Letter from the Executive Director: Summer 2025
Three Stampede values I can really get behind: get’er done, dance up a storm, and share your food. This year, those have me reaching for my fringe and bandanas with more excitement than usual. The Stampede spirit is hitting differently this season—and I’ve been thinking about why.
The phrase “Come Hell or High Water” keeps coming to mind. This was a slogan used on t-shirts twelve years ago after the record breaking flooding that shut down the city. The flood was devastating, but it kick-started an inspiring wave of volunteerism and community support to clean up. This crisis proved that Calgary could pull together, no matter what. There’s something about that “get ’er done” frontier spirit - combined with generosity and a sense of play - that I think serves us in this moment.
In 2025, the challenges are big. Extreme weather. Political instability. Thinking about these things at a global scale can be crushing. Can we overcome them? Technically yes. But these are shared problems, and we can’t fix them alone - that’s not within our control.
What do we do when we can’t predict the future? When we don’t know if something will work at scale? When the problems feel too overwhelming?
We roll up our sleeves. Try something.
Creating change is something we learn, not something we’re all naturally imbued with. More than ever, we need to practice trying, failing, trying again, and getting a little better each time.
So Calgary, this is your invitation to prototype. Let’s explore what it looks like to make the world better— starting right here. You may already be doing this in your own way, with your own initiative. If so, we’d love to hear about it!
IMPACTS OF OUR WORK
“The Connaught Open Street is one of those local things that gives me joy, satisfaction, and optimism. I'm so proud of every single person who has given of themselves to make this brilliant idea a real place that anyone can visit. To use my own hands and skills to help make this kid-inspired project a reality is truly incredible.”
— PARENT COUNCIL MEMBER, CONNAUGHT SCHOOL
Luli Morar with volunteers building the Bridgeland Caboodle at Carewest George Boyack.
Here’s what we’re doing on our end:
Supporting the art of change through programs like the Chickadee Challenge, which invites communities to look at problems in totally unexpected ways—what would a slime mold do? What about a whale?
Building on our momentum for safe and active school routes—scaling up the Connaught Open Street, supporting two more School Streets, and developing strategies to help more and more Calgary kids walk and bike to school safely.
We’re fixing to share stories of what others in our city are doing, starting with the amazing women who dreamed up and implemented The Bridgeland Caboodle, bringing together patients with Alzheimers and the greater community - check that story out here!
The work of adapting our cities takes imagination, persistence, and a team that’s willing to try things. Your support helps us do that. From prototyping School Streets to sharing stories of local brilliance, your donations make space for creativity, care, and city-building that lasts.
Come hell or high water, we’ve got work to do. Let’s get’er done - and have fun doing it!
Sincerely,
Celia Lee
Executive Director, Sustainable Calgary
Kids participating in the Chickadee Challenge at TELUS Spark Science Centre.
This Stampede season, we’re raising funds to build the next generation of School Streets in Calgary—because the new frontier isn’t out on the range. It’s right here in our neighbourhoods.
With your support, we turned a bold student idea into the Connaught Open Street—a safer, more playful space outside Connaught School that’s now permanent.
We’ve also got funding to prototype two more School Streets. But that funding only covers the basics. To go further, to support communities, engage students, evaluate impact, and push for permanent change, we need your help.
Donate $30 or more and we’ll send you a limited-edition Summer Fun in the City Postcard Pack
Each pack includes 5 postcard invites and instructions for unique summer activities to do with your friends. You can also grab a pack at Pages Books for $30 with proceeds supporting our work!
