The Checkmate Foundation

05/05/2026

Join us for a beginner-friendly chess workshop at the Fish Creek Library this Saturday 📍♟️

All ages and experience levels are welcome—no prior knowledge needed. Whether you’re learning the rules for the first time or just looking for a relaxed space to play and improve, this session is for you.

Come learn the basics, play a few games, and connect with other beginners in a supportive setting.

📅 Saturday, May 9, 2026
⏱️ 2:00 PM - 4:00 PM
📍 Program Room 1st floor, Fish Creek Library
📍 11161 Bonaventure Dr SE, Calgary, AB T2J 2T8

🖥️ Don’t miss out! Register today now at checkmatefoundation.ca/events!

05/05/2026

Here are some highlights from our March 21st event held at the Crowfoot Library! 📕

Special thanks to Araz for making this event a success! ♟️

Interested in joining our next event? Register today at checkmatefoundation.ca/events ❗️

02/22/2026

Checkmate at Fish Creek Library! ♟️🔥
What a fantastic turnout on February 14! So much strategy, learning, and fun all in one room.

Special thanks to Saahim, our Program Director, for leading the event and ensuring everything ran seamlessly!

Interested in joining the next tournament or workshop?
Head over to checkmatefoundation.ca/events and sign up! 👏

02/21/2026

Here are some highlights from our February 7th event at Signal Hill Library! ♟️

Everything went smoothly, and it was amazing to see so much focus, strategy, and sportsmanship in the room.

A huge thank you to David for his leadership and support in making this event a success.

Want to join our next event?
Visit 👉 checkmatefoundation.ca/events

02/15/2026

https://forms.gle/9SxgbHa3Fjq4pMcd8

February 28: Intermediate-Advanced Chess Workshop at Nose Hill Library

If you are a intermediate-advanced chess player looking to hone their chess skills, this free chess workshop will help you develop your knowledge and expertise in the game of chess! Our instructor and volunteers will be on hand to guide newcomers and answer any questions during the chess workshop.

Come meet new people, challenge unfamiliar opponents, and build on your own chess knowledge with our instruction!

This is a intermediate-advanced workshop, if you want to sign up for the beginner workshop, please use this form: https://forms.gle/qq1zFg3hDdHr2Yob9 If you are a intermediate-advanced chess player looking to hone their chess skills, this free chess workshop will help you develop your knowledge and....

02/15/2026

https://forms.gle/AqLmq4MfwDuTMbjm7

February 21: Beginner Chess Workshop at Nose Hill Library

If you are a beginner chess player looking to develop their chess skills, this free chess workshop will help you develop your knowledge and expertise in the game of chess! Our instructor and volunteers will be on hand to guide newcomers and answer any questions during the chess workshop.

This is a beginner workshop, if you want to sign up for the intermediate-advanced workshop, please use this form: https://forms.gle/bWFrYJYmxtdZisxn6 If you are a beginner chess player looking to develop their chess skills, this free chess workshop will help you develop your knowledge and expertise....

02/05/2026

We will be hosting our first February event at Signal Hill Library on February 7 from 10:00 AM to 1:30 PM.

This will be a chess day where participants can play chess, meet new friends and develop their skills with assistance from our volunteers!

Here are the details:
Date: Saturday February 7, 2026
Time: 10:00 AM - 1:30 PM
Location: Signal Hill Library
Specific Room: Program Room
Address: 5994 Signal Hill Centre SW, Calgary, AB T3H 3P8

Registration link: https://forms.gle/3oenpcM4LZrD7LSw6

Thank you all for your continued support and interest in our events! We hope to see you there! If you have any questions or concerns, please do not hesitate to contact us [email protected]

Whether you’re a seasoned player or just learning the ropes, this free play event is the perfect opportunity to enjoy the timeless game of chess in a relaxed and welcoming environment. Volunteers will be on hand to guide newcomers, answer questions, and help you sharpen your skills. Come meet new ...

01/19/2026

https://forms.gle/zT3y8sKVqktML4e68

Join us for an exciting day of chess! Whether you're a seasoned player or just starting out, our chess lesson will be a perfect opportunity to learn, improve, and enjoy the game. We have experienced volunteers on hand to provide guidance and support you throughout the session. This is a great opportunity to learn or improve at chess!

Specific Details
Date: Saturday Jan 24, 2026
Time: 1:30 PM - 4:00 PM
Location: Country Hills Library (Program Room)
Address: 11950 Country Village Link NE, Calgary, AB T3K 6E3

Join us for an exciting day of chess! Whether you're a seasoned player or just starting out, our chess lesson will be a perfect opportunity to learn, improve, and enjoy the game. We have experienced volunteers on hand to provide guidance and support you throughout the session. This is a great opport...

01/08/2026

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Across 6 fast-paced rounds in our Junior (Grades 4–8) and Senior (Grades 9–12) sections, players battled it out in a 10|0 rapid format, pushing their calculation, time management, and nerves to the limit. The energy in the room was electric from start to finish.

Huge thank you to our amazing volunteers, arbiters, and parents for making everything run smoothly — and to every player who showed up ready to compete and learn.

01/07/2026

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Huge thank you to every student who came out to our Checkmate Foundation School Chess Tournament on October 17th at the University of Calgary (MacKimmie Tower, 7th Floor). We’re so grateful to the families, volunteers, and everyone who helped make it happen. We had 125+ students participate representing 54 different schools across Calgary. We had $200+ in prizes.

This event was extra meaningful because it honestly took a lot to pull off — we had major challenges securing a venue due to the teacher’s strike, and we’re thankful to everyone who stayed flexible while we worked through logistics.

To our volunteers: thank you for giving your time, running rounds, supporting fair play, and creating a welcoming space for every player. And to every participant: thank you for bringing the energy, sportsmanship, and love of the game — you made the night.

Your support also goes beyond one tournament. Every registration helps us keep delivering free chess programs for seniors, newcomers, and youth across Calgary.

📍 Stay in the loop for upcoming events: checkmatefoundation.ca/events
📩 Questions: [email protected]

We tried to make the entry fee as affordable as possible to account for food. We hope we can continue to make chess more accessible in schools.

Thank you for all the photos that were taken.

12/22/2025

Our November 30th chess event at Signal Hill Library welcomed 28 participants in total. The session was energetic and engaging, with players of different ages and skill levels coming together to learn, play, and build confidence through chess.

We continue to run monthly chess programs across public libraries.

Families and participants can register for upcoming events at checkmatefoundation.ca/events.