Impact Stories

In April 2025, the Thorncliffe/Huntington Hills Youth Council hosted its first community event — a celebration designed to bring people together, raise awareness about Planet Youth, and create a space for connection and fun. With 150 youth and 100 adults in attendance, the event became a lively example of youth leadership and community collaboration.

The gathering featured a traditional Easter egg hunt, interactive community questions, and a variety of games and activities for children and youth of all ages. Attendees were invited to share their thoughts on questions like, “What programs or activities would you like to see in your community?” and “What are some of the challenges young people face here?”

Guided by the enthusiasm and initiative of the Youth Council members, this event reflected several Planet Youth domains in action. It fostered peer connections and leadership development for the youth organizers, encouraged family engagement through shared recreation, and strengthened the community environment by creating a safe, inclusive space for neighbors to gather.

By the end of the day, new friendships had formed, families had connected, and the community had experienced firsthand the positive impact of youth-led initiatives — a true reflection of the Planet Youth approach in action.

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The Shawnessy Community Coalition launched the Campfire Connection series in 2024, and it continues to bring people together into 2025. Between May 2024 and October 2025, Planet Youth Calgary and Cardel Rec South hosted 15 free events for community members to gather, connect, and engage in shared experiences.

Campfire Connections offers activities designed to spark youth interest and foster protective factors across multiple Planet Youth domains. Youth and families can try new sports with Future Stars Cricket Academy, enjoy indoor skating with equipment provided by KidSport Skate Shack, or celebrate Indigenous culture through traditional games — promoting leisure and recreation, peer connections, and cultural learning. Roasting hot dogs and marshmallows over a campfire creates informal opportunities for relaxed social interaction, strengthening community environment and family engagement.

Community members also volunteer at each event, providing leadership and teamwork opportunities and modeling positive social involvement for youth. On average, nearly 100 people attend each gathering, highlighting the series’ success in fostering belonging, connection, and community pride.

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United Way of Calgary and Area and the Alberta Children’s Hospital Foundation are proud to collaborate in support of Planet Youth Calgary.

Grounded in a successful model from Iceland, Planet Youth Calgary unites schools, parents, caregivers, youth, service providers and researchers to collaboratively create local strategies aimed at preventing substance misuse and fostering mental well-being. United Way is leading the initiative, with Alberta Children’s Hospital Foundation committing to fund research through the Mathison Centre for Mental Health Research & Education at the University of Calgary.

Thanks to the support from the Alberta Children’s Hospital Foundation, the reach of this initiative can be expanded, laying the groundwork for a healthier future for all youth in our city.

Read more in our recent blog featured on the United Way of Calgary and Area site: Working Together to Support Youth Mental Health in Calgary.

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In Thorncliffe/Huntington Hills, Planet Youth Calgary focused on creating spaces where youth — especially young women — could feel empowered, supported, and connected to peers and the wider community. One highlight of 2024 was the All-Girls Sports Event at John G. Diefenbaker High School, held in collaboration with the YMCA.

This initiative provided a safe, inclusive, and supportive environment for young women to engage in physical activities and sports. It went beyond fitness, promoting mental wellness, personal empowerment, and a strong sense of community connection (Peer Group and Community/School Environment domains). Participants also benefited from mentorship opportunities, fostering confidence, leadership, and skill development (School and Peer Group domains).

The program addressed notable gender disparities in physical activity: research shows girls are consistently less involved in sports and structured physical activities than boys. By offering a targeted opportunity for young women to participate fully, Planet Youth Calgary promoted equitable access to recreational and social opportunities (Leisure and Recreation domain).

Participation in sports also contributes to resilience, reduces stress and anxiety, and supports positive social networks. For these young women, the All-Girls Sports event provided a platform to build peer connections, develop leadership, and make positive choices — supporting Planet Youth’s upstream, preventative approach to youth wellbeing.

This initiative demonstrates the impact of youth-focused, inclusive programming that strengthens protective factors across domains, empowering young women to thrive both personally and socially.

In December 2024, the Thorncliffe/Huntington Hills community coalitions marked the one-year anniversary of Youthful Saturdays — a milestone for an initiative that has grown into a weekly tradition. What began as a simple idea to bring youth together has evolved into a vibrant, safe space where young people build friendships (Peer Group), explore new activities (Leisure and Recreation), and learn from one another (School/Youth Engagement).

Over the past year, Youthful Saturdays have fostered connection and belonging within the community (Community Environment), supporting youth wellbeing, resilience, and social development. This popular program will continue into 2025, with an addition of Youthful Fridays, offering ongoing opportunities for youth to strengthen protective factors, deepen peer and community connections, and engage in positive, structured activities throughout the year.

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The Indigenous Parallel is a collaboration between Miskanawah and Planet Youth, designed to support young urban Indigenous peoples in Calgary. The Parallel focuses on mental health and wellness initiatives, reconnecting urban Indigenous individuals to community and resources, and amplifying the voices of Indigenous youth. Youth Elders visit schools and organizations across Calgary, serving as role models and advocating for their community. The Parallel also provides equitable resources and opportunities for Indigenous youth, ensuring that they have the support of a community along every step of their journeys.

Planet Youth Calgary is United Way’s most ambitious signature initiative-to-date. Planet Youth Calgary is the largest implementation in Canada and the largest urban implementation in North America. It is working to create stronger connections between young people and their families, caregivers, peers, schools and communities, policy makers and researchers. Planet Youth Calgary aims to improve the social environment for youth by creating opportunities for participation in activities and recreation that promote wellbeing, access to basic needs and safe spaces, and promoting upstream preventative solutions to the challenges our young people face.

Learn more about Planet Youth Calgary.

To learn more about the Planet Youth Indigenous Parallel Youth Wellbeing Circles and how they empower Indigenous young people while building meaningful connections, tune in to Episode 9 of the Social Impact Lab's Responsible Disruption podcast.