Karen Ball

Karen Ball’s professional journey is a testament to the power of strategic leadership and visionary advocacy in strengthening Calgary’s arts community. Her diverse roles over the years have not only elevated the city’s cultural standing but have also created a legacy that continues to enrich the arts ecosystem in Calgary.

As the CEO of the Nonprofit Chamber, she guided the organization through a transformative repositioning in 2024, growing its reach and impact for thousands of nonprofits, including arts organizations across the city and province. Initiatives included the Connections Conference, which now attracts over 700 delegates, launching the biennial Alberta Nonprofit Leaders’ Summit that fosters collaboration across sectors for policy action, and developing Nonprofit Vote - a home for sector-wide advocacy including advocacy for the arts.  

Karen was instrumental in advancing the Arts Now campaign through Nonprofit Vote in partnership with the Rozsa Foundation providing critical leadership and mentorship. Her focus on uniting diverse groups to achieve common goals has ensured broad and inclusive support for arts initiatives. 

The largest cultural infrastructure build-out in Calgary’s history resulted from Karen’s work on creating a cultural infrastructure investment program within The City of Calgary and ensuring that Calgary’s priorities aligned with those of the provincial and federal governments. Her work leading Calgary’s year as Cultural Capital of Canada has created lasting impacts through the development of the Cultural Leaders’ Legacy Awards and the Making Treaty 7 Cultural Society.

Karen Ball’s legacy in the Calgary arts community reflects her unwavering commitment to the transformative power of arts and culture. Her leadership has enriched the city’s cultural landscape and laid the groundwork for future generations of artists and cultural leaders to thrive.

 Syed Najam Hassan

Syed Hassan is a compassionate community leader whose dedication to volunteerism has significantly enhanced quality of life for Calgarians. As the founder and president of the Love with Humanity Association, Syed has spent over 15 years championing inclusivity and community support, donating an average of 1,450 volunteer hours annually. His mission is to foster love and unity among the people of our city regardless of race, religion, or background. 

Syed’s contributions in the last few years alone have addressed critical social, economic, and environmental challenges faced by individuals and families in Calgary. He created and donated 44 free public libraries across Calgary and surrounding areas, offering accessible resources to seniors, new immigrants, and underserved communities. In response to the pandemic, Syed established 16 outdoor food banks and distributed over 3,000 food hampers to those in isolation. These food banks continue to serve over 1,000 individuals, addressing food insecurity with dignity and compassion. Syed organized workshops and seminars on job searches, resume writing, and soft skills to help immigrants transition into Calgary’s workforce, enabling their economic stability and integration into the community. 

Syed’s work has touched thousands of lives, reducing isolation for seniors, empowering new immigrants, and providing essential resources to vulnerable populations. His leadership exemplifies Calgary’s spirit of collaboration, compassion, and resilience, making him an inspiring role model and a champion for positive change.

Lucy O. Reyes

After graduating with a nursing degree in the Philippines, Lucy Reyes moved to New Jersey, and then to Alberta, where she began working as a staff nurse at an Intensive Care Unit in Calgary. Balancing the demands of nurturing her family and pursuing her graduate degree, Lucy achieved a milestone by becoming the first racialized person to ascend to the role of frontline manager within a medical teaching unit.

Lucy’s passion for the Nursing profession got her elected to sit on the provincial council of the Alberta Association of Registered Nurses (College of Registered Nurses of Alberta) for two terms, culminating with a Vogel Award for Exemplary Service to the profession. During her term as a volunteer board of Director with the association, she participated as a nurse representative to the Health Expert Panel of Alberta, Health Ethics Network, and more recently in 2024 as a member of the Government Relations Committee of Alberta. Her founding of the Philippine Canadian Nurses Association in 2022 demonstrated her commitment to advocating for internationally educated nurses in Alberta.

Collaborating with numerous front-line clinical leaders from across the province while managing the cardiac units at Foothills Medical Centre, Lucy created a multi-award-winning program that revolutionized how medical care was being delivered to patients with cardiac implantable electrical devices (CIED). She was instrumental in remotely connecting patients living with CIEDs with specialized services at sites across the province from their homes in both urban and rural areas. Lucy was also recently recognized by the Government of Alberta with a Queen Elizabeth II’s Platinum Jubilee Award for her important contributions to health care in Alberta. She was also the recipient of the University of Calgary’s 2025 Women’s Resource Centre Award.

Discovery House 

For 45 years, thousands of Calgary families have started their next chapter at Discovery House Family Violence Prevention (Discovery House). The organization supports about 600 individuals annually, and most of those are children. Discovery House provides the space, supports and skills for women and their children to imagine and create a better life after leaving domestic violence. Discovery House works to end the traumatic cycle of domestic violence for families so that they can thrive.

Discovery House traces its origins to the late 1970s when the conversation surrounding domestic violence was still shrouded in silence and shame. Its founders worked tirelessly to form relationships that led to community impact. They recognized the urgent need for an organization that would not only provide a haven for those in danger but also address the underlying issues perpetuating cycles of abuse and provide more than the usual three-week limit of emergency shelters. Discovery House was the first transition shelter in Calgary. Later, it became the first family-serving shelter organization in Canada to run a community housing program.

Families accessing Discovery House are at imminent risk of homelessness; domestic violence is a leading cause of homelessness for women. The families they work with have survived violence and coercion, are recovering from trauma, and are in crisis. Discovery House offers hope and healing through safe, affordable, long-term housing, and access to trauma-informed services such as mental health counselling, group and parenting programs, cultural supports and more, all with the goal of ending the cycle of violence forever.

Dr. Olumuyiwa Igbalajobi 

Dr. Igbalajobi has made significant contributions to enhancing learning opportunities for Calgarians and has garnered recognition in his field, both locally and globally. His efforts in democratizing access to scholarships and educational resources have empowered countless individuals, particularly those from underserved communities.  

In 2024, he led various impactful initiatives in Calgary including organizing several outreach campaigns aimed at educating students in Calgary on accessing scholarship opportunities. He also collaborated with local educational institutions establishing scholarship support programs to create structured pathways for students to access financial aid. Dr. Igbalajobi offers mentorship and guidance to students, scholars, and young professionals in Calgary, offering insights on pursuing higher education opportunities both locally and internationally.

Through his commitment and leadership, Dr. Igbalajobi has played a pivotal role in enhancing educational opportunities in Calgary, garnering recognition for his efforts in promoting accessibility and equity in education. His work has not only brought immediate benefits to the local community but has positioned Calgary as a hub for accessible learning resources and opportunities. 

In recognition of his outstanding efforts, Dr. Igbalajobi was awarded the Immigrant Diversity Award for Entrepreneurship and Innovation in 2024, highlighting his dedication to creating inclusive and accessible educational opportunities.

Arthur Clark

Dr. Arthur Clark is a Professor Emeritus, Faculty of Medicine, at the University of Calgary. He envisions a world in which human well-being is the priority, as well as the mandate for good governance, for education, and for cultural transformation worldwide. For over 25 years, he has worked to make Calgary a microcosm of that healthy global ecosystem he envisions. 

He graduated from Duke University School of Medicine in 1970 and served in the Army Medical Corps for two years in the time of the Vietnam War. It was in that time of his life that he broke free from the nationalism of his society and began to think in terms of global community and global citizenship. 

He completed his neurology residency in Albany, NY, married fellow neurology resident Dr. Irma Parhad and subsequently, with Dr. Parhad, served on the faculty of John Hopkins University. In 1984, Irma was awarded an Alberta Heritage grant for research, and they moved to Canada to join the Faculty of Medicine, University of Calgary.

After Irma’s death from cancer in 1994, Dr. Clark established the Dr. Irma M. Parhad Programs at the University of Calgary, dedicated to her memory and to the vision of a healthy global community. His 2010 book, The ABCs of Human Survival: A Paradigm for Global Citizenship, provided a conceptual framework for his efforts. It opened with an emphasis on Dr. Martin Luther King Jr’s warning that we must learn to live together as a human family, or we will perish together as fools. Imagination in the service of positive cultural transformation gives Dr. Clark the enthusiasm for his many initiatives, including the founding of the Calgary Centre for Global Community. Now 81, Dr. Clark continues to connect, support, and inspire Calgary visionaries.

Christine Leppard

Christine Leppard has made significant contributions to the preservation and promotion of Calgary’s heritage through her visionary leadership, professional expertise, and significant volunteer contributions. 

As Manager of Exhibitions and Experience at the Sam Centre, Christine has spearheaded groundbreaking exhibitions and collections strategies and developed much-needed community engagement initiatives that amplify underrepresented voices. One of her most impactful projects was curating the Sam Centre’s permanent gallery showcasing Calgary’s diverse heritage through compelling storytelling and design, offering visitors an inclusive view of Calgary’s past. 

Today, Christine is the Director, Collections & Curatorial at Glenbow, which is undergoing a radical reimagining that will bring more stories—told through art and artifacts--than ever before to the public, sparking curiosity and conversation. 

In her role as a Heritage Calgary board member since 2017 and chair from 2022 to 2024, Christine has extended her impact beyond her professional work. She led the development of the 2024-2026 Strategic Plan, emphasizing reconciliation, equity, and sustainable heritage practices. She also played a key role in transitioning the board to a governance model, ensuring the organization’s long-term success and effectiveness.

Christine’s advocacy for Calgary’s heritage across all levels of government has helped secure recognition and support for preserving Calgary’s unique historical assets. Her work has strengthened Calgary’s cultural identity and ensured its history is celebrated and preserved for future generations.

Blackline Safety 

Blackline Safety was founded in 2004 to make workplaces safer by designing, building and delivering life-saving connected safety technology. Headquartered in Calgary, the company creates wearables, area monitors and software that detect hazards, connect workers to live monitoring teams, and deliver real-time data. This ensures immediate response to incidents like gas leaks, falls, or health events, while also capturing critical data analytics to help prevent future incidents, enhance safety outcomes and improve operational performance. 

Today, Blackline’s technology protects over 165,000 people in more than 75 countries. It helps leading companies mitigate risks such as toxic gas exposure, working alone and confined space incidents. 

Now a global leader in connected safety, Blackline remains committed to its Calgary roots. Its products are manufactured locally, employing over 350 Calgarians. In 2024, the company generated $127 million in annual revenue. It is also one of Alberta’s few publicly traded tech firms listed on the TSX.

Blackline’s impact extends beyond technology. The company invests in the local community through partnerships with the Calgary Zoo, Calgary Food Bank, Calgary Women’s Emergency Shelter, Discovery House, Made by Momma and others to support safety, health and well-being.

The company also plays a leadership role in Calgary’s growing tech community. It supports mentorships, internships and STEM engagement through partnerships with post-secondary institutions Mount Royal University, SAIT and the University of Calgary – as well as youth-focused programs like Joy to Job. Blackline is helping nurture the next generation of innovators in the city.

Max Du 

Max Du is a young innovator passionate about making technology inclusive and accessible for under-resourced communities in Calgary. Inspired by his immigrant family’s struggles during the pandemic, Max founded Youth Digital Talent, a non-profit organization empowering youth to gain digital skills and, in turn, use those new skills to help small organizations in need of digital support and solutions.

Youth Digital Talent empowers diverse youth by creating inclusive technology opportunities, equipping hundreds of young Calgarians with valuable digital skills and job opportunities. Over the last two years, the organization has trained 489 students through tailored workshops, lowering learning barriers and bridging the digital divide. By applying newly learned skills to solve real problems for small organizations, these young people have transformed their untapped potential into social and economic contributions, leaving a significant and sustainable impact on Calgary. 

In addition to founding Youth Digital Talent, Max has developed an indoor rescue drone which is now a patent-pending innovation in life-saving technology. He has presented at many prestigious Science, Technology, Engineering and Math (STEM) themed conferences, and was the only Canadian selected for the renowned Summer Science Program, where he conducted astrophysics research at Tortugas Mountain Observatory. As a FIRST Robotics team member, Max and his team built 15 robots proudly representing Calgary at regional and world championships. He also led his team to adapt 100 toys into affordable, accessible alternatives for children with disabilities, improving the lives of hundreds of Calgary families. Max was honored as 2024 Dean’s List Award Winner at the FIRST Robotics World Championship, one of only 10 students worldwide selected from 87k participants for his leadership, technical expertise, and community impact.

Calgary Drop-In Centre

The Calgary Drop-In and Rehab Centre (the DI), is dedicated to serving the community with kindness. The DI is more than an emergency shelter. It offers not only safe and comfortable accommodation and meals but also access to essential resources such as health and recovery services, and housing supports. All programs, including emergency shelter, are low-barrier, trauma informed, housing-focused, and recovery-oriented, aimed at supporting Calgary’s most vulnerable citizens. The DI works with community to end homelessness, one person at a time.

The Free Goods Program redistributes new and gently used furniture, home goods, electronics, clothing, hygiene products, and non-perishable food items that have been donated by the community. Donations are received and sorted by dedicated staff and volunteers and then offered free-of-charge to families and individuals in need and the 130 partner agencies supporting them. Items not given away are recycled to keep them out of the landfill or resold to generate revenue for programs at the Calgary Drop-In Centre.

In the 2023-24 fiscal year, the Free Goods Program distributed nearly 720,000 items, serving over 18,000 Calgarians. Demand and supply for donated goods continue to grow and in 2024, the program diverted waste from the landfill by recycling over 192,000 pounds of textiles, 55,000 pounds of household items, and 45,000 pounds of metal, electronics, and refundable items. A total of $86,000 in revenue was generated to support programming for adults at risk of experiencing homelessness.

Julie Sedivy 

Julie Sedivy is a writer and linguist whose work straddles scientific and literary worlds. Her book Memory Speaks (Harvard University Press) was shortlisted for two Alberta Literary Awards  and was named by The Economist as one of the top five books about language in a “golden age” of language writing. Her textbook, Language in Mind: An Introduction to Psycholinguistics (Oxford University Press), is used by university students around the world. She has contributed writing to outlets such as Nautilus, Discover, Scientific American, the Literary Review of Canada, EuropeNow,Aeon + Psyche, and Politico. She is the co-editor (with Rona Altrows) of Waiting, a collection of personal essays (University of Alberta Press), and the co-author (with Souad Shehab) of Ayah and the Big World Outside, a forthcoming children’s book to be published by Orca Books. Her most recent book, Linguaphile: A Life of Language Love, was named by The New Yorker and by Kirkus Reviews as one of the Best Books of 2024.

2025 Nominees