Calgary Talks

10/04/2026

Abid Gill, Board Member of TAKMIL, shares his vision for the future of education in Pakistan and highlights the scale of the country’s education crisis.

He speaks about the challenges facing millions of out-of-school children, a large young population growing up without basic literacy, and how TAKMIL’s education model is working to bring learning opportunities to underserved communities.

Abid also expressed his heartfelt gratitude to Calgary’s generous community, whose remarkable support helped raise more than CAD $120,000 for this important cause.

A powerful conversation about education, responsibility, and how collective community action can help create a better future for Pakistan’s children.

10/02/2026

Alaska to Mexico on Two Wheels | The Bikepacking Journey of Forrester Nolan

Forrester Nolan is a software engineer by profession, but a bikepacker by choice.

He has taken on an extraordinary adventure—cycling all the way from Alaska to Mexico, carrying what he needs on his bike and experiencing the landscapes, challenges, and people of North America from two wheels.

CalgaryTalks caught up with Forrester in Jasper to hear the story behind the journey. From his family and roots back in Australia, to how he discovered his passion for cycling and bikepacking, Forrester shares what it really takes—physically and mentally—to spend months on the road.

What motivates someone to leave the comforts of everyday life and choose a journey like this?

Let’s listen to Forrester Nolan and discover what life on two wheels is really all about

09/25/2026

From Tech Executive to Purpose-Driven Leadership | Selin Jessani’s Journey to TCF Canada

What makes someone step away from a successful career in the corporate and technology world to pursue something driven by purpose?

In this special episode of Calgary Talks, Selin Jessani, CEO of The Citizens Foundation (TCF) Canada, shares her journey from the technology sector—where she held senior leadership roles and worked with growing companies—to finding a deeper sense of purpose in education and social impact.

Having been in Canada, Selin reflects on how access to education and opportunity allowed her to pursue her own dreams. A powerful encounter with the story of a TCF student made her think about children in Pakistan who have the same dreams and potential, but not necessarily the same opportunities.

That realization eventually brought her to TCF Canada, where she now leads efforts supporting education for deserving and underprivileged children across Pakistan.

From corporate success to purpose-driven leadership—let’s listen to Selin Jessani’s story and what inspired her journey to TCF.

09/23/2026

The Story Behind TCF | Ateed Riaz on Education, Hope & Transforming Lives

In this special episode of CalgaryTalks, Ateed Riaz Sahib shares the inspiring story behind the creation of The Citizens Foundation (TCF)—how the idea was born, the purpose behind it, and its mission to make quality education accessible to underprivileged and deserving children across Pakistan.

Today, with a network of more than 2,200 purpose-built schools and over 320,000 students, TCF is helping children pursue their dreams through quality education in a safe, healthy, and supportive learning environment.

Let’s listen to Ateed Riaz Sahib as he takes us through TCF’s journey, its impact, its mission, and its resolve for the future.

09/19/2026

Episode 2: From Settlement to Belonging

In the second episode of our conversation with Humaira Falak, we explore the realities of settlement, integration and finding a sense of belonging in Canada. Humaira brings a unique perspective, having experienced the settlement system from three different sides — first as a service receiver, then as a volunteer, and today as a service provider.

Drawing on nearly 13 years of her own journey, she reflects on the barriers newcomers can face, particularly South Asian women and highly educated immigrants who may arrive with strong professional credentials yet find themselves working survival jobs. Her message is one of persistence and growth: know where you want to go, stay focused, step outside your comfort zone, seek available resources, and remain willing to unlearn, relearn and develop new skills.

The conversation also goes beyond employment and settlement. Humaira talks about challenging our fixed mindsets and unconscious biases, accepting that different worldviews can coexist, and learning to disagree without judging one another. Most importantly, she emphasizes the power of empathy and simply listening. When someone shares a struggle, they may not always need advice — sometimes they need to be heard and understood.

Humaira challenges us to rethink how we support newcomers: moving beyond a transactional approach of providing temporary assistance toward a transformational approach that gives people the resources, dignity, opportunities and space to become empowered and build their own future.

Her message is simple but powerful: one difficult chapter should never be allowed to define someone’s entire story. Progressive communities create space for people to be themselves, grow and ultimately belong.

09/12/2026

Redefining Motherhood: The Power of Being an Independent Mother

What does it mean to start over in a new country—not only as a newcomer, but as a mother responsible for building a new life for herself and her two young daughters?

Today on Calgary Talks, we bring you the inspiring journey of Humaira Falak, who prefers to describe herself not as a single mother, but as an independent mother.

For Humaira, words matter. She feels the term “single mother” can sometimes carry labels and assumptions, while independent mother represents strength, responsibility, choice and empowerment.

Born in Hyderabad, Sindh, to parents originally from the Bahawalnagar region of Punjab, Humaira grew up across Pakistan because of her father’s work with the federal government. From Islamabad to Karachi and Lahore, changing cities, schools and communities became part of her childhood.

Growing up alongside friends from different religious and cultural backgrounds, and being exposed through her father’s work with international development organizations, gave her an early appreciation for diversity and multiculturalism. She later completed a Master’s in English Literature, initially imagining that perhaps one day she would become a writer.

But life had a very different story waiting for her.

In 2013, Humaira arrived in Canada with her two young daughters, then only two and three years old. She describes what followed as a journey of self-discovery, healing and rebuilding.

It wasn’t easy. But as Humaira puts it, it was her decision. She wanted to prove to herself that she could build and manage a new life—and she did.

She began reaching out to social-service agencies, searching for employment and volunteering in the community. Along the way, she realized that she needed to strengthen her Canadian credentials and returned to school to study human development and social services.

What began as a search for support gradually became a calling to support others.

Humaira volunteered with organizations including CIWA, the courthouse, the Women’s Centre, Calgary Seniors’ Resource Society and United Way. After completing her diploma, she went on to work with Calgary Seniors’ Resource Society for three years.

She says the support systems and opportunities she discovered in Canada helped her regain a sense of identity, changed her perspective on life and empowered her to move forward. Giving back to the community therefore became deeply personal.

In today’s episode, Humaira talks openly about navigating a new country and an unfamiliar system, raising her daughters independently, rebuilding her professional identity, finding strength through community service, and eventually using her own experiences to help others navigate their journeys.

This is a story about independence, resilience, belonging and giving back.

Let’s listen to Humaira Falak’s journey—from seeking support to becoming a source of support for others.

Welcome to Calgary Talks — Ideas. Dialogue. Community.

09/05/2026

On October 19, 2026, Albertans will take part in one of the largest referendum exercises in Alberta’s history.

But what exactly is a referendum? Why is Alberta holding one now? What are the ten questions Albertans will be asked to vote on—and, most importantly, how can you make sure your voice is heard?

In this special Calgary Talks episode, Adeel Raza takes us through the Alberta Referendum 2026 in simple and practical terms. He looks at Alberta’s recent referendum history and then explains what voters can expect this October—from the structure of the ten separate, numbered and colour-coded ballots to Election Day voting, advance voting and voting by mail through a Special Ballot.

With ten questions, Elections Alberta says approximately 45 million ballots will be printed and at least 60,000 election workers will be required to deliver and count the vote. The scale—and significant public cost—of this referendum makes informed participation particularly important.

Advance voting will take place October 13–17, while Election Day is October 19, with polls open from 9:00 a.m. to 8:00 p.m. Albertans choosing to vote by mail should pay particular attention to the deadlines: Special Ballot applications now close September 25, and completed ballots must be received by Elections Alberta by 5:00 p.m. on October 16.

This episode is not about telling you how to vote. It is about understanding the questions, understanding the process, and recognizing our civic responsibility to participate.

A referendum gives citizens an opportunity to make their voices heard directly. Whatever your views may be, take the time to understand the questions, make an informed decision, and exercise your right to vote.

Your province. Your voice. Your vote.

08/07/2026

🎙️ Calgary Talks | Court Ellingson – From Community Development to the Alberta Legislature

Every leader has a story, and for Court Ellingson, that story began long before politics.

Born in Victoria, British Columbia, Court moved to Calgary during his high school years. His early life was shaped by watching his father—a retired Navy officer—transition into farming and beekeeping before later serving in municipal politics as a councillor. Growing up during the economic challenges of the 1980s, Court witnessed firsthand how high interest rates, rising equipment costs, seed prices, and fertilizer expenses placed enormous pressure on farming families. Those early observations gave him a deep appreciation of how government decisions directly affect people’s lives.

Driven by that understanding, Court pursued a Business degree, worked extensively with non-profit organizations, and spent time in Indonesia, where he experienced community development in action within different democratic systems. He later completed a Master’s in Community Economic Development, building a career focused on helping municipalities attract investment, support local businesses, and create thriving communities.

Throughout his journey, Court worked with municipalities across Canada, city agencies, entrepreneurs, community organizations, and stakeholders to promote economic growth while addressing challenges such as homelessness and community well-being. As a Vice President of Strategy and Economic Development, he developed a simple but powerful philosophy:

“You cannot separate community from economic development.”

Today, as the MLA for Calgary-Foothills, Court brings decades of firsthand experience in community building, economic development, and public service to Alberta’s Legislature.

In this episode of Calgary Talks, Court Ellingson reflects on the experiences that shaped his leadership—from his childhood on the farm to his work with communities across Canada, and ultimately, his journey to becoming an MLA.

Let’s listen to his story.

08/05/2026

08/03/2026

From Alaska to Mexico: Forrester Nolan’s Journey of Adventure, Purpose & Perseverance

Australian backpacker Forrester Nolan joins Calgary Talks to share the remarkable story behind his extraordinary journey—cycling all the way from Alaska to Mexico. Beyond the miles and mountains, Forrester reflects on his life story, the challenges that shaped him, the motivation that keeps him moving forward, and the lessons he’s learned from meeting people and embracing different cultures along the way.

Join us as we explore the mindset of a modern adventurer and discover how courage, resilience, and a passion for exploration can inspire us all to pursue our own journeys—one step, or one pedal, at a time.