Impact Stories

Saddle Ridge is a vibrant, diverse community, home to people of many cultures, religions, and heritages. This diversity sparked an idea for an event to bring the community together when one resident expressed a desire to share her Sindhi heritage with her neighbours. What began as a single idea quickly grew into a shared vision as the community rallied to make it happen.

Sindhi culture reflects the heritage of the Sindhi people from the Sindh region of Pakistan, celebrating traditions through language, music, dance, food, and community rituals. It emphasizes family, hospitality, and shared cultural values, bringing people together through festivals, art, and storytelling.

As planning got underway, the power of collective effort became clear. Residents offered their time and resources, volunteers stepped in to support logistics, and the Saddle Ridge coalition worked alongside community members at every stage. From organizing the schedule and arranging the space to promoting the event and welcoming attendees, everyone played a role in shaping the celebration. The collaboration and shared energy created a sense of ownership, pride, and excitement that carried through every detail.

The event, held in December 2025, became a true celebration of community. The highlight of the evening was seeing the resident’s two young daughters proudly stand beside their mother, helping her emcee the event. Their joy reflected the pride felt by everyone involved—proof of what can happen when neighbours come together to support and uplift one another.

Beyond celebrating Sindhi culture, the event strengthened bonds across the neighbourhood, fostering connections among neighbours who had never met before and deepening relationships among those who had. It demonstrated the power of collective action, showing that when a community collaborates, shares responsibility, and values each person’s contribution, incredible outcomes are possible. The celebration served as a meaningful reminder that connection, collaboration, and shared purpose make a community not only stronger but also more vibrant and resilient.

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The Shawnessy Youth Council demonstrated youth leadership in action by organizing and delivering a free-of-cost community movie night in May 2025.

Through planning sessions and bi-weekly meetings, the youth council members led every stage of the planning and execution process. They led every step of the process—choosing the date, time, and location, selecting the movie, creating promotional materials, and organizing roles for the event day. Throughout this process, youth strengthened their leadership, communication, and teamwork skills while learning how to turn an idea into a successful community initiative.

Their goal was to create an event that fostered connection and belonging in the Shawnessy community while empowering young people to lead. By placing decision-making directly in the hands of youth, the council created an inclusive space where peers could connect, new friendships could form, and families could come together.

On the night of the event, youth leadership was visible in action. Council members welcomed attendees, supported event logistics, and attended alongside friends they had invited to learn more about Planet Youth Calgary and the Shawnessy Youth Council. The event brought together 35 attendees, including families from across the Shawnessy area, many connecting with neighbours for the first time.

This youth-led initiative reflects an upstream, preventative approach by building leadership capacity, strengthening peer relationships, and creating positive community experiences before challenges arise. It also supported key pillars of wellbeing, including family connection, peer engagement, and accessible leisure opportunities.

What began as a planning opportunity became a meaningful example of how youth leadership can strengthen community connection and belonging.

The story of a new mural at Cardel Rec South began in the Fall of 2023, when a member of Cardel Rec South’s Board of Directors attended a Shawnessy Community Coalition meeting. Inspired by discussions about community connection and youth wellbeing, they connected with staff from Antyx Community Arts to explore how art could reflect Cardel Rec South’s values of inclusivity and belonging — and align with the Planet Youth domains that guide our work.

Over the next 3 months, Antyx facilitated semi-weekly art sessions with a group of 10–15 youth, who collaborated to design and paint a mural to be displayed in the shared space between Cardel Rec South and the Shawnessy Library. The project created a positive leisure and recreation opportunity for youth, offering a safe, structured, and creative outlet after school.

Through the process, participants strengthened peer connections, developed new skills, and built confidence as artists and community contributors. The project also fostered strong community and family engagement, as parents, staff, and coalition members supported the youth throughout their creative journey.

The mural’s final design celebrates diversity and mental wellness, embodying themes of connection, care, and belonging that are central to the school and community environment domains of Planet Youth.

In May 2024, more than 100 people gathered for the mural’s unveiling — a true community celebration. The event reflected not only the creativity of the youth artists but also the shared vision of a community working together to nurture wellbeing and belonging for all.

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After launching the Shawnessy Youth Council in September 2024, participants met bi-weekly from January to May 2025 to plan their first major project — a community movie night. With guidance from facilitators, the Youth Council members took the lead on every decision, from choosing the date, time, and location to selecting the movie, promoting the event, and managing logistics on the day.

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Empowering youth to design and lead this event reflected several Planet Youth domains in action. The planning process fostered peer connections and strengthened leadership and teamwork skills, while the event itself provided a positive leisure and recreation opportunity for both youth and families. It also created a welcoming community environment where residents could come together, connect, and enjoy a free, family-friendly evening.

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70 people attended the movie night, including 20 Youth Council members who helped set up the event space, check in attendees, hand out snacks, and clean up afterward. Their enthusiasm and commitment highlighted the power of youth-led initiatives in building community pride and belonging — a true reflection of community spirit.

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This August, Planet Youth Calgary teamed up with United Way of Calgary and Area and collaborated with Fluor Corporation, to spread a little extra back-to-school joy. Together, in Thorncliffe/Huntington Hills (one of Planet Youth Calgary's priority communities), we packed and distributed 300 backpacks filled with school supplies to children returning to class.

While we had originally planned for about 300 people, we were blown away to see over 750 in attendance. The turnout showed just how meaningful this support is for families in our community. Thanks to MLA Tejada for additional support and supplies, the Calgary Food Bank for providing snacks and the many community members and volunteers who came together. With all the help and support, we were able to meet the need and make this event a success.

For many families, these backpacks mean more than pencils and notebooks—they represent confidence, readiness, and the excitement of starting a new school year on the right foot.

At Planet Youth Calgary, we believe that investing in our future begins with supporting children today. By creating opportunities like this, we’re helping youth feel prepared, supported, and empowered to thrive.

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On May 24, 2024, the Erin Woods Community Association came together to celebrate the unveiling of a powerful new Indigenous art mural — a project that blended creativity, culture, and community connection. Led by Planet Youth Calgary in collaboration with Indigenous artist Flora Johnson, this initiative was more than an artistic endeavor; it was a meaningful journey of learning, reconciliation, and belonging.

With support from the Greater Forest Lawn and Indigenous Parallel Community Coalitions, along with partners including the City of Calgary, Calgary Arts Development, and the Ward 9 Office, 5 youth artists devoted over 600 hours outside of school to bring the mural to life. Guided by Flora, the youth learned the techniques of large-scale mural painting while deepening their understanding of Indigenous culture and history through storytelling, mentorship, and reflection.

Over 3 months, what began as a project among strangers became a close-knit group of young artists who embodied key Planet Youth domains in action. The experience strengthened peer connections and offered a positive leisure and recreation opportunity outside of school hours. It fostered skill development and leadership, encouraged family and community engagement, and created a supportive environment that promoted connection, respect, and shared learning.

As the mural took shape, curious community members stopped to ask questions and learn about its meaning, transforming the worksite into a living classroom of culture and conversation.

The unveiling event brought together more than 60 attendees — including youth, families, Indigenous Elders, and local leaders — to celebrate the artists’ achievements. Each youth was recognized with a certificate and shared a personal artist bio. They chose the mural’s name and wrote a poem to accompany it, now displayed on a plaque beside their work, leaving a lasting mark on the Erin Woods community.

This mural stands as a vibrant symbol of youth creativity, reconciliation, and community pride — and a reflection of how Planet Youth’s prevention-focused approach fosters leadership, connection, and wellbeing for young people across all domains of life.

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Read more in the blog by Calgary Arts Development: Community mural transforms conflict into shared story