Nonprofit Organizations in Calgary

Calgary Immigrant Women’s Association (CIWA) is a non-profit organization established in 1982 as a registered charity. CIWA is a culturally diverse settlement agency that recognizes, responds to, and focuses on the unique concerns and needs of immigrant and refugee women, girls, and their families. CIWA’s uniqueness is based on its gender specific mandate. Over the years, we have continually responded to emerging needs of immigrant women and girls, developed innovative programs, established meaningful partnerships, and have come to be recognized as a provincial and national leader in outcome-based gender-specific settlement services. CIWA offers programs and services that use a holistic approach to support clients in the areas of settlement and integration, literacy and language training, employment support and bridging programs, family violence, parenting, individual counselling, in-home support, civic engagement, health, housing, and community development. All clients have access to childcare and first language support during group sessions and individual appointments.

The Calgary Immigrant Educational Society (CIES) is a non-profit charitable organization that has been serving Calgary for almost 30 years. With over 150 staff and students from 75 different nationalities, we’ve become an integral part of Calgary’s immigrant serving community and continue to strive to give newcomers and low-income Canadians the opportunities to find their rightful place in our city.

Calgary Housing Company provides safe and affordable housing solutions for low- and moderate- income Calgarians in need of non-market rental housing. We operate over 7,100 housing units and administer approximately 3,080 private landlord rent supplements. We meet tenant needs through our varied programs, which include: subsidized housing near market rentals (approx. 10% below market rates) rent supplements for tenants with private landlords Our building management strategy uses a “mixed income model” that combines below market rates with deep subsidies. By balancing the proportion of units within an individual building, Calgary Housing Company ensures that new affordable housing developments are financially sustainable while providing an inclusionary approach to housing where tenants of mixed financial means are blended together.

We’re building a caring community where seniors can make themselves at home. Calgary Heritage Housing (CHH) has been a steward of local Alberta seniors housing assets for nearly four decades. Our focus is on the seniors self-contained, independent living demographic. We manage nine government-owned, rent-subsidized apartment buildings and townhomes within Calgary. Our tenants value their independence. We know they also value quality, affordability, and a sense of personal safety and security. Our focus is on providing a secure and comfortable living environment.  

Calgary Heritage Housing (CHH) has been a steward of local Alberta seniors housing assets for nearly four decades. Our focus is to provide housing and foster a caring, inclusive community for independent seniors with a low-to-moderate income. In addition to affordable, safe and secure housing, we help tenants in obtaining community-based support services, so they are able to sustain a healthy and functionally independent lifestyle. Our Life Enrichment Team also facilitates opportunities for tenant engagement and encouraging active aging through pop-events, fitness classes, workshops and on-site access to services like dental and foot care.

The Calgary Folk Club is Calgary’s first folk music club. In our 50 years of operations, we have created vital partnerships to promote the city’s music scene and Alberta talent to the world. The Calgary Folk Club provides an environment of discovery, reflection, diversity and community. We provide a setting where our listening-oriented audience is keen to hear the musicality, harmonies and storytelling of the individuals and groups coming to the stage. We believe that providing diverse musical experiences for the Calgary area, where artists are paid according to Socan Standards, opens the western Canadian market for touring artists from across the world. The Calgary Folk Club is an inclusive venue where performers can refine their craft, test a new skill or song and perform to an attentive and observant audience. Each concert is composed of a ‘Main Act’ and a ‘First-up’. For the main, we seek out high-quality, renowned artists – often recognized award winners. Our first-up spaces are offered to award-winning performers, as well as up-and-coming artists who may be unfamiliar to the Calgary audience. We see the Club as Canada’s best live folk music venue. An attentive listening atmosphere that is diverse, accessible and affordable. We want to continue to foster a space where the current community members and future generations come together and interact with the artists to make music collaboratively.

The Calgary Family Therapy Centre (CFTC) is a small non-profit society located in Calgary, Alberta, Canada. It is an integrated service, training, and research program that specializes in systemic family therapy. Formerly known as the University of Calgary ‘Family Therapy Program,’ the Centre was first established in 1973. Over the years it has become well-known locally, nationally, and internationally as a leading clinical, training, and research facility. vice component of the CFTC is funded by Alberta Health Services (AHS) to provide outpatient treatment services for the families of children and adolescents who are experiencing mental health difficulties. Approximately 400 to 600 families are involved with the Centre each year. The educational and research components of the Centre are supported by volunteers, university faculty members, cost-recovery training activities, grants, and charitable donations. Many of the clinical families are actually seen in therapy by graduate-level interns under close supervision by senior staff and the rest of the team.

 As mental health can carry a heavy stigma especially in rural communities, providing a firm foundation in the Willow Creek area encourages positive relationships, life skills education including but not limited to frugality competence and foundational community unity for years to come. CFPC provides an all-encompassing approach to mental wellness, including promoting physical health as well as research-based educational information to clients. From children 0-21 years of age and their families; both within the home and extended where applicable.. 

Our Philosophy  We know that when individuals whose criminal involvement is driven by drug-addition are provided with the right type and intensity of services, they can change their lives, often in remarkable and transformative ways. CDTC provides weekly court intervention, addiction treatment, connection to resources, and a range of programming to address drug addiction and change the patterns of thinking that perpetuate criminal and addictive behavior. CDTC also works closely with community partners to meet the complex needs of our participants and reduce the many social, health, mental health, and economic barriers to sustaining a positive and productive lifestyle. Our History Early efforts to establish a Drug Treatment Court (DTC) in Calgary were spurred by a serious and growing problem of drug-driven crime in the downtown core. In 2002, Justice Bill Pepler of the Calgary Provincial Court led a steering committee with the goal of opening a DTC in Calgary. Soon thereafter, Justice James Ogle took on the development of the program and in May 2007 he opened the Court. Justice Ogle remained the mentoring Justice in the Calgary Drug Treatment Court for 12 years. In 2019, Deputy Chief Justice Joanne Durant became the mentoring Justice in the Calgary Drug Treatment Court. DC Justice Durant is the Judicial lead supporting the establishment of 5 new DTC programs across Alberta.

The Drop-In Centre welcomes adults at risk of, or currently experiencing homelessness. We work to provide access to a spectrum of care that supports each person’s transition to the most independent living situation possible—including emergency shelter, programs and services, and affordable and supported housing.

The team at the Calgary Drop-In Centre is here to connect vulnerable adults (18+) experiencing or at risk of homelessness with emergency shelter, housing and health programs. We provide low-barrier access to care, when and where it is needed, with a goal to support each person’s transition to the most independent living possible.

Founded in 1990 by composer Roberta Stephen, Calgary's Contemporary Showcase has been held every year, reaching thousands of students since its inception. Part of the Alliance for Canadian New Music Projects (ACNMP), Contemporary Showcase is hosted in centres around the nation, drawing on a wide range of sponsors to sponsor awards at the local and national level.  ​​The only festival of its kind in Canada, Contemporary Showcase is devoted entirely to music by Canadian composers. It is non-competitive in that no marks are awarded, no ranking given and the adjudications take place in a master class atmosphere designed to be informative and supportive. Outstanding performers are further encouraged through scholarship recognition. Many scholarship recipients of the past festivals have gone on to make their mark in the music world. Notables include Jean Stillwell, Scott St. John, Measha Brueggergosman, Lara St. John, and Stewart Goodyear. The organization is growing and being recognized as one that is currently building performers, composers and audiences for the future. No other organization continues to promote the performance, composition and study of Canadian Contemporary Music.