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This Community Service Learning Project from the Broadcast Media Studies students features organizations and people making a positive impact in the community.

Thank you to all the community partners who participated in these stories.

Local cat shelter organization takes big 'pawsteps' in reducing feline overpopulation

The Make Each One Wanted (MEOW) Foundation is celebrating 25 years of offering services to cats and advising cat owners. The feline-only no-kill charity is an organization dedicated to promoting cat welfare, offering services to cats, and providing assistance to cat owners in Calgary. MEOW offers various programs to ...

The Landing Pad: a safe haven for Calgary's pets

I've always wondered where pets go in time of crisis. Whether they could end up in an adoption centre or worse. That is why I sat down with Brandon Montague, The Landing Pad lead and safety coordinator at Parachutes For Pets. The Landing Pad offers a community centred model for pet care in Calgary. Parachutes For Pets ...

HONEing in on mental health

Jessica Renney and Paula McQuaid are the co-founders of the mental health organization HONE Athletics that specializes in guiding young athletes on their process. HONE began working in the community in 2013 when they began working with an Okotoks-based hockey program, Peak Athletics, under their original name Mindful A...

Helping out in the animal community: how AARCS takes care of abandoned animals.

Why AARCS Helps Animals Pets are usually taken care of by their owners but sometimes this is not always the case. Sometimes circumstances change and you end up having to give away your pet to another family or even a shelter which is stressful for not just the owner but the animals as well. This is why AARCS is here to...

Township Cleaning: How One Small Business Keeps Its Community Shining

Township creation Every city has small, impactful businesses within it. From barber shops to dog sitters, each plays a vital role in supporting the other. Nicole Hudson, founder of Township Cleaning, is also significant within her community. After working in a cleaning company that "wanted to cut corners, and they...

Canmore based charity The Nick Project hosts annual "Evening of Arsenault"

Alberta based charity 'The Nick Project' held its annual fundraising event on November 16th in Canmore Alberta. The event featured games, live music, and a silent auction supporting life-altering youth initiatives. The family-friendly gathering takes place every year in honor of Nick Arsenault, a friend loved by many w...

The Killarney Glengarry Community Association is Expanding Wellness Programs

A growing hub for wellness and community connection The Killarney Glengarry Community Association (KGCA) has experienced significant growth in the programs offered by the centre over the past year. The centre now provides five dedicated health and fitness programs designed to support residents of all ages. The centre ...

The Bowest'ner: connecting community members through writing

Hidden right next to the historic Bow River, surrounded by big, towering trees, sits a small community that holds the same amount of personality as a small town. From the outside, Bowness appears to be a quiet little community in Calgary, but walking around the streets and exploring the winding pathways reveals a story...

MRU hosts 29th annual powwow

At the Powwow The MRU annual Powwow features dancing, drumming and a complimentary feast for all guests. Held on Nov. 1, the event is hosted by the Iniskim Center at Mount Royal University in Wyckham House. Attendees have the chance to experience Indigenous culture up close, from traditional clothing to performances by...

Mission Thrift Store: Going Green for the Gospel

Calgary Nonprofit Turns Secondhand into Second Chances Mission Thrift Store isn't an ordinary thrift shop, it's a community initiative with both local and global reach. For nearly 30 years, the 100 per cent nonprofit organization has helped Calgarians repurpose used goods, raise funds for world missions and r...

Good Neighbour: Calgary's Barrier-Free Free Store Meeting Urgent Community Needs

Good Neighbour is a unique, barrier-free free store in downtown Calgary providing clothing, food, toiletries, harm-reduction supplies, and community support to anyone who needs it. There's no paperwork, questions, or eligibility tests. As co-founder Alice Lam explains, "Good Neighbor started in 2021. And we are a ...

A hidden gem: Ella Grace Marketplace

Everyone has that one store they gatekeep. Often it's not to be mean, but it's your hidden gem. Maybe it's a thrift store ran by a guy who adventures the West coast. Or maybe it's the market you buy very affordable produce from. If you talk about it, the prices might suddenly skyrocket. That rule is being broken today ...

Play It Forward

It's a talk show, a game show, and feel good show. This entertaining program is inspired by the third-year students' Community Service Learning projects. Just another way of paying it forward.

Prairie Girls Gala: The love and support of rural communities

Nestled in the County of Newell is a non-profit organization founded in 2013 known as the Prairie Chicks Committee. Each year, this group of ladies have helped their communities by raising money for certain charities and funds, and hosting events throughout the county. Supporting communities such as Brooks, Duchess, Pa...

The HEROS of Hockey

HEROS hockey is a charity led program that creates a sense of community and life skills through the power of hockey for youth in need of mentoring. The All Stars is a program for youth, grade eight and up, they provide children with teaching of hockey, hockey gear, transportation, snacks and off ice support all for f...

Calgary charity organizes through social media

A group of good Samaritans living in the Calgary area have taken it upon themselves to work together to help the city's food-insecure population. An effort they've largely achieved by organizing themselves over Facebook. The Calgary Helping Homeless Society (YYCHH) has been working together with charitable businesses ...

Sergeant J. Brady: Balancing Service and Sacrifice

Being a police officer is more than a job; it's a commitment to serve and protect the community. Every day, officers face unique challenges, making the profession both rewarding and demanding. Background of police work Sergeant J. Brady discusses police work and the opportunity to make a meaningful impact. They play a...

Navigating the future of AI in the tourism industries

Peter Pilarski founded the Tourism AI Network, focusing primarily on the tourism industry. He partners today with some of the leading tourism non-profit organizations across North America and rolls out AI-driven services and solutions to integrate artificial intelligence into the systems and processes of these organiza...

Celebrating culture and empowering youth: The Sankofa Foundation of Canada

The foundation Founded by the passionate and visionary Marion Ashton, the Sankofa Foundation of Canada is making waves in Calgary's non-profit landscape. Rooted in the Akan tradition of Ghana, "Sankofa" means "go back and fetch," symbolizing the importance of learning from the past to build a strong...

Community Miles: Strides running club supporting runners every step of the way

Want to get the weekend started with some morning miles; Strides Running Club is the perfect way to get a Saturday run completed alongside fellow runners. Located in Marda Loop, Strides Running Store is the home of their Strides Run Club and their community of happy runners. No experience required Strides Running Club ...

Youth Central Tackles Youth Loneliness and Unemployment Through Community Action

Youth Central Helps Calgary Youth Build Community, Confidence and Connections Faced with rising youth mental health challenges and some of the highest unemployment rates in the country, one Calgary charity is offering a powerful antidote, connection. For years, Youth Central has empowered young people by helping them b...

More than a shelter: Cochrane and Area Humane Society

The Cochrane and Area Humane Society was founded on March 10, 1998. The organization works to support animals in need. Their main focus is on educating the community on animal welfare. They promote responsible pet ownership. They ensure the well-being of animals in need. The organization provides shelter, rehabilitatio...

Brown Bagging Lunches at Experience Church

A Sandwich, A Smile, A Stronger Community At Experience Church, they believe that faith isn't just about Sunday services, it's about caring for one another in everyday, tangible ways. That's why their lunch program in partnership with Brown Bagging has become such a powerful act of love and service in our city. Every M...

Adoption Options: A Trusted Adoption Resource in Alberta

Services and Support includes: Confidential counselling for birth parents Mandatory education for adoptive families Guidance through open adoption agreements Post-placement support and resources Trauma-informed approach rooted in best practice For Adoptive Families Prospective adoptive parents are prepared through: Tr...

AARCS: A Safe Haven for the Animals

Calgary's AARCS rescues, fosters, and rehomes animals in need The Alberta Animal Rescue Crew Society (AARCS) is taking in more homeless animals as intake pressures grow. The Calgary-based non-profit rescues and rehomes dogs, cats, rabbits, and other small animals through its shelter and foster network. "Our missio...

Children's Cottage Society provides free, safe, and fun childcare for families in need

Sometimes when the unexpected happens, regular supports for parents can fall through. The Children's Cottage Society steps in to fill that gap and make sure children stay safe, entertained, and well cared for when there's an emergency. Helping Calgarians since 1986 The Children's Cottage Society was founded by Parents ...

Heliopolis Social Café

With final exam season coming up quickly, many students are on campus studying. Finding a place to study can be challenging, so why not go off campus and visit Heliopolis Social Café in downtown Calgary? Heliopolis has quickly become an open and welcoming space in the community for everyone to enjoy. Since openi...

The Calgary Climate Hub: Uniting community against the climate crisis

Volunteers are the heart of the Calgary Climate Hub. As a grassroots charity, the Hub relies on community support to help its work. They aim to educate Calgarians about the climate crisis and empower them to act in ways that make sense for their lives. The Hub's work is rooted in local communities. In a city shaped by ...

Project Warmth Against the Cold

When the temperature drops, staying warm becomes a matter of survival. Project Warmth has spent nearly three decades helping Calgarians stay protected from the cold. Community partnerships Project Warmth supports 50 agencies across the city of Calgary. Working with 41 sponsors and all fire stations within the city. Cal...

Local organization plants thousands of crosses annually to honour fallen soldiers

Field of Crosses Every November from the 1st-11th you can see on the east side of Memorial Drive there are 3700 crosses planted to honour the fallen soldiers that fought for our freedom. The Field of Crosses organization holds a ceremony everyday inside those dates, a sunrise ceremony and a sunset ceremony, as well as ...

Great clothes at Good Thrift

In 2021, Good Neighbour opened in downtown Calgary. The landlord donated the space to test out the idea of a pay-what-you-can thrift store. Through the test store, the founders realized that the best way to make the store sustainable was to create another store called Good Thrift to raise funds to cover operating costs...

DDRC: Celebrating Differences

DDRC Background Sons of Christine Meikle and Emily Follensbee were kicked out of public school for having developmental disabilities. These two moms had no resources to help their children find an education. So these women had decided to create their own resource centre. In 1952, the Developmental Disabilities Resourc...

Good Vibes Only

This is a show about positivity. Watch the contestants create art from junk. Listen to students share what makes them happy. And what's in the Good Vibes Jar? You will have to watch to find out. This entertaining program is inspired by the third-year students' Community Service Learning projects.

S.O.S Congo: Empowering youth on their path to leadership

"Eclectic, vibrant, and rooted" are three words used by the President of S.O.S Congo, Ike Kenzo, a non-profit organization dedicated to empowering Congolese youth. Youth Programs such as their mentoring program, basketball program, coding program and business classes are at the heart of SOS Congo's commitmen...

Fostering diversity and acceptance through SAMRU's Pride Centre

Queer perspectives and lives are often overlooked in modern society, if not ignored completely. Despite the overwhelming acceptance and growing number of queer allies as queer issues gain more traction in mainstream media, bigoted and hateful perspectives seem to arise just as fast, with Statistics Canada reporting a 6...

The isolating walk of men's mental health.

Warning: This article mentions and discusses suicide, depression and general mental health. If you or someone you love is experiencing a mental health emergency, Canada's suicide hotline is available by dialing 988. It can be difficult to realize a friend or loved one is struggling, and it can be easy to miss the ...

Magic on the water: how a group of witches are making a difference

Not often do you see people paddleboarding on the cold waters of late October in Alberta-the last sight you would expect to see is 48 witches paddleboarding on the icy waters of late fall. The witches of Carburn Park On October 26th, 48 witches were seen paddling across the waters at Carburn Park. People passing by sto...

WellSpring Alberta

Cancer support WellSpring Alberta Cancer Support is a non-profit organization that aims to make living life with cancer easier and more enjoyable. The program director at WellSpring Alberta Niki Fehr, said, "All programs are for anybody living with any type of cancer and caregivers who can take the program on thei...

No stress for itchy pets

Calgary is lucky to be home to PetDerm, a leading veterinary dermatology and internal medicine clinic that addresses a crucial field in animal healthcare. PetDerm, owned by Dr. Becky Valentine (DVM, DACVD), specializes in dermatological and internal medical issues for pets. PetDerm has quickly become a trusted resource...

Wild Rabbit Vintage: building community through sustainable fashion and local stories

Fast fashion has become a behemoth in the fashion industry. In such a fast-paced world, trends are ever-changing, and the fashion world does its best to keep up. Fast fashion is the cause of severe environmental impacts, it relies on child and forced labour in poor working conditions. Big-name brands cause overconsumpt...

Students also produced a talk show and a game show to highlight their Community Service Learning projects.

Principals and Principles

Principals and Principles is an exciting charity game show where contestants answer questions to earn money for their community partner. The tension builds to the final round, where contestants face off against the Professor in a high-stakes battle of wits. In the end, it's all about the cause. The winner takes it all,...

Kade in the Community

Welcome to Kade in the Community, where good vibes, laughter, and creativity collide! Hosted by the ever-enthusiastic Kade Stevens. This live experience includes student creations, heartfelt surprises, and hilarious games that connect us to amazing causes. Join us for dynamic interviews, unexpected moments, and a lot o...

The Community Service Learning Projects from the Broadcast Media Studies in 2023 are listed below.

Empowering the next generation: BeaYOUtiful Foundation's journey to building confidence in young girls

In a world where the confidence of young girls is often tested, understanding the challenges they face becomes imperative. A study by the Ypulse research group and the authors of The Confidence Code for Girls reveals a common struggle with reduced confidence levels, notably marked by a significant 30 per cent decline a...

Creating Meaningful Connections

Memories are the fundamental building blocks that shape an individual's uniqueness. However, when memories fade, the experience can be challenging, causing grief for the individual and their loved ones. Recognizing the difficulties faced by those dealing with various forms of dementia, Jewish Family Service Calgary (JF...

The Experience of Loss: Calgary grief group aims to support young women who are facing the loss of a parent

Young adults are mostly focused on upcoming milestones like graduation, starting a career, pursuing romantic interests and other personal aspirations. Losing a parent and dealing with that grief is not something they anticipate in their emerging adulthood.

A Conversation About First Responders

An interview with Legacy Place I was unsure of what to expect heading into the interview with Diana of Legacy Place Society. Videography on its own is intimidating enough for me, let alone when covering such a serious and intense topic. Even given the preparations I had made beforehand, waves of anxiety washed over me ...

A Good Neighbour all-around

Thrifting has been steadily gaining popularity, the rise in popularity driven especially by younger generations seeking a sustainable alternative to "buying new", but one local thrift store is doing things a little differently. For the past three years, Good Neighbour Community Market has operated on a pay-wh...

The NIWBE Program- Women Supporting Women

What Is NIWBE? The NIWBE Program is a unique community partner that supports Immigrant women in starting their own businesses. The program is free for new women in Canada and allows for the women to come to the class where they can assess their potential business ideas or continue to grow their existing business. The P...

A Land Acknowledgement with Leighton Art Centre

The Leighton Art Centre is a historic landmark just outside of southwest Calgary, filled with art, history, and a beautiful landscape. Producing a land acknowledgement video and an interview with Jo-Mary, the Truth and Reconciliation Advisor for Leighton Art Centre will hopefully contribute to these efforts.

Comfort quilts: Mountain View Quilters gift a warm hug to their communities

Comfort quilts are what the Mountain View Quilters call the quilts they make to give to various agencies that help people in need. Quilts made for donation get gathered throughout the year and are given out around December. In 2022, the group donated a total of 67 quilts to different organizations within the county. &...

Behind the Mic: The Podcast That Explores What it Takes to be Parents of the Year

Knowing how to navigate parenthood is often a difficult task for any parent. Local parents of two, Dr. Caroline Buzanko and Andrew Stewart decided they wanted to help other parents through their journeys. The result was the start of the child and parenting-focused podcast Parents of the Year. Co-hosted by Caroline and ...

GCA Staff and Students giving back during the Christmas Season

Glenmore Christian Academy is a local private Christian school here in Calgary. As a school they do many different things to try and give back to their community and others that are less fortunate through the schools four main values. Which Dave Yang says are "to teach truth, inspire excellence, experience Christ,...

Giving Back While Camping

Located in the charming town of Cochrane, Alberta, Bow RiversEdge Campground stands as a testament to community-driven initiatives. Established in 2005 through the collaborative efforts of the Rotary Club of Cochrane and the Lions Club of Cochrane, this non-profit campground operates year-round with a mission deeply ro...

Youth En Route Inspires Cyclists in Calgary Schools

They say if something is like riding a bike, it means once you learn it, you'll never forget it. This expression is based on the assumption that nearly everyone can ride a bike. However, Laura Shutiak surveyed students in a Calgary High School and found that only a small portion of students felt confident enough to rid...

Hockey Calgary and its impact on and off the ice.

Hockey Calgary oversees over 13,000 minor hockey players in Calgary Hockey Calgary is a non profit organization that has helped keep hockey in Calgary safe, inclusive and affordable for over 60 years. The organization is a volunteer driven organization that has been dedicated to helping young hockey players since 1949....

Skipping Stone - Supporting Trans and Gender Diverse Individuals

The Skipping Stone organization in Calgary aims to create safe and welcoming spaces for transgender, non-binary, or gender-diverse individuals. Their mission is "to connect trans and gender-diverse youth, adults, and families with comprehensive and low barrier access to the support they deserve". I had the op...

Dishing Out Kindness: Gourmet Feeding for the Homeless

Kamika Bianca Guerra-Walker Calgarian actor/director and entrepreneur runs her own foundation dedicated to feeding the homeless and spreading awareness of mental health. She created The Walker Foundation in 2018 with its intentions of being "a mental health organization to fill the gap where I didn't see being met...

Across all ages: a goal to make the Mount Royal University community more inclusive

Ageism is a theme surrounding society, and an issue that is not getting any better. As our world continues to technologically evolve, younger generations may find themselves having no patience for the older generations. Or, vise versa: the older generations hold the newfound information regarding technology against you...

NSTEP: Building a healthy future

NSTEP has set out to provide children with the knowledge they need to know about nutrition and physical activity. NSTEP was founded in 2002 by Deb Hymers to ensure that the next generation would be able to build healthy habits that will follow them as they grow up. Focusing on the Future NSTEP wants to educate kids to...

Food Justice Now is creating barrier-free food access for students

Food Justice Now is a project aiming to tackle rampant food insecurity among students. The project exists under the University of Calgary club, Students for Direct Action. Recently, FJN set-up a free food pantry in the campus' arts lounge meant to provide barrier-free access to food for all students. Other options for ...

Heaven Can Wait: Giving Animals a New Life

Heaven Can Wait Animal Rescue Foundation is working to create better situations for cats and dogs. Foundation Founder Kim Hessel has been taking care of animals in the High River area for over 25 years. When asked about the current state of animal welfare, Hessel said, "It is really awful out there right now. The...

A place to unleash your creativity: The Alcove Centre for the Arts

Creative expression has taken hold in Calgary in the form of a community where artists come together to express their passion. Founded in 2020 by the inventive duo, Bethel Afework and Dennis Lee, friends who shared a vision for a space where creativity can be inspiring, The Alcove Centre for the Arts has become a desti...

Woods Homes has positively impacted Mikayla Kardynal's life

Mikayla Kardynal says her success "started at Woods Homes and led me to where I am today". Woods Homes is a non-profit organization that provides support and programs for children, youth, and adults who are struggling with mental health issues. Mikayla was struggling with passing school and finding her purpos...

Pulling back the curtain: the Lunchbox Theatre

Imagine enjoying a short, memorable, enjoyable, and affordable play during your lunch break. You can escape reality for a moment and take in the art of live performance. Over the years, the concept of a "Lunchbox Theatre" has become increasingly popular in the performance landscape. In Calgary, we have the pr...

A Brighter Day: The game show that shares positivity and makes an impact

In the world of game shows, "A Brighter Day" is not your typical trivia show. It steps out from the crowd, bringing more than just trivia excitement. This show brings more to the table by incorporating elements that inspire and aim for a positive impact. Forget the standard game show script; "A Brighter ...