem: ghost fishing gear. Lost or abandoned fishing nets and traps, known as “ghost gear,” continue to catch and harm marine animals

long after they’ve been discarded. Through Ocean AID’s ghost gear retrieval program, Andrew is using sonar and AI to detect underwater debris around Victoria, British Columbia. Andrew and their team locate and recover ghost fishing gear—keeping it out of the ocean and preventing further harm to marine life.

KIT TYMOSHUK

RESTORING NOVA SCOTIA’S UNDERWATER KELP GARDENS

Kelp forests are disappearing at an alarming rate. These vital underwater ecosystems support marine life, protect shorelines, and help store carbon. To help restore Nova Scotia’s kelp, Kit is crafting ceramic vessels from wild clay to serve as kelp-growing substrates, which will be planted in degraded reef systems.

Kelp restoration is a relatively new field in conservation and is sometimes overlooked. Kit’s underwater garden project creates new footholds for kelp to return—while its artistic approach helps spark conversation and build awareness around protecting these essential, vulnerable undersea forests.

Casting Hope: How Fishing for Success is Reeling

In a coastal village just outside St. John’s, a small nonprofit is making waves across Newfoundland and Labrador by casting lines of connections across the community.

Founded in 2014 by educator and environmentalist Kimberly Orren, Fishing for Success is a handline fishery, a cultural preservation project, an outdoor classroom, and, for many, a lifeline.

For Orren, this mission began in a Florida classroom, where she watched her students grow increasingly detached from the natural world. Smartphones replaced curiosity, and textbooks couldn’t compete with screens. Returning home to Newfoundland, Orren and her partner, Leo Hearn, a seasoned fisherman and navigator, took the opportunity to reintroduce young people to the water.

Fishing for Success teaches small-scale, sustainable handline fishing, a method that protects marine ecosystems and ensures humane treatment of fish. Guided by a deep respect for sustainability and a mission to foster community, the organization is redefining what it means to fish and why it matters.

HEALING WATERS

For staff like Meghan Young, fishing set her on a journey of personal growth and environmental exploration. An indoor kid with no fishing experience, no real interest in boats or bait, and no desire to smell like fish, Young reluctantly picked up fishing as a summer job.

Now, looking back, Young credits that summer with changing

her life—and over the years, she’s seen firsthand how being out on the water transforms people, especially youth facing mental health challenges or instability.

Nature therapy is woven into every aspect of the work, whether it's pulling in a cod from the North Atlantic or creating vibrant gyotaku-style fish prints. Young, now studying psychology, sees Fishing for Success as proof that healing doesn’t have to happen in clinical spaces.

“I watched kids go from completely closed-off to laughing, smiling, wanting to work in the fishery,” she shared. “You can help people in so many ways—sometimes it starts with catching a fish.”

Megan Meadus, one of the organization’s first hires, agrees. “You can literally see them shift. By the end of a summer, they’re leading

the group, playing music, casting lines. Nature does something to people when you let it.”

GIRLS WHO FISH

For Meadus, the experience led to something even bigger—co-founding the Girls Who Fish program with Orren. The fishery has long been dominated by men, but Orren and Meadus are working to change that. In 2016, the two co-founded Girls Who Fish, a program that provides women with skills and confidence in fishing, boating, and outdoor leadership.

“We wanted to create a space where women weren’t being taught by their dads, brothers, or boyfriends,” Meadus explained. “Just women teaching women.”

The program challenges stereotypes and breaks down barriers in a field where only 23

per cent of participants are women. From fly fishing and filleting to navigating a dory, Girls Who Fish empowers participants to take the helm—literally and figuratively.

“We teach everything from fly fishing to cod jigging,” she continued. “But what we’re really doing is building confidence.”

LEARNING FROM THE SEA

Not everyone in Petty Harbour embraced the initiative at first. A necessary safety fence stirred controversy. Some locals questioned the visibility and growth of a project founded by an outsider. But over time, those who experienced it, especially children, became its biggest advocates.

And now, Fishing for Success is a registered museum, a social enterprise, and a sought-after destination for tourists, schools, and nonprofits. It’s hosted women’s long-table dinners with locally caught seafood, partnered with Memorial University, and earned national recognition, including the Canadian Museum of Nature’s Inspiration Award. But it’s always been the little victories that matter most, like seeing children’s lives change in real-time.

“When a child catches their first fish and says, ‘I did it,’ everything else falls away,” shared Orren. “It’s magic. And it’s medicine.”

FISHING FOR CONNECTION

Fishing for Success also partners with groups like the Association for New Canadians to run Women Sharing Heritage (WiSH). This

STEPHANIE QUON PROMOTING MENTAL HEALTH THROUGH OCEAN CONSERVATION

Stephanie’s project brings together calming, restorative experiences in natural spaces, and tangible action to protect them.

Through community cleanups, educational workshops and ocean-based mindfulness activities, Stephanie is creating safe and supportive spaces where participants can connect with and care for the environment as well as themselves. They leave a session with the benefit to their mental well-being, bolstered by knowing that they also helped make a real impact.

Across Canada, youth are leading the charge for a healthier planet—and their ideas are already creating measurable ripples of change. Programs like the Ocean Action Grant Program help carry that momentum forward—fueling youth-led projects that make ocean stewardship tangible at the local level. Each project is a reminder that change can start right where you live: one shoreline, one cleanup, one restoration effort, one community choosing to act.

six-week program brings together immigrant and refugee women with local women for shared activities such as berry picking, fish preparation, and cooking traditional meals. The goal, as Orren explains it, is to give people a space to feel proud of their skills and to be a part of something.

Deliberate in its language and practice, Fishing for Success avoids terms like “recreational fishing” and doesn’t teach catch-and-release. In doing so, the organization reintroduces values that once defined coastal life in Newfoundland: sustainability, stewardship, and community reliance.

“We teach responsible harvesting,” Orren explained. “If you take a life, you eat it. You use all of it. You respect it.”

And while there’s joy in the catch, there’s also beauty in the learning. Kids do citizen science, participate in microplastic research, and learn to read the sea through the eyes of elders.

“Fishing is just the hook,” she continued. “It gets people to imagine what they might do around the water.”

The impact speaks for itself. Many of its alumni have taken their skills into new realms— entrepreneurship, psychology, sustainability, even international development. Young, for example, started a tourism-based youth employment project in Haiti, inspired by the values she learned on the wharf in Petty Harbour. Sometimes, all it takes is a line in the water.

Your Teen Isn’t Lazy — They Might Just Be Stuck

For 26 years, Peer Mediation & Skills Training (PMAST) has stood beside Alberta’s youth with one mission: helping them communicate more effectively, manage conflict, and develop the life skills needed to thrive. Today, their special project, Youth Legacy, and other programs have supported thousands of young people, especially those facing barriers, trauma, or a lack of direction. But for many, the turning point begins with a single “yes.”

For Matthew Tekle, that “yes” came at age 21. Unemployed, out of school, and unsure of his future, Matthew joined PMAST’s Youth Legacy Program as a youth at risk. “I didn’t know what I wanted,” he recalled. “I just knew I didn’t want to stay lost.” With one-onone mentoring and PMAST’s Communication and Conflict Management program, he started to regain confidence.

Everything accelerated when he joined Struggle Is Your Success, PMAST’s partner, where the “Dream It. Plan It. Build It.” program helped Matthew

YOUTH LEGACY: Helping Alberta’s Young People Build a Better Future

uncover a passion he’d never pursued: digital art. Within six months, he was turning that passion into income.

“I achieved this because of the doors PMAST opened for me,” he said. “They believed in me before I believed in myself.”

Matthew’s story is just one example of why Youth Legacy matters. Many youth today, especially those facing poverty, discrimination, or family instability, are navigating challenges without access to the supports needed to thrive. For those entering Alberta’s youth justice system, the barriers deepen. The system remains largely punitive, relying on fines and incarceration that rarely address the underlying trauma, communication difficulties, or lack of life skills that contribute to offending. As a result, reoffending rates remain high.

PMAST’s Youth Legacy is working to break that cycle.

Through work at the Calgary Young Offender Centre (CYOC), Youth Legacy helps reduce the overrepresentation of minority

youth by providing evidence-based programs that build emotional regulation, communication skills, conflict resolution, and future planning. The goal: not punishment, but healing, stability, and long-term change.

A key part of PMAST’s impact is the “Village” mindset, a network of agencies providing wraparound support. When youth need counselling, addiction help, food, or housing, Youth Legacy partners with trusted organisations like Struggle Is Your Success and Off The Grid Youth.

“We only do what we do best,” said the team. “And when someone needs more, our Village is there.”

Together, Youth Legacy, its partners, and its community network help young people develop leadership skills, build self-esteem, and discover the spark that drives them toward a better future.

Matthew is living proof.

“If you’re thinking about joining Youth Legacy, do it,” he said. “Even if you feel stuck, they help you find your spark.”

From lost youth to young creator,

Matthew’s transformation reflects what becomes possible when a community believes in its youth. See some of his art at pmast.org

Learn more about empowering youth with the skills, support, and direction to build brighter futures at PMAST by visiting pmast.org or reach out at info@pmast.org

Youth Legacy was made possible by funding from Canada Youth Justice Fund and the Alberta Government.

Hope in Action: Inside ARBI’s Life-Changing Brain Injury Programs

Every year, thousands of Canadians experience a sudden, life-altering brain injury or stroke. In an instant, mobility, speech, independence, and connection to the world can be compromised. For survivors and their families, every day can become a struggle—not just physically, but emotionally, socially, and mentally.

That’s where ARBI steps in. With over 45 years of experience serving Alberta, people from across the country come to take part in ARBI’s unique approach to neurorehabilitation. ARBI offers a lifeline: compassionate, expert-guided rehabilitation and community support that gives survivors—and their loved ones—a

chance to rebuild, reconnect, and reclaim hope.

A UNIQUE, PROVEN APPROACH TO BRAIN INJURY REHABILITATION

ARBI isn’t just another clinic. Founded in 1978, specifically to involve volunteers in supporting brain injury recovery, ARBI has pioneered activity-based neurorehabilitation through a blended professional-and-volunteer service model that delivers long-term support for acquired brain injuries (from traumatic accidents, strokes, tumours, and more). Clients receive personalized plans from therapists and a

caring support network, drawing on the science of neuroplasticity to help them relearn lost abilities and rebuild independence. Over the years, volunteers and practicum students from universities across the country have come to ARBI, and the organization takes great pride in its role in educating future healthcare professionals.

HEALING THE WHOLE PERSON—NOT JUST TREATING SYMPTOMS

ARBI’s services go beyond physical rehabilitation and include occupational therapy, speech-language therapy, psychological support, wellness services, fitness, adaptive cooking, and support for independence and community living. They also support caregivers— offering social work, counselling, peer support, and mindfulness programs, recognizing the ripple effect brain injury can have on families.

RESTORING DIGNITY, COMMUNITY, AND PURPOSE

For many stroke and brain injury survivors, life after injury means isolation—losing touch with

hobbies, friends, or daily routines. ARBI’s fitness, leisure, and community programs help people rediscover social connection, purpose, and joy. Participants learn life and social skills, engage in meaningful activities, and gradually reclaim their place in the community.

BUILT ON COMPASSION, COMMUNITY, AND HOPE

The heart of ARBI’s work is the belief that every person—no matter how severe their injury—deserves a second chance. ARBI’s values are hope, dignity, inclusion, connection, and community.

Since its founding in 1978 by a small group of volunteers, ARBI has grown into a trusted support system for thousands of brain injury survivors.

HOW TO GET INVOLVED

VOLUNTEER

You don’t need to be a healthcare professional to help. Volunteers play a critical role: working alongside therapists, supporting clients in therapy and recreation, offering companionship, and helping rebuild lives.

FUNDRAISE OR DONATE IN KIND

Host a community event or offer goods or services that support ARBI’s mission. Non-monetary contributions are welcome and may be tax-receiptable if eligible.

RAISE AWARENESS

Share the stories of survivors, and help break down the isolation and stigma often associated with brain injury—because public support helps build a more inclusive and understanding community.

Imagine regaining the ability to speak, walk, socialize—to live again. For the people ARBI supports, this isn’t just a dream. It’s a journey in progress. With compassion, expertise, and community, ARBI gives survivors and families a real chance at a fulfilling life. Your support—whether through donating, volunteering, or spreading the word—doesn’t just help a person recover. It helps rebuild lives, restore dignity, and bring people back into the community. Join ARBI today. Help make recovery possible.

Learn more at arbi.ca

What Happens When Seniors Can’t Get to the Doctor?

When we think about healthcare, we often imagine hospitals and health professionals who keep people well. But for many older adults across Alberta, one of the biggest determinants of health is parked in the driveway, and thanks to Drive Happiness, it might be driven by a volunteer.

Without consistent transportation, wellness can be hard to keep up with, and can quickly turn into crisis management. For more than 20 years, Drive Happiness has been addressing this gap head-on, providing safe, affordable, and assisted rides that help older adults get the care they need before small concerns become bigger problems.

As Alberta’s senior population grows, barriers to transportation become increasingly hard to navigate. Without reliable transportation, seniors miss appointments, delay treatments, ration medications, and lose the ability to maintain independence. Every year, countless seniors in Alberta skip or cancel medical appointments because they simply can’t get there. The reasons vary from mobility limitations and fixed-income constraints to a lack of nearby family caregivers and public

transportation (especially in rural communities), or simply being unable to drive anymore.

And missed appointments are more than an inconvenience—they can lead to late diagnoses, delayed lab results can stall treatment plans, and unmanaged chronic illness can escalate into emergency room visits or hospital stays.

HEALTHCARE DEPENDS ON MORE THAN JUST HEALTHCARE

Many people picture medical appointments as the only health-related trips seniors need. But staying healthy requires things like picking up prescriptions, attending physiotherapy, getting blood work, going to dental or vision appointments, accessing mental health supports, and participating in fitness or fall-prevention programs. Even grocery shopping is a critical health activity. Without food security, nutritional quality declines, chronic conditions worsen, and independence fades. Drive Happiness volunteer drivers help seniors reach all of these essential services, and often provide the only safe, reliable transportation option available.

Transportation challenges are magnified outside major cities.

Seniors in rural and smaller communities often face long distances to specialists and fewer local grocery and pharmacy options, coupled with minimal or no public transit. Drive Happiness works directly with municipalities, FCSS programs, health providers, and community groups to create region-specific solutions, so that seniors can get the proactive care they need to stay healthy at home.

COMPASSION ON WHEELS

Social well-being has been increasingly shown to have a high impact on health, with isolation linked to

higher rates of depression, cognitive decline, heart disease, and hospitalization. For many seniors, a Drive Happiness volunteer driver may be the only person they see that day.

The conversations, companionship, and simple act of being cared for can have a measurable impact on emotional and mental health. Already, it’s more than a ride; it’s an opportunity for community connection.

Prevention costs far less than crisis intervention, and transportation is one of the most powerful preventative tools we have. This community-driven model is designed to stretch every donated dollar, with seniors paying a modest fee, volunteers using their own vehicles,

and Drive Happiness reimbursing drivers for their mileage. Rides are offered when volunteers are available—days, evenings, weekends, and holidays.

This approach keeps the service accessible, scalable, and financially efficient. And by helping seniors stay healthy and independent, the program reduces strain on emergency services, long-term care, and family caregivers.

ROOM FOR ONE MORE?

Alberta’s senior population is expanding rapidly, and transportation needs are rising with it.

To continue providing essential health access across the province, Drive Happiness is actively seeking volunteer drivers, municipal and organizational partners, donors, and funding support. Better health starts with getting there, and no senior should have to choose between missing an appointment and risking their well-being.

To learn more, volunteer, donate, or register for service, visit drivehappiness.ca or call 780-424-5438 (ext. 3)

Celebrating the Creative Heart of Alberta

Across Alberta, creativity is everywhere—shaping communities, strengthening identity, and enriching the everyday lives of Albertans. At the centre of this vibrant cultural landscape is the Alberta Foundation for the Arts (AFA), the province’s public arts funder dedicated to supporting, sustaining and celebrating the arts.

As a public agency of Alberta's government and the provincial arts funder, the AFA invests directly in artists, arts organizations, and community groups. From large companies, like Calgary Opera and the Citadel Theatre, to small community-based groups like pottery guilds, choirs, and folk festivals, the AFA's impact can be felt in every corner of the province.

The AFA is also the steward of a remarkable cultural treasure: the AFA Art Collection, the world’s largest collection of artworks by Albertan artists. Nearly 10,000 pieces tell the story of the province’s imagination, history, and creative evolution.

“Alberta’s artists and arts organisations reflect the spirit of our province. The AFA is proud

to support their work and ensure creativity continues to thrive in every community, ” said Chair of the AFA Cynthia P. Moore.

WHY ALBERTA’S ARTS SECTOR MATTERS

The arts are far more than performances, exhibitions or creative workshops. They play a powerful role in shaping Alberta’s identity, contributing to economic growth and improving the quality of life. Every year, the visual and applied arts and live performance industries contribute approximately $1.3 billion to Alberta’s GDP and support more than 18,000 jobs. These numbers reflect what Albertans already

know: a thriving arts sector is essential to a thriving province.

The arts preserve cultural heritage, amplify diverse voices and invite communities to gather, imagine, and grow together. Whether through a local theatre production, a gallery opening or a youth arts program, Albertans experience creativity in ways that inspire pride, belonging, and connection.

AFA’S IMPACT: STRENGTHENING COMMUNITIES THROUGH THE ARTS

To better understand the impact of its investments, the AFA recently released Arts Impact Alberta 2025: Ripple Effects from the Arts Sector, a

study examining its operating grant programs. The results underscore just how transformative the arts truly are.

Between 2018 and 2023, the AFA supported 488 arts organisations across 102 communities, helping produce an average of 20,245 arts events each year. These events brought people together, fostered local talent, and enriched neighbourhoods large and small.

The economic ripple effect was just as striking. For every $1 invested by the AFA, the study found an economic return of $1.76. Even more remarkably, each dollar spent by AFA-funded organisations generated an average return of $22.53 within the broader economy.

Community spirit also played a significant role. An average of 38,619 volunteers dedicated their time annually to supporting Alberta’s arts organisations, proving that the arts are a shared endeavour powered by passion, creativity and collective goodwill.

“The arts help us understand one another, strengthen our communities and celebrate what makes Alberta unique. Investing in

the arts is really an investment in the people who call this province home,” Moore said.

A NEW HOME FOR ART:

THE AFA art house In September 2025, the AFA expanded its reach by opening the AFA art house, a new gallery space in downtown Calgary dedicated to showcasing Alberta artists. Located on the second floor of The Edison—right across from the Calgary Tower—the space highlights both emerging voices and renowned artists like Chris Cran, Rita McKeough, and the late Alex Janvier. Open Tuesday through Friday from noon to 4 p.m. (or by appointment), the AFA art house invites visitors to explore Alberta’s artistic legacy in an intimate, contemporary setting. It is a place to look, to see, to discover, and ultimately to experience the depth of Alberta’s creative spirit.

Learn more about how the AFA supports and celebrates Alberta arts—and explore what’s on at the AFA art house at affta.ab.ca

The AFA art house is a new art gallery located in The Edison in the heart of

It is dedicated to sharing the work of Alberta artists and exhibiting Alberta's treasure of artworks in the AFA Art Collection.

Visit our house, free-of-charge: Tuesday to Friday, noon to 4 p.m.

Located on the 2nd Floor, The Edison 150 9 Ave SW, Calgary

Worms Teach Us About Inclusive Learning Environments

When you enroll your child in school, you hope their education leads to more than just good grades. You want them to learn how to participate in their community, build relationships, and understand how their choices affect the world around them. These experiences help young people grow into adults who feel capable of contributing to their communities in meaningful ways.

For many students with diverse learning needs, these opportunities are not always accessible.

A 2022 study by the Teachers' College Board found that students with learning disabilities are more likely to be excluded from civic and community-building activities than their neurotypical peers (Bueso, 2022). In addition, with limited time, funding, and capacity, educators are often forced to focus on core academic requirements. Hands-on, experiential learning is often the first thing to fall away, especially because many of these opportunities are not designed with neurodiverse learners in mind.

Over time, Green Calgary began to notice this gap.

“We realized that educators who support neurodiverse learners weren’t accessing our programs,” said Lex van der Raadt, Executive Director of Green Calgary. “That meant a significant group of students were missing out, not because of a lack of interest, but because the programs weren’t built to support the way they learn.”

This means a significant number of youths are not receiving the development and learning benefits of environmental education.

Learning about the environment is just the tip of the iceberg when

it comes to the actual benefits of environmental programs. It builds confidence, critical thinking, leadership skills, and a sense of responsibility to others (NAAEE, n.d). These experiences help young people see themselves as participants in their communities, not observers on the sidelines.

This need became especially clear when Jolene, an educator at Cochrane High School’s Learning Support Centre, reached out to Green Calgary. She wanted environmental programming for her students, but like many educators working with neurodivergent

learners, she had struggled to find external programs that truly met their needs.

With the generous support from TD Friends of the Environment, Green Calgary is responding.

This year, Green Calgary is adapting its popular Worms Love Leftovers program for neurodiverse learners and delivering 15 free programs to schools across the city that need this extra support. Developed in partnership with Cochrane High School’s Learning Support Centre, the adapted program brings live worm demonstrations into classrooms,

using multi-sensory, interactive activities that support different learning styles.

During class, students explore waste reduction and vermicomposting through tactile, engaging, and accessible activities. By the end of the program, they can identify simple actions they can take at school and at home to keep their communities healthy.

“As environmental educators, we need to reach students who don’t always thrive in traditional classrooms,” said van der Raadt. “These students deserve the same opportunities to feel empowered, included, and prepared to shape the communities they’re a part of.” Healthy and sustainable communities are possible when everyone can take part. Green Calgary’s environmental education programs focus on breaking barriers that keep our youth from leading and contributing to positive change.

You can support inclusive environmental education in Calgary by donating to Green Calgary by visiting greencalgary.org

RAYE MOCIOIU

When Christal O’Reilly and Shannon Costelloe describe their work, their passion for the ocean is unmistakable. Both women followed unexpected paths into marine conservation—Christal from a background in adventure sports and community engagement, Shannon from an initial focus on human resources—but their shared love for Antigua’s marine environment brought them to the Elkhorn Marine Conservancy (EMC). Today, they are part of a growing team determined to restore Antigua and Barbuda’s reefs and empower island residents to become stewards of the sea.

A HOLISTIC VISION FOR OCEAN HEALTH

Founded in 2021 and led by conservationists and community leaders, EMC was born out of passion and understanding for coral restoration and the

entire marine ecosystem. As Christal and Shannon explain, these two go hand in hand. Antigua’s economy is almost entirely reliant on coastal and marine tourism. Coral reefs, seagrass beds, and mangroves protect beaches while providing

boaters, snorkellers, and divers a space for discovery.

“Everything is interconnected,” said Christal, “they all form a delicate web of life.”

It’s for this reason that EMC’s work spans the ocean, from housing vulnerable coral genotypes in an onland lab during heatwaves to employing techniques, such as microfragmentation, with coral restoration expert Ken Nedimyer. They do it all from a place of love and deep respect for Antigua’s natural heritage.

TEACHING ANTIGUA TO SWIM

Despite being surrounded by water, many Antiguans have never learned to swim due to historical inequities, fear passed down through generations, and limited access to pools. Recognizing this, EMC launched a beginner swim program in 2023.

Along with teaching water safety, the program connects participants to the ocean

through a three-week process.

Swimmers learn basic skills and work their way up to snorkeling, all leading up to a visit to EMC’s coral restoration site.

For many, it’s their first glimpse of living coral.

“We want people to fall in love with the reef,” Shannon explained. “When you see it, you care for it.”

To maintain that connection, EMC launched a snorkel club in 2024, hosting quarterly reef excursions that turn swim students into ocean advocates. Looking ahead, EMC’s top priority is establishing a dedicated lab and education centre to stress-test coral, host school groups, and create a hub for conservation research.

“We want young Antiguans to see this work firsthand,” said Shannon. “They’re the next generation of ocean protectors.”

On top of that, the organization is employing shark tagging in collaboration with conservationists across

the Caribbean, gathering data on migratory patterns to better understand reef health. Sharks, as keystone species, play a crucial role in balancing marine ecosystems, and monitoring their movements can provide insight into the overall health of the reef.

“Everything we learn informs a bigger picture,” Christal shared. “Reef health is about every creature that depends on it, not just coral.”

EMC plans to expand its model beyond Antigua and Barbuda, working with other islands and global partners to restore reefs worldwide. Their work is proof that grassroots action and scientific innovation can reverse ecological decline—and when you get the community involved, you can make waves.

“Conservation is as much about people as it is about ecosystems,” Shannon said. “When you connect people to the ocean, they’ll fight for it.”

Calgary Drop-In Centre: Housing Ends Homelessness

When it comes to homelessness, every story is unique, but the solution is always housing.

Imagine this. Tomorrow, you’re in an accident. It isn’t your fault, but your vehicle is wrecked. Your leg is injured, and you can’t

afford time off work. Between pain, transit delays, and stress, your performance slips. You lose your job. Ashamed, you pull away from friends and family. Soon, your phone will be cut off anyway. Isolation settles in. You spend your last savings on food for yourself and the one constant in your life—your cat. When rent comes due, you can’t pay it. You’re evicted, with nowhere to go. You know shelters exist. You’ve even volunteered at one before. You never imagined you’d need one—and you can’t bring your cat. So you spend your days downtown and your nights in alcoves, searching for a sense of safety. You are scared, overwhelmed, and stunned by how quickly everything unravelled. One day, a young woman asks, "How are you doing?" The question alone feels like relief. She listens—really listens. Her name is Emma. She brings you to the Drop-In Centre’s Housing Hub, where you meet Sam. He already

knows your story because Emma shared it. For the first time in months, you don’t have to start from the beginning. They get you a meal. Emma arranges temporary care for your cat through a trusted animal shelter. Sam helps you focus on one problem at a time—replacing ID, securing transit passes, applying for income supports, and searching for housing. Your damage deposit and first month’s rent will be covered. Furniture will be provided once you have a place. The waiting is hard. Weeks pass. You miss your cat. Your leg still hurts. Some days are heavier than others. But you keep meeting with Sam. You keep showing up. You’re reminded—again and again—that you matter, and that people are working alongside you, not giving up on you. Then the call comes. A small studio has opened up. It’s not perfect, but it’s yours. The key is placed in your hand. The door closes behind you. For the first time in a long while, you sleep

without fear. Soon after, your cat comes home too. Now, imagine your name is Sam. You come into work knowing that housing changes everything. You’ve seen it—how stability restores health, reconnects people to community, and creates room for hope. You also know how fragile the window can be, and how many people are still waiting. Without housing and appropriate supports, unaddressed needs can quietly grow, pushing people towards survival choices that hide the hurt rather

than heal it, and stability slips further away.

HOUSING IS THE SOLUTION TO HOMELESSNESS

On any given night, nearly 3,000 people experience homelessness in Calgary—not because they lack resilience or effort, but because there simply aren’t enough homes they can afford.

At the Calgary Drop-In Centre, we are a housing-focused organization working with creativity, dignity, and care to end homelessness. While every journey is different, housing is always part of the solution.

With enough homes—and the community commitment to create them—more stories can end with keys in hand and doors closing safely behind them. By donating, volunteering, or advocating for housing in your community, you can help ensure people don’t just survive, but truly come home.

Find out more at calgarydropin.ca

Youth Are Rewriting the Rules of Digital Safety in Canada

For young people in Canada, the digital world is ingrained in almost all facets of everyday life. It’s where friendships form, careers begin to take shape, creativity finds an audience, and community is built. Yet while online life has become foundational, the systems meant to protect young people have not kept pace.

Over two days, youth ages 16-29 will connect, both in-person in Ottawa and online, with lawmakers, legal and tech experts, and community organizers to:

• Share lived experiences of online harm and resistance

• Shape the implementation of a National Youth Digital Rights Blueprint

• Build skills to influence law, policy, and platform accountability

You don’t need policy experience. You do need curiosity, care for community, and a willingness to learn and collaborate. Whether you're a tech enthusiast, justice advocate, or digital storyteller, your voice belongs here.

Out of that gap emerges the Youth Digital Rights Blueprint, a human rights–based framework developed through three years of national youth engagement. It is not a theoretical document. It is a response to lived experience, and a call for Canada to finally treat digital spaces as environments where rights, dignity, and safety matter.

In February, that call comes into sharper focus as youth from across the country gather, both in person in Ottawa and online, for the Youth Digital Rights Summit

WHY THIS MOMENT MATTERS

Canada currently has no national digital safety statute. With the expiry of Bill C-63 in 2024, young people are navigating escalating online harms without cohesive protections. Youth have been clear about what that means in practice: technology-facilitated violence, deepfakes, sextortion, racist and misogynistic gaming spaces, algorithm-driven misinformation, invasive data practices, and serious mental health impacts.

Just as critically, young people describe being excluded from the

WIN Together: Building Safety, Stability, and Second Chances for Survivors of Violence

Your Legacy. Their New Beginnings.

For over 50 years, WIN House (Women In Need) has stood behind women, children, and non-binary individuals seeking safety after fleeing violence, delivering emergency shelter, second-stage housing, and wraparound support for survivors of gender-based violence.

Decade after decade, WIN House has offered safety when it’s needed most and hope when it feels hardest to find. Each year, hundreds of women and children find refuge within WIN House’s three Edmonton shelters—but the need far exceeds current capacity.

Last year alone, WIN House sheltered 330 women and 225 children, while thousands more requests for help went unanswered due to a lack of safe housing options. In response to the growing need, WIN Together – The Miller Project is designed to help survivors rebuild their lives with dignity, stability, and long-term support.

A COMMUNITY OF CARE

Through their years of experience, WIN House has learned that housing alone is not enough. Survivors need access to holistic, traumainformed supports that address

physical, emotional, cultural, and economic well-being. WIN Together makes this possible.

The WIN Together project will be a five-storey, purpose-built apartment building offering 64 second- and thirdstage housing units. Unlike emergency shelter, this housing is designed for individuals and families who have already taken the steps toward safety by connecting with support centres and are ready to rebuild their lives.

“This project is more than bricks and mortar—it’s a promise that every woman and child who walks through these doors will find safety, dignity, and the support to build a new life,” shared Daniel Roberts, Board of Directors Chair at WIN House.

Residents will pay rent based on income and access housing through referrals and screening by the WIN House team, so that each household is able to access appropriate support to maintain stability and safety long-term.

In addition to one-, two-, and three-bedroom apartments, the building will include a multipurpose/community room, a communal kitchen, a ceremony room, and a meditation and prayer space. The goal behind the space is to create safe, welcoming

environments intentionally designed for healing, connection, and long-term success.

“You are giving hope to the hopeless and empowering them to believe that they can do it.”

—WIN House Resident

Breaking the cycle of violence means building healthy, healing skills that support lifelong sustainability. On-site programming, like justice navigation, on-site health and psychological support, financial literacy, and family education, helps round out the process. The WIN House offices will also be located here, so help will never be too far.

“We invite you to leave a legacy by naming a space within this lifechanging project. Your gift will not only build walls, but it will also build futures,” said Leslie Allen, CEO of WIN House.

Your support helps create homes, fund essential programs, and ensure that survivors have the stability they need to thrive for generations to come.

Join WIN Together and help open the doors to healing and possibility.

Learn more at winhouse.org/millersiteproject

policymaking processes that shape the platforms they are expected to use. Consulted too late, or not at all, their voices are often treated as symbolic rather than structural.

The Blueprint reframes this reality. It asserts that youth are not just users of digital spaces, but rights-holders within them.

A FRAMEWORK GROUNDED IN HUMAN RIGHTS

At the heart of the Youth Digital Rights Blueprint are four pillars designed to guide federal digital policy.

Participation recognizes youth as co-architects of digital governance, calling for the establishment of a National Youth Digital-Safety Advisory Council, alongside permanent engagement strategies and accessible public communication around legislation.

Protection focuses on safety by design. This includes a statutory duty of care for platforms, algorithmic transparency, bias audits, and clear oversight of gaming and peer-to-peer environments where harm often goes unchecked.

Remedy is about making sure young people can actually get help when harm happens online— without being retraumatised by the process. Youth are calling for longer windows to act, including extending harmful-content preservation requirements from one year to three years or more, so evidence isn’t lost before a case can move forward. They also want practical, funded supports: a Victim Support Fund, financed through platform penalties, to cover essentials like counselling, legal guidance, safety planning, and help with navigating takedown and reporting systems. Finally, youth are urging reforms to the Canadian Human Rights Commission so it can respond to digital harms more effectively— including clearer pathways for identity-based online harassment,

more accessible complaint processes, and better capacity to address platform-enabled discrimination in real time.

Support centres for education, mental health, and oversight, from a national digital literacy strategy to the creation of an independent digital safety commission and a dedicated child and youth advocate.

Together, these pillars form a roadmap for policy that reflects how young people actually live online.

FROM BLUEPRINT TO ACTION

The Youth Digital Rights Summit is designed to move this work forward. Over two days, participants will connect with lawmakers, legal and tech experts, and community organizers to share lived experiences, build policy skills, and help shape the implementation of the Blueprint. No policy background is required. What matters is curiosity, care for community, and a willingness to learn and collaborate. Whether participants arrive as digital storytellers, justice advocates, gamers, or tech enthusiasts, their perspectives are essential.

A CALL FOR COLLECTIVE LEADERSHIP

Young people have already done the work of naming the harms and defining the solutions. What is needed now is federal leadership and genuine partnership.

Canada has an opportunity to build a digital future grounded in dignity, safety, and human rights, with youth not at the margins, but at the centre. Are you ready to help shape that future?

Learn more and register for the Youth Digital Rights Summit at jhcentre.org/youth-summit-2026

The WIN Together project provides secondand third-stage housing for individuals and children who have already accessed support services and are ready to rebuild their lives.

A Community of Care: Supporting Albertans Living with Parkinson’s

Parkinson Association of Alberta (PAA) is a dedicated not-for-profit organization focused on enhancing the quality of life for people living with Parkinson disease and Atypical Parkinsonism across the province. With a mission grounded in support, education, advocacy, and community connection, the Association provides compassionate, individualized care to every person and family they serve— from the moment of diagnosis, through the day-to-day challenges of Parkinson’s, and across the many transitions that can occur as the disease progresses.

At the heart of the Association’s work is a deep understanding that Parkinson’s affects every person differently—physically, cognitively, emotionally, and socially. No two journeys look the same, and PAA’s approach reflects this reality. Rather than offering onesize-fits-all services, the Association tailors its support and programs around the unique goals, needs, and life circumstances of each individual. Whether someone has just been diagnosed or has been living with symptoms for years, the Association’s

team meets them where they are, with empathy, respect, and a commitment to helping them live as fully as possible.

One of the most visible ways the Parkinson Association of Alberta supports people is through personalized support services designed to address both practical and emotional needs. Individuals and families can access one-on-one support sessions and supportive family counselling, which provide confidential and caring spaces to ask questions, voice concerns, and explore strategies for coping with daily life changes. These conversations are often lifelines—helping people better understand symptoms, navigate complex healthcare systems, and locate community or government resources that can ease everyday living. The Association

also facilitates support groups that connect people living with Parkinson’s and their care partners, reducing isolation while fostering shared understanding, peer connection, and resilience.

Education is another cornerstone of PAA’s work. Through its PD 101 Education Series, the Association offers sessions designed to deepen understanding of Parkinson’s, available treatments, and practical strategies for managing daily symptoms. Topics range from medication management and home care options to communication challenges and long-term planning. By equipping individuals and care partners with knowledge, these programs help reduce uncertainty and empower people to make informed decisions throughout their Parkinson’s journey.

For many individuals, maintaining physical activity, cognitive stimulation, and social connection plays a critical role in living well with Parkinson’s. The Association offers a range of active and wellness-based programming, including physical exercise classes, speech and voice groups, cognitive skill activities, and opportunities for social engagement. Research increasingly shows that staying active can help manage symptoms and support overall well-being, and these programs reflect a holistic approach—addressing not only physical health, but emotional and social needs as well.

Families and care partners are also deeply impacted by Parkinson’s, and the Parkinson Association of Alberta places a strong emphasis on supporting the entire caregiving

network. Through programs such as the Care Partner Support Program and Ambiguous Grief & Loss workshops, caregivers are offered tools to manage stress, reduce burnout, access resources, and connect with others who understand the realities of caregiving. This focus on care partners underscores the Association’s commitment to person-centred, family-inclusive support. Throughout all its work, the Parkinson Association of Alberta brings a deeply personal and relational approach—not simply providing resources, but walking alongside individuals and families every step of the way. From answering that first call after diagnosis to navigating uncertainty and celebrating moments of strength and resilience, PAA continues to stand as a vital community of care for Albertans living with Parkinson disease.

Wherever you or your loved ones are in your Parkinson’s journey, Parkinson Association of Alberta is here to help. Call us toll-free at 1-800561-1911 or visit us online at parkinsonassociation.ca

ALLIE MURRAY

For those who live along the coastal waters of Canada’s Newfoundland and Labrador, spotting a whale or other marine life trapped in fishing nets or stranded on the shoreline is more common than you’d think. When encountering a stuck animal, most people don’t know what to do—either putting themselves at risk by trying to free the animal themselves or simply leaving the animal in distress. But one local organization is striving to change this. Getting their start at Memorial University in St. John’s, Newfoundland and Labrador, in the '80s, Wayne Ledwell and Julie Huntington didn’t set out to study whales. At first, they wanted to help fishermen who would get a

whale caught in their nets and didn’t know what to do with it—Wayne, who came from a fishing community, and Julie, who had vast knowledge in fishing nets, thought their expertise could be beneficial. Their journey with marine life rescue transitioned from the university to the Canadian Coast Guard, and then, in 2001, Julie and Wayne took the initiative themselves, and Whale Release and Strandings was born.

“We’ve been to every community in Newfoundland disentangling whales and many in Labrador, and we’ve been doing it much the same as when we started in the '80s,” Julie explained. “We use tools that were developed in the '80s and have changed shape over the years, and we find them very successful.”

Having completed thousands of successful disentanglements across the province in the last 30 years, Julie and Wayne have become experts in the field—striving to educate both the public and fishermen about what to do when they encounter a trapped animal.

“Every entanglement is different,” Julie said. “And that’s the problem with people who aren’t officially involved in disentanglement, and they want to be helpful. They’ll cut something, and they don’t know that they’ve left all of this gear on the whale.”

The most important thing, Julie noted, is to call them as soon as possible. Once they receive a call about an animal in distress, they will ask questions about the nature of the entrapment while preparing to trek to the animal and begin the rescue.

If you encounter an entangled or stranded whale, Julie offers four helpful tips:

• Remember, these are wild animals, and to use caution around them

Do not try to disentangle the whale yourself

• Do not attempt to move large whales

If possible, take photos of the animal and include an object in the photo for scale to help determine the size of the animal

In addition to their rescue work, Whale Release and Strandings is involved in research projects where they take samples from stranded animals to send back to the Marine Mammal Section of Fisheries and Oceans Canada to better understand the wildlife in the ocean. Similarly, they do educational work in the

community by visiting coastal schools to educate youth about marine life, the importance of taking care of our oceans, and to encourage them to connect with the outdoors.

These educational efforts not only raise awareness but also foster a deep sense of responsibility and connection between people and the environment. By engaging with the community, Whale Release and Strandings encourages a more balanced approach to interacting with nature. This balance, as Julie emphasized, is key to preserving marine life while still allowing for sustainable practices.

“It’s important to learn about the ocean and our whole environmental connectivity,” Julie shared. “We can still fish, but we can also make sure that the environment is safe for the animals in the ocean.”

Fabulous Fun for Over 50s: A Welcoming Hub for the 50-plus Generation

Good Companions has been providing programming for seniors in Calgary for more than 50 years. We are well-known for our social events, including Pub Night, Social Suppers & Dance, Dîner en Blanc, and special luncheons. However, people continue to return for all our other activities and events.

The mission of Good Companions 50 Plus Club is to foster a supportive space where those over 50 can enjoy social, cultural, intellectual, and recreational activities designed to enrich their lives and build lasting friendships. Our programs strengthen connections, creativity, and a sense of well-being among its members.

Besides providing wellness services such as foot clinics, hearing clinics, yoga, Tai Chi, and Move ‘n Mingle, we offer fun

activities like dancing, singing, bridge, and mahjong, to name a few. Upon request, a new and exciting drumming course started in January titled Restorative Rhythm and Meditation. These kinds of programs are very popular and fill up quickly. For many people who come through the door, a whole new life opens up. There are so many opportunities for involvement. Volunteering is another great aspect of Good Companions. Without the help of volunteers, the Club would not be as successful. We have members who bring their expertise and experience to the Club to facilitate programs like line dancing, square dancing, Heart & Soul Singers, and art. Cooking and serving meals, and clean-ups after, are done by volunteers. Volunteers do phone-calling and send

birthday cards. Others donate items for door prizes. The Jammers, who bring us the music for Pub Nights and dancing, do it for fun. Just a few examples: it is truly a hubbub of working together and helping out. Why is it important to keep the Good Companions going? We serve a need among the aging population; the two most prevalent being isolation and loneliness. We try to focus on that and offer programs and services that cover a wide variety of needs and interests. As a notfor-profit organization, we rely on government funding and our own fundraising. We therefore welcome new members who bring more ideas, more energy, and more revenue!

Visit our website gc50plus.org for further information.

Charting New Waters: Sailability Antigua Is Making the Ocean Accessible to All

RAYE MOCIOIU

It all started when Bob, in his retirement, began sailing up and down the Caribbean islands and noticed a startling lack of inclusive sailing programs in this large sailing area.

“The Royal Yachting Association (RYA) and Sailability had over 200 units across the UK, but none in this part of the world,” he explained.

Frustrated and inspired, he took it into his own hands to change this. With encouragement and support from Elizabeth Jordan—then Commodore of the Antigua Yacht Club and soon to become President and Founder of the National Sailing Academy (NSA)—and support from the RYA, Bob, his wife Su, and their friend Maureen launched the Sailability program, making Antigua one of the first places in the world (outside the UK) to embrace such an initiative.

It began as a small, grassroots effort, but quickly grew into a community program that serves

80 differently-abled people, empowering children and adults to sail—with plans to double that number. This program works alongside the NSA, which currently has 230 children across 23 schools coming to the Academy each week to learn to sail.

Mornings are dedicated to the Sailability program. Afternoons follow a structured RYA sailing syllabus for schoolchildren aged eight to 18. Weekends and holidays see adults take to the water, often at subsidised or no cost. While sailing is an exciting and unique experience in its own right, the impact of the program extends much further.

“We had a girl come through the school program who had

corrective surgery on her feet,” Alison shared. “Her confidence grew so much, her entire family started sailing together.”

From deaf and mute sailors to 66-year-old amputees who navigate the waves independently, the stories from the program have been transformative.

“In the UK, people with disabilities often have structured care and support,” Bob explained. "Here in Antigua, that support is limited. When someone comes to our program, it might be the only day of the week they leave the house. It took two years for local officials to acknowledge there even was a disability problem, but our impact has made it clear how

Shaping the Future of Diabetes: Advancing Research, Strengthening Care

How the Alberta Diabetes Foundation Is Expanding Its Mission From Discovery to Community Impact

A LEGACY BUILT ON BOLD VISION

The Alberta Diabetes Foundation (ADF) was built on a revolutionary belief: that research could change the future of diabetes. This vision began with Dr. Ray Rajotte, whose groundbreaking islet transplantation work helped transform Edmonton into a global centre of innovation and inspired the creation of a foundation dedicated to sustaining progress. That momentum reached worldwide recognition in 2000, when Dr. James Shapiro led the clinical trial that produced the Edmonton Protocol, allowing seven people with type 1 diabetes to achieve insulin independence. This breakthrough proved that a cure was not distant—it was possible—and ADF committed itself to accelerating that journey.

A MISSION EVOLVED: FROM RESEARCH TO REAL-WORLD IMPACT

For more than 37 years, ADF has funded high-impact research in both type 1 and type 2 diabetes, supporting innovators who continue to push science forward. Yet as the foundation listened to communities, clinicians, and people living with diabetes, one truth became clear: scientific advances mean little if individuals cannot access the care they need. Recognizing these

gaps, ADF expanded its mission to support both discovery and care. We now support not only research, but also programs that improve access to care, education, and support across Alberta. Guided by the vision “Enriching lives, from care to cure,” ADF strengthens breakthrough science and real-world support for individuals and families living with diabetes.

SUPPORTING THE RESEARCHERS SHAPING TOMORROW’S BREAKTHROUGHS

ADF proudly supports researchers moving us closer to better treatments—and, ultimately, a cure. Dr. Jean Buteau is developing a therapy that may protect and rebuild insulin-producing cells, work that could help people with type 1 diabetes produce insulin naturally again. Dr. Shapiro, known for the Edmonton Protocol, is now using stem cells to create insulin-producing cells from a patient’s own body—an approach that could reduce reliance on anti-rejection medication. Meanwhile, Dr. Greg Korbutt and Dr. Andrew Pepper are improving islet transplantation through safer immune therapies and new cell sources that may one day make transplants more accessible. Together, these scientists embody the innovation ADF champions.

STRENGTHENING CARE WHERE IT'S NEEDED MOST

Progress in the lab must be matched with equitable care in the community. That is why ADF supports programs that bring diabetes services directly to those most at risk. LINK: Linking First Nations Diabetes Care is a virtual clinic co-developed with Indigenous communities to provide culturally safe care; it has now supported more than 800 people across 26 communities. In Calgary, the Diabetes Mobile Clinic delivers medical care to individuals experiencing homelessness and other barriers, helping prevent complications and connecting people with essential resources. These initiatives reflect ADF’s commitment to turning scientific knowledge into meaningful, everyday impact.

JOIN US IN MOVING FROM CARE TO CURE

much of a difference social inclusion makes.”

For many participants, sailing is a chance for independence and joy in a rare and exciting new field.

The success of the program lies not only in its reach but in its roots.

“All our instructors are local,” Alison noted. “They started as students in our school program. They’re now teaching the next generation.”

One alum is Jules Mitchell, who trained through the academy, first becoming an instructor, and is now a professional sailor. Another graduate, Junella King, also became an instructor and then joined an all-women’s crew that went on to win a round-the-world race.

Running a program with this kind of community impact is no

small feat. Tourists, like all community members, are welcome to join in on inclusive sailing adventures, with proceeds directly aiding the program’s impact. The Sailing Academy offers accommodations for visitors and plans to run inclusive sailing week packages, which also help fund this incredible program.

Looking ahead, the NSA are working to ensure that the program’s future is firmly in Antiguan hands, with three of six board members now local, and a pipeline of homegrown instructors and leaders. Plus, there’s more on the horizon. World Sailing, the governing body for sailing, is planning an Inclusive Development Programme & Regatta next year to teach participants from 10 Caribbean islands how to manage a sailability programme—yet another step toward making sailing a space for everyone.

As Bob puts it, “We’re not just teaching people to sail, we’re opening doors that were never there before.”

Your generosity fuels life-changing diabetes research and provides hope to the 1 18 million Albertans living with diabetes and pre-diabetes

100% of the funds raised stay in Alberta, empowering local scientists to lead vital studies & clinical trials

As ADF continues to advance discovery and expand access to care, one thing remains constant: progress is only possible through community. Every donor, supporter, and partner brings us closer to a future where diabetes is no longer a barrier to living a full and healthy life.

To learn more or get involved, call 780-492-6537 or visit albertadiabetesfoundation.com

Learn more at call

FHUERTAS JON

BY HOLLY CAMBRUZZI

or much of his career, Jon Huertas has honed the art of storytelling. On screen, his emotionally exacting performances—as Miguel Rivas on NBC’s This Is Us, Detective Javier Esposito on Castle, and Sgt. Tony “Poke” Espera in HBO’s Generation Kill—invite audiences beneath the surface. Behind the scenes, he brings that same precision and sensitivity to his work as a writer, producer, director, and musician, building stories with nuance, intention, and a deep respect for craft.

But for Huertas, storytelling has never been confined to what happens on a set. It is a way of orienting himself—of paying attention, noticing what others miss, and resisting the urge to look away. Over time, that instinct has widened beyond the work itself, shaping how he moves through communities: with humility, curiosity, and a belief that the most meaningful stories centre on humanity.

KIND TRAVELER

It is that same attentiveness that makes Huertas a natural ambassador for Kind Traveler, a women- and veteran-owned public benefit corporation dedicated to making tourism more reciprocal. In recent years, something has shifted in how people think about travel. Increasingly, travellers want to support the communities that welcome them and leave places strengthened, not strained. What holds many back is not a lack of care, but a lack of clarity: how do you give back in a way that is real, local, and accountable?

Kind Traveler transforms good intentions into measurable local impact. Through its Every Stay Gives Back™ and Every Adventure Gives Back™ programs, each guest stay or tour experience automatically funds a vetted local charity in the destination being visited. With

giving embedded directly into the travel experience—regardless of where or how a booking is made—travel becomes a simple, transparent way to support communities, wildlife, and the environment in meaningful, lasting ways.

As CEO and co-founder, Jessica Blotter explained, “Kind Traveler was born from a simple but profound realization: travel can be a force for kindness when it’s designed to benefit the places and people who make our experiences possible.” The aim, she adds, is not to demand perfection, but to offer travellers a clear, practical starting point. “You don’t have to be perfect, you just have to be intentional,” Blotter said. “Start small, stay open, and let respect be your compass.”

BEYOND THE SCREEN

As a celebrity ambassador, Huertas helps amplify Kind Traveler’s mission by encouraging travellers to support local impact through the choices they make while away—and by using his platform to spotlight the charities and communities behind those efforts.

For Blotter, that fit is essential: “We look for ambassadors and partners who don’t just ‘like’ the idea of giving back, but who live it—people who show up with humility, curiosity, and a genuine desire to learn from local communities,” she explained. “Importantly, those who are willing to use their platforms to amplify local impact stories rather than centre themselves.”

In Huertas, she saw exactly that alignment. “Jon Huertas is a perfect example,” Blotter said. “He wasn’t brought in for his celebrity alone—he was brought in because he genuinely connected with our mission and experienced it firsthand through travel.”

“Kind Traveler lined up with how I already move in the world,” Huertas shared. “I didn’t grow up seeing travel as luxury. It was survival, opportunity, curiosity. So once I got the chance to see the world, I wasn’t trying to be that guy who shows up, snaps a pic, and dips.

If you’re going to touch a place, touch it with intention. Be useful. Be decent.”

Blotter believes Huertas resonates because he makes the concept feel both human and achievable. “What I love most is that he doesn’t preach. He invites,” she said. “He uses his platform to say, in effect: ‘Here’s what I did. Here’s what I learned. And here’s how easy it can be to turn a vacation into a positive impact.’”

FROM VISITOR TO NEIGHBOUR

cautious about assumptions and quick judgments.

with him most was meeting Maya people and hearing how they are living in modern Belize while still carrying the weight of colonization on their culture—an experience that resonated with “my own Afro Indigenous roots from Borikén.”

Huertas’ journey in Belize carried particular resonance for Kind Traveler. “Belize was a fullcircle moment for us—Belize is where the original idea for Kind Traveler was born,” Blotter said. “And his experience there reflects exactly what we stand for: immersive travel paired with tangible, local benefit.”

She credits him with bringing the message to life in a way that feels lived-in rather than staged.

“Jon amplifies Kind Traveler’s message because he tells the story the way real travellers experience it—through emotion, curiosity, and genuine human connection,” Blotter explained. “His Belize trip wasn’t a promotional highlight reel; it was a grounded travel story that showed how giving back can seamlessly live inside a vacation. He shared his stay, his on-the-ground impressions, and the nonprofit visit in a way that made people think: ‘Oh—I can do that too.’”

For Huertas, Belize began as a trip rooted in wonder: worldclass scuba diving and the pull of a place he had long wanted to experience. What he found, however, shifted the centre of the journey. “Belize opened me up in a way I didn’t expect,” he recalled. He arrived thinking, “Cool, some of the best scuba in the Caribbean.” What he encountered instead was “a whole education.”

“We started on the jungle side and learned about local communities, their history, conservation work, and even the dog rescue efforts trying to protect and care for animals that a lot of people overlook,” he said. What stayed

“Travel stopped being just about seeing beautiful places. It became about honouring the people who’ve been caretakers of those places long before I ever showed up.”

That shift became even clearer later, when travel intersected with hands-on conservation. “And it wasn’t just Belize that connected those dots for me,” he added. “Later, I travelled in partnership with Kind Traveler, the Hurawalhi Marine Biology Centre, and PADI to the Maldives, where we took part in shark conservation dives, reef restoration, and learning how tourism, when done right, can actually fuel conservation instead of hurting it.”

He points to what he saw on the ground—marine biology centres, coral nurseries, and citizen science programs that invite guests into the work—proof that protecting reefs and wildlife can be woven into tourism in a way that strengthens local pride and long-term stewardship.

Seeing that up close, in both Belize and the Maldives, clarified what he now believes travellers must hold as true. “Travellers aren’t just visitors. We’re part of the story the moment we land,” Huertas said. “Our responsibility is to choose the kind of story we’re going to help write: one that extracts, or one that protects, supports, and gives back. Once you see the impact of the second option, you can’t go back to just being a spectator.”

SERVICE, STRUGGLE, AND A MINDSET OF SHOWING UP

“People love easy labels, but real life is complicated,” he said. He remembers the moment pride gave way to honesty—and kindness met him there. “When I finally told a friend what my situation was, he immediately offered me a warm bed to sleep in for me and my dogs. An act of kindness,” he recalled. “At that point, I understood that sometimes ‘kindness’ can also be asked for, not just given… it’s a two-way road.” The lesson lasted. “That understanding made me move with more empathy,” he said. “It made me pay closer attention.”

KINDNESS AS PRACTICE

For Huertas, kindness is not passive; it is a practice. “Kindness is work,” he said. “It’s harder than being selfish, and humans aren’t usually fans of ‘hard.’ But everything hard pays you back twice over.”

He recalls a conversation that still shapes how he moves through the world. “A woman on the street once told me the worst part of being homeless wasn’t hunger or safety,” he said. “It was feeling invisible. People acted like she wasn’t human.” Since then, he has adopted a simple rule: “Always say hi. Always acknowledge the person in front of you, especially if they’re unhoused.”

His definition of kindness is direct. “Kindness is presence. It’s paying attention,” Huertas said. “Engage, don’t just observe. Leave people feeling seen. That’s the kind of kindness that actually heals.”

LEGACY IN THE HUMAN SENSE

When asked what legacy means to him, Huertas turns the focus outward. “Legacy isn’t something I chase. I don’t need my name carved anywhere. For me, legacy is something countries, corporations, and institutions should be focused on. If you’re going to talk legacy, leave the world better than you found it.”

And if anything endures, he hopes it is measurable in how he lived. “If I leave anything behind,” he adds, “I want it to be impact, not applause. More giving than taking. More care than consumption.”

In that sense, the story Huertas is most invested in now

and how every stay and adventure

Lionel Messi Experiences Unforgettable Encounters With Sacred Traditions and Wildlife Conservation Initiatives in India

Global football icon Lionel Messi made a special visit to Vantara, a wildlife rescue, rehabilitation and conservation centre founded by Anant Ambani. At the centre, initiatives traditionally begin with seeking blessings in accordance with Sanatana Dharma, which emphasises reverence for nature and respect for all living beings. Messi's visit reflected this cultural ethos, as he participated in traditional Indian rituals, observed wildlife, and interacted with caregivers and conservation teams. His engagements during the visit reflected the humility and humanitarian values, for which he is widely recognised, and highlighted the warm bond and friendship he shares with Anant Ambani, rooted in a shared commitment to wildlife conservation.

Messi, accompanied by his Inter Miami teammates Luis Suárez and Rodrigo De Paul, was welcomed in a grand traditional style with vibrant folk music, a shower of flowers symbolising blessings and purity of intent, and

a ceremonial aarti. The football legend also participated in a Maha Aarti at the temple, including Ambe Mata Puja, Ganesh Puja, Hanuman Puja, and Shiv Abhishek, offering prayers for world peace and unity, in keeping with India's timeless ethos of reverence for all living beings.

Following the welcome, Messi embarked on a guided tour of Vantara's expansive conservation ecosystem, home to rescued big cats, elephants, herbivores, reptiles, and fostered young animals from across the globe. He also visited the green energy complex and the world's largest refinery complex, where he expressed amazement at the scale and vision behind the operations.

At the care centre for lions, leopards, tigers, and other endangered species, Messi interacted with animals thriving in enriched, naturalistic environments, many of whom approached him with curiosity. He then visited the Herbivore Care Centre and the Reptile Care Centre, where he

observed animals flourishing under specialised veterinary care, customised nutrition, behavioural training, and husbandry protocols that reflect Vantara's global leadership in wildlife welfare. During the visit, he also toured the multi-speciality wildlife hospital, witnessing real-time clinical and surgical procedures, and later fed the okapis, rhinos, giraffes, and elephants. From a global perspective, he also praised the commitment of the Prime Minister of India to advancing wildlife care and conservation across the country.

At the Foster Care Centre, dedicated to orphaned and vulnerable young animals, Messi learned about their journeys of resilience. In a heartfelt gesture, Anant Ambani and Radhika Ambani together named a lion cub "Lionel," a name that now represents hope and continuity, given in honour of the football legend.

The highlight of the tour came at the Elephant Care Centre, where Messi met Maniklal, a

rescued elephant calf saved along with his ailing mother, Prathima, from harsh labour in the logging industry two years ago. In a moment that captured hearts across the centre, Messi engaged in an impromptu football enrichment activity with Maniklal, demonstrating the universal language of play. The calf responded enthusiastically to the activity, making playful moves that showcased his own emerging skills, marking one of the most memorable moments of Messi's visit to India.

Responding in Spanish to Anant Ambani, who thanked him for visiting Vantara and for inspiring everyone selflessly towards animals and mankind, Messi said, "What Vantara does is truly beautiful—the work for animals, the care they receive, the way they are rescued and looked after. It is genuinely impressive. We had a wonderful time, felt completely at ease throughout, and it is an experience that stays with you. We will surely visit again to continue

Back to Our Roots: Redefining Food, Travel, and Belonging in Newfoundland

Convenience seems to trump connection these days, but for Lori McCarthy, connection comes from going back to your roots—and hers run deep into the soil of her coastal hometown.

McCarthy’s life’s work can’t be summed up by a single title, although Cultural Ambassador for Newfoundland and Labrador comes close. She’s a forager, a food educator, a heritage advocate, a hunter, a mother, a cook, and a community builder—skills she’s picked up over the course of her life, starting all the way back in the small self-sufficient farming and fishing community where she grew up.

“I grew up thinking we lived lives of luxury,” McCarthy said. “We had everything we needed—food we grew and caught ourselves, land to roam, neighbours who looked after each other.”

McCarthy believes that this forgotten way of life holds the answers to some of our most modern problems: disconnection, burnout, loneliness.

“We need connection to the land, to each other. There’s so much peace that comes from doing things with your hands, feeding people, and being outside,” she said.

Today, she works to ensure heritage skills like wild food harvesting, cooking from the land, basket weaving, and storytelling don’t disappear because we’ve seemingly advanced out of them. If you ask McCarthy, she’ll explain that these practices are more essential than ever.

“There’s a kind of wellness that we’re all chasing—through yoga, meditation, mindfulness—but we already had it here,” she explained.

“We just didn’t have the words for it back then. We’ve convinced ourselves that if a machine can do it faster, our old ways have no purpose. But there’s so much value in making bread by hand, in weaving a basket, in learning to light a fire. These things give people a sense of belonging,

capability, and meaning.”

Through her platform Food Culture Place, McCarthy teaches people how to harvest, hunt, cook, and craft using traditional skills. She takes guests out to gather berries, cook meals over open fires, and learn about the food and traditions of Newfoundland and Labrador.

But a return to one's roots doesn’t mean being led by nostalgia. In fact, McCarthy joyfully acknowledges that heritage isn’t static.

“A culture always changes,” she said. “It’s okay that we have newcomers moving here. They’re also looking for community, for purpose, for belonging. And that’s what this is really about.”

That philosophy also extends to her work with Indigenous communities on the island. McCarthy encourages everyone to share their stories honestly, especially those reclaiming their heritage after generations of silence. “You can’t fake culture. You can’t perform tradition. Just tell the truth of your experience, that’s where the real connection lives.”

For McCarthy, it’s also about reclaiming space. Historically maledominated activities like hunting are now opening up. She’s hunted moose with elderly mentors who are thrilled to see young women carrying on the tradition. And through her work with local Rotary chapters, she turns moose harvested through community licenses into meals for food banks, fundraisers, and Christmas hampers.

“Culture lives in people,” she said. “It lives in how we care for each other, how we feed each other, how we share what we know. If we can hold onto that, we’ll be okay. There’s no dollar value on a life worth living,” she said.

And for McCarthy, a life worth living is shared around a fire, a plate, and a story.

inspiring and supporting this meaningful work."

"For the first time, two global icons came together—one renowned for sporting excellence, the other for leadership in business and wildlife conservation."

—Bharat Mehra, Chief Advisor to Anant Ambani

As the visit came to a close, Messi participated in Nariyal Utsarg and Matka Phod, traditional rituals symbolising goodwill and auspicious beginnings. The ceremony concluded with chants for peace and well-being, underscoring the shared values that align Vantara's mission with Messi's global legacy. Messi, who leads the Leo Messi Foundation dedicated to social causes, education, healthcare and children's welfare worldwide, expressed a deep sense of alignment with Vantara's purpose and appreciation for its vision of compassionate, science-driven care for animals.

(Source: Vantara)

Not the Drumheller You Remember

You think you know Drumheller. Maybe you came once on a school trip, rushed through the Royal Tyrrell Museum, posed with a dinosaur, and drove home before dark. That version still exists— but it’s only the prologue. Stay for three nights or more and the valley reveals a different story: canyon sunsets, craft cocktails, orchard feasts, live theatre, and starlit drives through some of Alberta’s most dramatic landscapes.

A GROWN-UP ESCAPE IN THE DINOSAUR CAPITAL OF THE WORLD

Drumheller proudly holds its title as the Dinosaur Capital of the World, but the modern experience goes far beyond fossils. Yes, the Royal Tyrrell Museum remains one of the world’s leading palaeontology centres—an essential stop for its breathtaking exhibits and iconic Badlands setting—but the

Drumheller of today invites adults to explore deeper.

The surrounding valley is a masterpiece of geology and atmosphere: hoodoos glowing in golden hour, sweeping coulees tracing the river’s path, and wide-open skies that transform into a star-studded panorama each night. It’s a landscape built for wandering—whether by guided hike, scenic drive, kayak, SUP board, or camera lens. This is where photographers chase perfect light, where painters set up their easels, and where curious travellers rediscover their sense of awe.

CULTURE, COCKTAILS & THE UNEXPECTED

Drumheller’s cultural scene hums with indie energy. Its culinary and craft landscape is proudly local and surprisingly sophisticated. Sip a flight at Valley Brewing, where each beer tells a story of the valley, or settle into Drum Distilling

Co., where small-batch spirits and cheeky, lore-filled cocktails celebrate Drumheller's wilder chapters—including Fanny’s brothel stories and coal-town secrets.

Chef-driven gems like Heller Good Sandwiches, Roadhouse Bed and BBQ, and a constellation of local cafés (Café Olé, Black Mountain Roasters) add flavour and personality to every meal. In nearby Wayne, the iconic Last Chance Saloon offers live music, slow-smoked meats, and a time-warp atmosphere that makes every visit feel like a story waiting to be told.

Just outside the valley, DNA Gardens elevates agri-tourism into an orchard-to-table experience: fruit wines, honey mead, craft ciders, seasonal menus, and long-table feasts set among the trees. Stay for tastings, linger for dinner, return for a weekend of orchard camping—it’s a highlight of the region’s culinary renaissance.

WHERE THEATRE, HISTORY & MAKERS THRIVE

Drumheller’s creative spirit extends well beyond its food and drink. In Rosebud, a tiny arts village tucked into rolling prairie hills, Rosebud Theatre offers world-class performances, handcrafted sets, galleries, and artisan shops that turn an evening out into a full cultural immersion.

For those drawn to underground stories, the East Coulee School Museum and Atlas Coal Mine National Historic Site dig deep— literally and figuratively. Explore Canada’s last wooden tipple, walk the mine portal hike, take the coal train tour, and uncover the valley’s mining history through intimate hands-on tours.

Downtown Drumheller adds its own charm: boutiques, makers, cafes, indie galleries, and ghost walks that peel back the layers of this quietly haunted town.

STAY A LITTLE LONGER

Settle in and make Drumheller your temporary home base. Book a stay that matches your mood: riverside glamping at Bridgeviews Retreat, historic comfort at T-Rest B&B, or warm hospitality and art-filled rooms at Rosebud Country Inn. With time to linger, the valley opens up—slow mornings on café patios, afternoons wandering canyons and galleries, orchard dinners that stretch into live music, and stargazing long after the day-trippers have gone.

PLAN YOUR BADLANDS ESCAPE

Drumheller is more than a day trip; it’s Alberta’s most unexpected grown-up getaway.

Start planning your multi-day escape with the Exploration Guide at TravelDrumheller.com, and let the Badlands surprise you—again and again.

RAYE MOCIOIU

What started as a simple love for travel and good food has turned into one of Antigua’s most authentic cultural experiences, and it’s all thanks to Tiffany Azille. An educator and tech enthusiast, Azille is also the founder of Eat’n Lime Tours, a food tour company that takes tourists on an authentic tour of Antigua’s food scene, putting Antiguan cuisine on the map for food lovers across the globe.

“I just got tired of seeing tourists eating bland hotel food and leaving without really understanding the soul of our culture,” Azille explained.

As a foodie herself, her solution to the problem was to show tourists what they were missing through a curated tour of St. John's. Every stop, from humble street vendors to tucked-away local eateries, is carefully selected.

“It’s about connecting people

with our food, yes, but also with our cooks, our history, and our way of life,” she said.

A TASTE OF ANTIGUA

Starting Eat’n Lime Tours in 2019 wasn’t without challenges. “No one was really doing food tours here,” Azille recalled. “Vendors didn’t know what to make of it at first. And even getting insurance was a struggle.” Persistence and a love for

Antiguan food and culture helped her push through the initial hesitation to build trust with local businesses. It all paid off—now the tour is a hit with visitors and vendors alike.

Antigua's food scene is a fusion of African and British cuisines, with hearty dishes like fungi and pepper pot (the national dish), and sweet staples like ducuna, a dumpling made with grated

sweet potato and coconut. And while it’s one thing to hear praise from the locals, it’s another to hear it from food lovers who can compare it to the source, like when Bob Marley’s granddaughter praised the local bun and cheese as better than Jamaica’s.

The tour is also a chance to try out dishes that tourists may not normally gravitate to, like a bowl of steaming hot soup, even when it’s sweltering out. “Antiguans love soup. Doesn’t matter how hot it is,” Azille said.

GIVING BACK AND LOOKING AHEAD

Azille’s love for her community runs deep, and she hopes that her success will inspire other Antiguans to take ownership of the tourism industry.

“There’s a perception that all tourism companies are owned by outsiders. I want to show people here that with a good plan, it’s really not that hard to jump in.”

She also donates monthly to support Clarehall Secondary School’s breakfast program for underprivileged children, often sourcing food from vendors on her tour or introducing new ones to the program.

And while Eat’n Lime is her main venture today, she hasn’t abandoned her roots in education. Azille is the founder of Splash Robo Club, an after-school program that introduces Antiguan youth to coding and robotics. Though currently on pause, it received a grant from the US Embassy and is expected to relaunch next year.

“A lot of the kids still ask about it,” she said. “They’re eager, and I’m excited to bring it back.”

Her advice to fellow Antiguans? “You don’t need to wait for someone else to give you permission. If you love something, food, tech, whatever, build something around it. The people will come.”

Discover Greenview: Alberta’s Underrated Winter Escape

Picture this: your cross-country skis glide through a layer of fresh powder as dawn light filters between snow-laden pines. Each breath hangs in the crisp morning air, and the only sound is the steady rhythm of your skis moving across a pristine boreal landscape. Scenes like this aren’t rare moments of wilderness fantasy—they’re everyday winter experiences in Alberta’s Municipal District of Greenview, a region that has quietly become a haven for outdoor adventure seekers.

WINTER ADVENTURES FOR EVERY PACE

Winter in Greenview offers far more than meditative moments on cross-country trails. Thrill-seekers gravitate toward the alpine slopes at Nitehawk Adventure Park near Grande Prairie, where downhill skiing, snowboarding, and snow tubing spark an instant adrenaline rush. In the vast Kakwa area, snowmobilers roam along hundreds of kilometres of exhilarating backcountry routes, surrounded by rugged wilderness and uninterrupted snowfields. Those who

prefer a slower pace can settle beside a hole in the ice on Victor Lake in search of rainbow trout or strap on a pair of snowshoes to explore the tranquil forests around Grande Cache.

NORTHERN LIGHTS AND DARK-SKY MAGIC

The north has long been known for its awe-inspiring skies, and Greenview offers some of Alberta’s clearest, darkest winter nights. Stargazers and photographers often find themselves immersed in unforgettable displays of the

Northern Lights, watching ribbons of green and violet dance across a cold, still sky.

TRAILS, SLOPES, AND THE ULTIMATE WINTER LIFESTYLE

A key part of Greenview’s winter appeal comes from its well-maintained trail systems, particularly around Grande Cache. The Smoky River Nordic Club, a volunteer-run organization, oversees an extensive network of recreational routes that cater to both beginners and seasoned skiers. Among

these, the trails at Pierre Grey’s Lakes Provincial Park stand out for their consistently excellent snow and captivating natural beauty. Towering evergreens, frozen lakes, and gently rolling terrain create an environment that feels both peaceful and invigorating—ideal for those seeking a restorative escape into nature.

Nitehawk Adventure Park, a short drive from Grande Prairie, also plays a central role in the region’s winter recreation. The facility offers downhill skiing, snowboarding, tubing, and a

growing menu of year-round outdoor activities, such as mountain biking, trail running, and hiking. Its wilderness RV campground provides 84 fully serviced sites and 12 overflow spots, welcoming visitors who want to immerse themselves in the area’s outdoor culture. Although winter arrives early and lingers in Greenview, its location near the Rockies brings frequent Chinook winds, offering bursts of warmth and sunshine that make a day outside feel even more rewarding.

For many residents and returning visitors, winter here is less of a season to endure and more a lifestyle to celebrate. The region invites people to find joy in simple northern moments, building a fire in deep snow, sharing s’mores under a star-filled sky, or discovering a new trail on a bright, windwashed afternoon. Greenview may be quiet and tucked away, but its landscapes, activities, and welcoming communities make it a destination worth seeking out.

To plan your own adventure in Greenview, visit mdgreenview.ab.ca/tourism

M ore families are embracing multigenerational living, with households increasing by 50 per cent over the past 20 years. This way of life offers countless benefits, from sharing childcare and household responsibilities to passing down traditions, stories, and skills between generations. And when it comes time to plan a holiday, the challenge becomes finding a destination that appeals to every age group. Fortunately, Canada is filled with options that bring the whole family together.

NORTHERN DESTINATIONS FOR ALL AGES

PRINCE EDWARD ISLAND

This scenic island is home to Canada's famous Anne of Green Gables heritage site. It also offers whale and seal-watching tours and beautiful red-sand beaches.

Charlottetown has a lively theatre scene and a can’t-miss waterfront with freshly caught seafood, cute shops, and more.

QUEBEC CITY

The city has a wealth of history and European charm, from museums and cobblestone streets to the Citadel, a historic military fortress. Consider taking the gondola to view Montmorency Falls—an impressive attraction more than 98 feet taller than Niagara Falls. And don’t miss the chance to experience Quebec’s vibrant food scene and rich FrenchCanadian culture, from cozy cafés to world-class dining.

BANFF AND JASPER IN ALBERTA

The Rocky Mountains are where you can take in some of Canada’s most scenic wilderness, whether on foot or via gondola, which is ideal for seniors or young children. The turquoise waters of Lake Louise or Moraine Lake are other must-see spots.

OKANAGAN VALLEY IN BRITISH COLUMBIA

With relatively mild temperatures year-round, adults can enjoy visiting some of Canada’s top-rated wineries, while kids may prefer beach time at Osoyoos, where there’s plenty of water sports available, and the Nk'Mip Desert Cultural Centre, which showcases the culture of the Osoyoos Indian Band.

SEAMLESS TRAVEL TIPS

1. KNOW WHEN TO SPLIT UP

Not all attractions will appeal to everyone, so consider breaking the family into smaller activity groups to cater to individual interests. For example, the kids can visit a waterpark or zoo with their parents, while grandparents can enjoy a museum or art gallery. Then, everyone can reconvene at dinner to share their adventures.

2. FIND FLEXIBLE ACCOMMODATION

The more space, the better. Look for options with separate bedrooms or kitchenettes to give everyone space and make travel and feeding larger groups simpler. Some accommodations, like Choice Hotels, offer a variety of room and suite sizes in communities across Canada, which can help you find an option that works for your family.

3. GET THE GRANDPARENTS INVOLVED

Whether it’s help with watching the kids or researching attractions, having some extra hands and eyes can make visiting a new destination a much less stressful experience. Just make sure when choosing attractions to check the accessibility, so the whole family can enjoy.

4. BUILD IN DOWNTIME

No one wants a trip that feels like work. Avoid an itinerary so full that there’s no time to stop and relax. Make sure to rest and rejuvenate between sightseeing excursions. You don’t want to feel like you need a vacation after your vacation. With a few simple steps and thoughtful planning, you can create a trip that delights every generation and leaves your family with cherished memories to share for years to come. More than just a getaway, it’s an opportunity to celebrate togetherness and enjoy the best of what Canada has to offer.

Vancouver Aquarium Unveils Amazing Axolotls!—A New Permanent Exhibit in Stanley Park

The Vancouver Aquarium invites visitors into a world of wonder with the launch of its new permanent exhibit, Amazing Axolotls!, which debuted on Sunday, January 11, 2026. Located in Stanley Park and welcoming visitors since 1956, the Vancouver Aquarium has connected more than 50 million people from around the world to our oceans—inviting guests not only to explore marine life, but to better understand the threats facing our oceans and the actions that can help protect them. That mission continues through Amazing Axolotls!, a new gallery that expands the Aquarium’s existing axolotl experience into a larger, more immersive space designed to inspire curiosity, learning, and conservation-minded action.

Often recognized for their frilly external gills, perpetual

“smiles,” and remarkable ability to regenerate, axolotls are among the most charismatic amphibians on the planet. The new exhibit celebrates what makes this species so captivating while highlighting its cultural significance and the conservation challenges it faces in the wild.

“Axolotls are an exceptionally unique species that spark curiosity and fascination,” said Mackenzie Neale, Animal Care Director. “Through this exhibit, we hope guests gain a deeper understanding of, and connection to, this remarkable animal.”

IMMERSIVE HABITATS & INTERACTIVE MOMENTS

Amazing Axolotls! features three habitats, including two dedicated to axolotls and one for fish.

All habitats are designed at a similar viewing height to support

accessibility and comfortable sightlines for visitors of all ages.

Educational displays throughout the gallery explore the axolotl’s cultural origins, unique biology, and conservation significance. Guests can also step into a playful photo moment—“Smile Like an Axolotl”—created to encourage engagement and shareable memories that extend the exhibit’s reach beyond the gallery walls.

A SHARED

CONSERVATION STORY, FROM VANCOUVER TO MEXICO CITY

The exhibit also spotlights the axolotl’s fragile wild habitat. Endemic to the Valley of Mexico, the axolotl now survives in the wild only in Xochimilco, a network of waterways in Mexico City with deep ecological and cultural importance.

“This display offers Canadians

a closer look at this extraordinary salamander and the need to protect its delicate habitat,” said Julián Adem, Consul General of Mexico in Vancouver. “Endemic to the Valley of Mexico, the axolotl now survives in the wild only in Xochimilco, an ecological treasure in Mexico City.”

“We thank the Vancouver Aquarium for helping share the story of this remarkable species and invite visitors to discover the exhibition—and, one day, the vibrant waterways of Xochimilco, which the axolotl calls home.”

CONSERVATION IN ACTION

As a long-standing leader in ocean education and conservation, the Vancouver Aquarium upholds high standards of animal care and stewardship. The Aquarium is accredited by the Association

of Zoos and Aquariums (AZA), the Alliance of Marine Mammal Parks and Aquariums (AMMPA), and Canada’s Accredited Zoos and Aquariums (CAZA), and is Humane Conservation Certified by American Humane. Beyond the gallery, that commitment continues through its partnership with the Vancouver Aquarium Marine Mammal Rescue Society (VAMMR), the independent registered charity that operates Canada’s only dedicated marine mammal rescue facility. Each year, VAMMR responds to more than 300 marine animal emergencies— rescuing, rehabilitating, and releasing animals in distress, and disentangling sea lions impacted by marine debris. Donations directly support this lifesaving work.

(Source: Vancouver Aquarium)

Grande Prairie: Your Must-Stop Destination on the Road to Alaska

Every road trip to Alaska travels through Alberta, so take the route that turns a drive into a destination and explore Grande Prairie along the way. Known as the Gateway to the North, this vibrant city is more than just a pit stop. It’s a thriving hub of culture, community, and outdoor adventure, surrounded by some of the most striking scenery in Western Canada.

Located just a few hours northwest of Edmonton, Grande

Northern Alberta, Northern British Columbia, and the Northwest Territories rely on Grande Prairie as their cultural, commercial, and recreational centre.

Visitors can explore 50+ culture and recreation facilities, from galleries and museums to arenas, aquatic centres, and lush urban parks. The surrounding landscapes are an open invitation to adventure. Hike through the Kleskun Hill Natural Area, discover hidden lakes and trails, or simply take in

Before you head to Alaska, discover the spirit of Alberta’s frontier in Grande Prairie—where small-town hospitality meets big-city excitement. Explore scenic drives, outdoor adventures, and over 50 culture and recreation spots surrounded by stunning wilderness.

Plan your road trip north at gptourism.ca

Adventures await.

Wherever you stand, wherever you look, natural wonder surrounds you—which makes it natural to wander.

Discover Fort McMurray Wood Buffalo:

vessels at the Heritage Shipyard, or marvel at the Giants of Mining. Venture north to Fort Chipewyan Bicentennial Museum and uncover the roots of one of Alberta’s oldest communities. While you’re here, take a tour of the city’s vibrant murals, each one telling a story of tenacity and creativity.

CELEBRATE CULTURE AND COMMUNITY

Our region is alive with events that bring people together. Experience the Athabasca Tribal Council Cultural Festival, a celebration of land-based education, language, and traditions. Or soak up the sounds of summer at music festivals like the Hello Summer Concert Series. For an evening of theatre or live music, head to Keyano Theatre, where creativity takes centre stage.

RELAX AND RECHARGE

Looking for leisure? Tee off at one of four stunning golf courses, each offering spectacular views and a serene escape. Whether you’re here for a weekend or a season, there’s always something new to discover.

Fort McMurray Wood Buffalo isn’t just a destination—it’s an experience. From natural wonders to cultural treasures, from thrilling adventures to quiet moments under the Northern Lights, this region truly has something for everyone.

Start planning your trip today at fmwb.ca

4 Canadian Cities Perfect for Your Next Winter Getaway

Lean in, not stay in. Winter in Canada is something to celebrate. It’s the season when the air turns crisp and the country feels freshly polished—river trails become ribbons of ice, ski hills hum with early-morning energy, and festival lights make even the coldest nights feel inviting. A great winter trip isn’t about braving the weather; it’s about letting the season set the agenda—skates first, hot chocolate later, and that satisfied glow that only comes from spending the day outside. With more travellers eager to explore the snowy months, the travel experts at Radisson are highlighting a few favourite Canadian

cities where winter shows up at its best—lively, welcoming, and full of reasons to linger.

1. WINNIPEG

With a nickname like “Winterpeg,” it’s no wonder this city and winter are inseparable. With some of Western Canada's largest winter festivals, visitors can enjoy music, dance, sculpture, and outdoor activities. Strap on skates and explore one of the world’s longest natural skating trails at The Forks, where paths stretch across the Assiniboine and Red Rivers. At FortWhyte Alive, explore 660 acres with tobogganing, snowshoeing, and even bison watching.

2. CALGARY

For travellers looking for a fun winter festival, Chinook Blast has something for everyone with live music, sporting events, art installations, and markets. Thrill seekers can head to WinSport Canada Olympic Park for skiing, snowboarding, and a world-class halfpipe. Bowness Park offers skating, ice bikes, and cozy firepits—or try crokicurl, a fun blend of crokinole and curling.

3. BELLEVILLE

This city, rich with history, boasts 19th-century architecture and cobblestone streets. For a dive into the past, history lovers

can follow self-guided walking tours to glimpse the city’s heritage. Outdoor enthusiasts can hit the slopes at Batawa Ski Hill or explore the trails of H.R. Frink Conservation Area, wandering through snowy forests and boardwalks.

4. KELOWNA Winter doesn’t put wineries on hold—many stay open for fireside tastings that pair local wines with snow-dusted vineyard views. Add in the Okanagan Winter Wine Festival and local winter markets, and you'll quickly see why this place feels like you’re stepping into a movie. The area also features

Experience Camrose Like a Local

What makes Camrose a great place to visit also makes Camrose a wonderful place to call home. Whether you’re here for a weekend or planning a fresh start, Camrose has a way of feeling familiar right away. Here’s why:

OUTSTANDING

NATURAL SPACES & RECREATION FACILITIES

The scenic river valley trails that wind through Camrose are perfect for hiking, biking, and running, offering peaceful views and plenty of fresh air. In winter, the unpaved trails transform into well-maintained cross-country ski routes, while the paved paths are snowcleared for crisp, invigorating winter walks. Prefer to stay indoors?

The Recreation Centre’s skating rinks, indoor walking track, fitness centre, and Aquatics Centre make it easy to stay active and have fun all year round—no matter what the weather is doing outside.

EVERYTHING YOU NEED— IN LESS THAN 5 MINUTES

In Camrose, convenience is part of the lifestyle. You’ll find major box stores, quality health-care services, and education from Kindergarten to post-secondary, plus recreation options for all ages—all just minutes away. Instead of long commutes and traffic jams, you get quick trips and more time for the things you love. While Edmonton has Whyte Ave and Calgary has Stephen Ave, Camrose has its own vibrant downtown with locally owned boutiques and

a distinctly friendly, small-city feel.

The charming downtown boasts clean streets and an impressive selection of shops, cafes, and services, bookended by two live performance theatres on each end.

RICH ARTS, CULTURE SCENE WITH FESTIVALS YEAR ROUND

For a city its size, Camrose packs in a surprising amount of arts and entertainment. Two live production theatres host an everchanging lineup of performances, giving everyone from local artisans to professional touring companies a place to shine. All year long, the city comes alive with festivals— Big Valley Jamboree (BVJ), the Blues Festival, Jaywalkers Jamboree, Midnight Madness, and the Nordly’s Film Festival, just to name a few. From outdoor concerts and late-night shopping to film screenings and street performers, there’s almost always something happening to keep your calendar full.

AFFORDABLE REAL ESTATE & LOW COST OF LIVING

Camrose is a rare community where you don’t have to choose between convenience and affordability.

The real estate market is stable and attainable, with a variety of home sizes and styles—from single-family homes with yards to zero-step homes, townhouses, and condos/apartments. It’s a place where owning or renting feels within reach, and the cost of everyday living stays reasonable.

local trails and toboggan hills, while nearby Big White Ski Resort offers vast, varied terrain and night skiing. Prefer a hike? Knox Mountain Park is worth a visit with sweeping views of Okanagan Lake. Consider skipping the beach this year and embracing a true-north winter trip instead. From Winnipeg’s festival energy and river skating to Calgary’s outdoor play, Belleville’s heritage charm, and Kelowna’s fireside pours and mountain views, these destinations prove that winter isn’t the offseason—it’s one of Canada’s best reasons to travel. —NC

and take part in

experiences.

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MOCIOIU

Cultivating Freedom Through Food and Culture in Antigua

Humble and Free Wadadli: Rooted in Rastafari, Farming, and Regenerative Tourism

In Liberta, Antigua, food is more than sustenance. It is a vessel for cultural memory, freedom, and connection. Humble and Free Wadadli shows how food can root people in Rastafari traditions, empower farmers, and create new pathways for regenerative tourism.

Founder Ras Richie has long believed that farming deepens the connection with food and culture. Together with his partner Kayla Joy, who left a successful career in branding and marketing to join him, they built a platform that redefines tourism, empowers local farmers, and celebrates Antigua’s roots.

Humble and Free Wadadli was born in an unlikely season. When Antigua’s tourism industry fell silent during the pandemic, Richie and his Rastafari community were still able to move freely, delivering farm-fresh food and creating safe, outdoor spaces for connection. This natural freedom laid the groundwork for tours and cultural experiences that developed organically through word of mouth. When people were looking for ways to reconnect, Richie was there to show them a world beyond their four walls.

Local stakeholders, including the Antigua and Barbuda Tourism

Authority, quickly recognized the value of what Humble and Free Wadadli was building: a tourism model that was not only sustainable but also transformative in a way that would benefit Antigua for years to come.

FARMING AS A FOUNDATION OF FREEDOM

For Humble and Free Wadadli, farming is more than a livelihood. It is a philosophy of freedom. Their community cultivates 25 to 30 acres of farmland, producing onions, watermelon, sugarcane, and kale, with 40–70 per cent of revenue from tours reinvested directly into the land and community to strengthen food sovereignty.

Although Antigua is lush in biodiversity, the island imports 97 per cent of its food, and Humble and Free Wadadli is determined to change that. By practicing sustainable agriculture, mentoring younger farmers, and reintroducing nutrient-rich crops, they are spearheading a movement toward food security and sovereignty.

“Our farm is a living laboratory,” Richie and Joy explained. “We’re constantly experimenting, educating, and planting seeds—literally and figuratively—for a future where Antigua feeds itself.”

HUMBLE HABITAT: CONNECTING FARMERS, CULTURE, AND CONSCIOUS PARTNERS

Through their Humble Habitat initiative, Humble and Free Wadadli extends far beyond tours. It is a partnership accelerator and strategic gateway that connects farmers, cultural leaders, and conscious brands to new opportunities. The platform links Antigua’s food producers to tourism markets, co-creates regenerative experiences with collaborators, and amplifies stories rooted in Rastafari and sustainability. From mentoring elders and youth farmers to designing brand strategies with international partners, Humble Habitat shows how what begins in the soil ripples outward into community resilience and global impact.

The path forward is not without obstacles. Water scarcity, climate change, and rising temperatures weigh heavily on Antigua’s farmers. Humble and Free Wadadli responds by cultivating resilient crops like kale and transforming their farm into a hub for sustainable practices that can withstand a changing climate.

They invite the world not only to slow down and listen, but to join in. Walk the land, taste the harvest, and become part of a future that is humble and free.

EXPERIENCES THAT EDUCATE AND INSPIRE

Humble and Free Wadadli’s experiences go beyond sightseeing. Their mission is to get visitors and locals to connect with the land and with Antigua’s heritage, and every experience is designed with the senses in mind: tasting traditional meals, witnessing and hearing the beauty of nature, becoming immersed in the agricultural process, and, more importantly, taking time to look inward and reflect.

JABBA POT EXPERIENCE

Visitors do not just see the island. They feel its rhythm, taste its soil, and carry its memory home.

HISTORIC RASTA TRAILS

Hikes through sacred Rastafari sites and historic ruins, including stops at the Ras Freeman Foundation and Fort George Monsil.

HEALING & WELLNESS OFFERINGS

Visitors embrace wellness through yoga, meditation, acoustic music, and Ital food, with cannabis offered as part of a responsible cultural integration.

Experience Summer Adventure From the Sky With Rockies Heli Canada

If you’ve ever dreamed of seeing the Canadian Rockies up close and personal, we can turn that dream into an unforgettable reality. Located on the shores of Abraham Lake, we are a premier helicopter adventure company dedicated to creating the kinds of bucket-list moments that stay with you for a lifetime. While our guests can partake in extraordinary experiences throughout the year, summer is when our tours truly shine, offering visitors the chance to hike, fish, and explore pristine alpine wilderness accessible only by helicopter.

EPIC FLIGHTS,

HIDDEN WORLDS

Every tour begins with a breathtaking takeoff over the shimmering blue waters of Abraham Lake. Within moments, you’ll find yourself soaring past towering peaks, sweeping valleys, and waterfalls cascading from hundreds of feet above. Our flightseeing tours—like the 6 Glacier Tour and the Epic Summit Tour— showcase dramatic icefields, ancient glaciers, rugged mountain ranges, and the iconic Michele

Lakes, divided by a picturesque 50-foot waterfall. But that’s the beginning…

HELI-HIKING: YOUR BACKCOUNTRY ACCESS PASS

For travellers who want to experience the Rockies on foot, we offer a range of heli-hiking adventures designed to immerse you in raw mountain beauty. Our popular Hike + Epic Summit Tour combines a scenic flight with a guided walk to Twin Falls, where you’ll explore the untouched wilderness surrounding the confluence of Cline River and Waterfalls Creek.

For those craving a deeper adventure, our Heli Alpine Trek delivers four hours of guided exploration across alpine ridges, wildflower meadows, and panoramic lookout points—with a picnic included. Each hiking experience offers exclusive access to landscapes unreachable by road, making it perfect for photographers, nature lovers, and anyone looking to escape the crowds.

HELI-FISHING: CHASE THE LEGENDARY GOLDEN TROUT

Anglers will find a true paradise in our legendary heli-fishing

WHY CHOOSE ROCKIES HELI CANADA?

Rockies Heli Canada operates with one mission: we work every day to deliver safe, memorable, and extraordinary guest experiences. Our pilots and guides are experts in the region, our helicopters are meticulously maintained, and every tour is designed to showcase the majesty and magic of the Rockies. If you want the very best of Alberta’s wilderness, we’re here to fly you right into the heart of it.

BOOK YOUR ADVENTURE TODAY Your ultimate summer adventure is just a call or click away. Whether you’re planning a family outing, a romantic escape, or the fishing trip of a lifetime, our team at Rockies Heli Canada is ready to help you build the perfect itinerary.

For more information and bookings, visit rockiesheli.com, call toll-free at 1-888-844-3514, or email icefield@rockiesheli.com

tours. You can fly into remote alpine lakes such as Michele Lakes, Coral Lake, Lake of the Falls, or Landslide Lake—each known for spectacular scenery and excellent fishing. Golden Trout, often called the “Holy Grail” of freshwater fly-fishing, thrive in these high-elevation lakes, along with Cutthroat and Bull Trout. With crystal-clear waters, mountain sheep grazing along the shoreline, and complete solitude, these fishing expeditions feel like stepping into another world. Whether you choose a day trip or a multi-day camping adventure, we can customize each journey to fit your skill level and goals.

Dakota Dunes Resort INSPIRING. AUTHENTIC.

Just twenty minutes south of Saskatoon, the road curves into ancient dunes, revealing a landscape found nowhere else in Canada.

Wholly owned and operated by Whitecap Dakota Nation, and situated within the South Saskatchewan River Valley Basin, Dakota Dunes Resort is shaped by a deep respect for the land, culture, and story.

Guests come not merely to stay, but to reconnect with nature, Indigenous stewardship, and experiences grounded in authenticity.

THE SANCTUARY

Envisioned as a place where luxury and meaning intersect, the resort is a serene retreat that seamlessly blends Indigenous heritage with contemporary design.

Tipi-inspired architectural lines, warm wood tones, and a soothing neutral palette create an atmosphere of calm intention.

From the artistic tribute of Chief Bear’s headdress to Milky Way-inspired ceilings, culture is felt, not displayed. Floor-toceiling windows frame prairie skies from sunrise over the dunes to sunset along the South Saskatchewan River.

High above, the rooftop pool offers serene prairie views, while below, the on-site casino and versatile conference spaces strike a balance between energy and purpose.

From quiet reflection to engaging experiences, Dakota Dunes Resort provides a retreat for every guest.

THE EXPERIENCES

Accredited with the “Original Original” mark from the Indigenous Tourism Association of Canada, Dakota Dunes Resort draws on Dakota history to inspire adventures found nowhere else.

Guests can explore the eight-metre geodesic Cosmic Dome, taking a 360-degree journey through the night sky where modern projection technology brings Indigenous legends to life.

Bonfire gatherings under the stars and cultural sharing with Whitecap Elders offer you a deeper understanding of the land and ancestral knowledge.

Here, the spirit of the land is felt, and Dakota traditions come alive throughout your stay.

THE GATHERING SPACE

The hotel's flexible conference and meeting spaces can accommodate a range of events, from leadership retreats to national gatherings.

Designed to combine professional development, recreation, and cultural inspiration seamlessly, these venues provide a dynamic setting for any gathering.

THE CURATED GETAWAY

Dakota Dunes Resort offers a yearround destination where luxury, culture, and wellness come together in a setting unlike any other.

DAKOTA DUNES THERMAL SPA

Opening in late 2026, the Dakota Dunes Thermal Spa will be North

America’s first Indigenous-inspired thermal spa and Canada’s first fully integrated resort combining spa, casino, golf, and accommodations.

Rooted in the heritage of the Whitecap Dakota Nation, it blends cultural storytelling with modern design. Guests can explore eight pools, saunas, steam rooms, and a showpiece event sauna, with ten treatment rooms, two couples’ rooms, and a manicure and pedicure area for personalized care.

The Mingle Lounge and serene rest areas foster connection. The thermal spa cycle (alternating heat, cold, and rest) will revitalize the body, mind, and spirit, leaving guests refreshed, rebalanced, and deeply connected to the land.

GOLF

Our award-winning 18-hole championship golf course winds through wind-swept dunes, featuring five tee decks ranging from 5,100 to 7,150 yards, undulating fairways, and large greens that provide a challenge for golfers of all skill levels.

The clubhouse spans 7,100 square feet, with a 64-seat restaurant, Pro Shop, locker rooms, and a conference room. Expansive windows and outdoor patios offer stunning views of the course and

the South Saskatchewan River Valley. At the same time, seasonal flora, from crocuses and wild roses to cactus flowers and yellow violets, adds ever-changing beauty to the landscape.

Golfers can enjoy a memorable round that blends challenge, natural beauty, and a deep connection to the land.

THE TABLE AND BEYOND

At Moose Woods Home Fire Grill, our chefs showcase the freshest locally sourced ingredients, drawing on prairie flavours and local culinary traditions. Whether enjoying a meal after a day on the links or celebrating a milestone with friends, the dining experience reflects our connection to the land and community.

Evenings at the casino feature live entertainment and gaming, striking a balance between the vibrant energy of the resort and the serenity of the prairie skies.

THE ROOTS

The heartbeat of Dakota Dunes Resort is our commitment to empowering our own people. Our culture is at its most vibrant when it is lived and shared by those who call it home.

As a 100 per cent Indigenousowned and operated destination, we are proud that 70 per cent of our team members share this heritage. By fostering an inclusive and welcoming environment, we deepen the connection we share with all our guests, delivering experiences that are both meaningful and professional.

This commitment to people and purpose earned us Tourism Employer of the Year at the 2025 Canadian Tourism Awards.

THE INVITATION

Whether you seek a restorative escape, an unforgettable round of championship golf, a national conference, or a celebration of culture and creativity, we invite you to experience the wonder of the dunes for yourself.

Come rest, reset, and restore where earth, sky, water, and air meet, and let the spirit of the dunes guide your stay. Begin your journey with us. Your place in our story awaits.

Visit dakotadunesresort.com to reserve your retreat and begin a journey into an experience that will stay with you long after you leave.