We can all flourish when everyone has a seat at the table.
At Carya, we understand that connection is the starting point for transformation.
When people come together to talk, to listen, to celebrate, and to share, meaningful change becomes possible.
On May 29th, we gathered for Carya’s inaugural Everyone at the Table (EATT) event to celebrate what we’ve achieved together in the past year and to lay the groundwork for the future.
EATT brought together donors, corporate partners, volunteers, team members, program participants, and changemakers from across Calgary, all united by a shared vision: to create a city we’re proud to call home. And there is no doubt that together, we’ve built something extraordinary.
In every conversation, every laugh, every heartfelt moment, we saw the power of human connection at work. These are the moments that remind us why our mission matters and why it is more urgent than ever.
We also spoke about the challenges ahead.
Calgary is growing. So are the needs.
As Inspector Avril Martin of the Calgary Police Service shared during our panel discussion, mental health issues, social disorder, and addictions are at “a point of crisis” in the inner city and are a growing concern in Calgary. Highlighting the important work of Carya, Inspector Martin emphasized that:
“We can’t arrest ourselves out of these problems… We have to partner with the right agencies. We have to have the community involved with us, and together, we can attack and even address these urgent matters for the whole entire community”.
Rachel Wiebe, a former Carya counselling client and proud Carya ambassador, also shared the impact Carya has had on her and her family’s life. Prior to accessing Carya’s services, Rachel was in a mentally and financially abusive relationship, living paycheck to paycheck. Thanks to Carya’s barrier-free counselling services, and her own hard work, she is now a confident, transformed woman who owns a small business and is breaking the cycle of intergenerational trauma for her family.
“Carya laid the foundation for me to rebuild my life and learn what healthy relationships and workplaces look and feel like,” Rachel shared with teary-eyed pride”.
These are reminders of why our work and your partnership matter so deeply.
At Carya, we surround individuals and families with a continuum of support, approaching each unique situation with curiosity, compassion, and a strengths-based lens.
We’re grateful to everyone who joined us, and to our event sponsors PwC Canada and FUGE Sausage for making the meaningful morning possible.
But as we were reminded at the event, this isn’t the end of the conversation. It’s the beginning. There are so many ways to help build a stronger, more connected Calgary.
Please consider how you can pull up a seat and invite others to gather by:
- Investing in Carya’s supports and services that remove barriers for those in need.
- Advocating for those whose voices often go unheard.
- Connecting someone you know to the care they need.
- Partnering with Carya — volunteer, collaborate, or simply make room at the table.
Because when everyone is at the table, everyone has the chance to thrive, and we are one step closer to a city that we are all proud to call home.
