A significant donation from the Rotary Club of Calgary Heritage Park is helping Heritage Park Historical Village create a new space for Indigenous storytelling in its First Nations Encampment area. The $50,000 gift, made in honour of the club’s 25th anniversary, is enabling the construction of shade structures and seating areas designed in consultation with Indigenous partners.

The enhanced encampment experience aims to provide visitors with a more immersive understanding of Indigenous history and culture, particularly the traditions and knowledge of the Treaty 7 Nations. Heritage Park has begun work on the physical structures and plans to host a public ceremony once the space is complete.

The Heritage Park Rotary Club’s support is strengthening opportunities for cultural education and meaningful engagement with Indigenous history—an important contribution to public understanding through one of Calgary’s most visible heritage institutions.

This donation also highlights the leadership of Rotary clubs in advancing community-focused projects that reflect local values and partnerships. With this initiative, the Rotary Club of Calgary Heritage Park continues its commitment to making a tangible difference in Calgary’s cultural and civic landscape.

For more information about Heritage Park and its programs, visit: heritagepark.ca

In 2024, three Calgary Rotary clubs—the Rotary Club of Calgary Downtown, Rotary Club of Calgary North, and Rotary Club of Calgary Heritage Park—came together to support the creation of the Garden of Hope at Ruth’s House Society, a shelter serving African-Canadian women and their children fleeing domestic violence. Together, the clubs contributed a total of $10,000 toward the project: $3,000 from Calgary Downtown, $2,000 from Calgary North, and $5,000 from Calgary Heritage Park.

The Garden of Hope is envisioned as a serene and restorative outdoor space within Ruth’s House’s emergency shelter. Designed in consultation with the community, the garden features comfortable seating areas, child-friendly play structures, vibrant plant life, and sensory elements such as fragrant flowers and calming sounds. These features aim to promote emotional healing and mindfulness for families as they rebuild their lives after experiencing domestic violence.

This initiative aligns with Ruth’s House Society’s mission to provide culturally grounded programs focused on healing, empowerment, and transition to independence in a safe, respectful environment. The support from the Rotary clubs exemplifies their commitment to community-focused projects that reflect local values and partnerships.

For more information about Ruth’s House Society and its programs, visit: ruthshouse.ca

A trio of Calgary Rotary clubs has come together to improve community access at Bowmont Commons, a Carya facility located in the Montgomery neighbourhood. Thanks to donations from the Rotary Clubs of Calgary Downtown, Calgary Centennial, and Calgary North, the building now features a new chairlift — a critical upgrade that makes the second floor of the facility accessible to people with mobility challenges.

Carya is a longstanding Calgary-based social impact agency that provides counselling, support, and community development programs to people of all ages. Its Bowmont Commons location is an essential hub for these services in the city’s northwest, offering a welcoming and inclusive space for programs, workshops, and community gatherings.

The chairlift project emerged as a priority when it became clear that physical accessibility was limiting who could fully participate in services and events at the site. With $19,000 contributed by the Downtown club, $4,000 from the North club, and $2,000 from the Centennial club, Carya was able to move ahead with installation — opening up the second floor to more community members and ensuring the space can serve its full potential.

Rotary’s role in this upgrade highlights the power of collaborative giving. While no single club funded the project outright, the partnership made it possible. It’s a meaningful example of how Rotary support, coordinated through CRCF, helps address tangible community needs in a way that reflects core values of service and inclusion.

For more information about Carya, visit: caryacalgary.ca

A generous $82,000 grant from the Stampede Park Rotary Club is helping Legacy Place Society renovate and refurnish its Calgary lodging facility, which serves first responders and military personnel during times of crisis, transition, or extended medical treatment.

The funding enabled a full-scale upgrade of the shared accommodation facility, including new furniture, upgraded bathrooms, modernized kitchens, and refreshed communal areas. Guests and staff say the renovations have transformed the space into a more welcoming, comfortable, and dignified environment.

Legacy Place Society supports law enforcement, paramedics, firefighters, emergency dispatchers, veterans, and their families — offering temporary housing, mental health supports, and peer connections in times of high stress. The improved environment made possible by Rotary funding contributes to residents’ well-being, reinforces the organization’s values of care and service, and enhances the stability of those staying at the facility.

For more information about Legacy Place Society, visit: legacyplacesociety.com