Edmonton Community Foundation

10/20/2026

What does it take to build a stronger community? Often, it starts with people who show up, give their time and help others find their footing.

Roots that Reach is an opportunity to hear from leaders including Her Honour, the Honourable Salma Lakhani, Lieutenant Governor of Alberta, whose life and work reflect a longstanding commitment to service.

After coming to Canada as a refugee in 1977, following the expulsion of South Asians from Uganda, Her Honour built a life in Edmonton and dedicated herself to giving back. Her contributions include volunteering with organizations such as the Lois Hole Hospital for Women, Kids Kottage, Sorrentino's Compassion House, the Alberta Cancer Board, mentoring youth and helping advance opportunities for women through NorQuest College's 1000 Women: A Million Possibilities Intitiative.

This is a small snapshot of Her Honour's community leadership. In 2020, she was appointed Alberta's Lieutenant Governor, becoming the first Muslim to holds the position in Canada.

Join us at Roots that Reach on Nov. 5 to hear more of Her Honour's story and other insights from South Asian community builders about the experiences, values and relationships that help communities thrive.

Register for your FREE ticket at: https://ow.ly/kiLb50ZZsHB

Roots that Reach is presented in partnership with Edmonton Public Library and The Sifarish Network- South Asian Networking and Community Organization

10/16/2026

A view worth protecting.

Recently, ECF hosted a Parkland County Nature Tour, showcasing several ECF supported organizations and remarkable local conservation sites. Together we reveled in the beauty of larch season, learned about Alberta's flora and fauna and, of course, ate delicious soup (soup not pictured).

We want to thank our guides: Edmonton and Area Land Trust, and WILDNorth. Both of these organizations are grant recipients through ECF, and we are so proud to share their hard work, passion and impact. Thank you to all the donors who joined us – we can't wait for the next event!

If you want to learn more about how an ECF endowment can help support the causes you care about, visit ecf/ca.

10/15/2026

"If you had told 14-year-old Mark he would be sharing his private life publicly, he would've said 'never'. But here I am. I would say to 14-year-old Mark, 'You know, as hard as this is right now, this story, you're gonna share it and it's gonna make a big impact. It'll be okay.""

Gold-medal Olympian Mark Tewksbury is our featured guest on The Well Endowed Podcast. As Canada's first sports hero to declare his homosexuality publicly, Mark has become an advocate for the 2SLGBTQI+ community, as well as for diversity, inclusion and fairness in sport. Since leaving swimming, he has added public speaker and Red Seal chef to his resume.

In this episode of TWEP, he shares how the foundational lessons and skills he learned through sport have contributed to his success: leadership, the power of community and the importance of authenticity.

Listen to this week's episode of TWEP: https://ow.ly/fHXF50ZYgwL

10/13/2026

Introducing Roots that Reach, ECF's new free event series exploring the people, experiences and contributions that help shape Edmonton.

Our first panel event celebrates South Asian stories of community building, featuring a conversation with community elders on how leadership, volunteerism and philanthropy encourage true growth and connection.

Click through to meet the panelists including:
- the Honourable Salma Lakhani, Canada's first Muslim Lieutenant Governor
- Radhe Gupta, philanthropist & founder of Rohit Group
- Shiraz Jiwani , philanthropist, community builder & CEO of AMAN Builders
- Jai Parihar, the visionary first Chief Investment Officer Alberta Investment Management Corporation (AIMCo)

Use the link below to reserve your ticket for this FREE event! Roots that Reach will take place on Nov. 5 at EPL’s Muttart Theatre and will be moderated by former Edmonton mayor Amarjeet Sohi.

https://ow.ly/Ocgw50ZXn3B

Thank you to our partners Edmonton Public Library and The Sifarish Network- South Asian Networking and Community Organization for your support!

10/13/2026

This is great opportunity to get involved and support the development of emerging voices, leaders and communities here in Edmonton!

Join our EREC Scholarship Advisory Committee!

Africa Centre is recruiting new members for the Edmonton Refugee and Emerging Communities (EREC) Scholarship Advisory Committee.

Established at the Edmonton Community Foundation (ECF), the EREC Scholarship provides financial support to refugees and members of emerging communities in Edmonton pursuing post-secondary education or employment in their chosen fields.

Africa Centre works closely with members of emerging communities through the Scholarship Advisory Committee to support the scholarship’s implementation and ensure it continues to meet community needs.

Apply today to join the committee and help create opportunities that improve the quality of life for refugees and emerging communities in Edmonton!

Apply here: https://docs.google.com/forms/d/e/1FAIpQLSfI8WcFBSg2IVdQt8IUJRKzSXXyw5jMEVGULcvQA_kzpoL2wg/viewform

10/07/2026

We are so proud to support events that bring together community, forge connections and celebrate culture. This event for Vietnamese Women’s Day (Ngày Phụ nữ Việt Nam) is a great way to honour and learn more about the vital contributions women have had in Vietnamese society, community, culture and heritage. Thank you to Chúng Ta Cùng Nhau Vietnamese-Edmonton Cultural Society for this inaugural event, and for creating a new opportunity for Edmontonians to listen and learn from each other!

Come together to celebrate Vietnamese Women’s Day (Ngày Phụ nữ Việt Nam) in Edmonton this October, presented by Chúng Ta Cùng Nhau Vietnamese-Edmonton Cultural Society, supported by Lucky Supermarket and the Edmonton Community Foundation. 💛💗

Vietnamese Women’s Day in Edmonton

Date: Sunday, October 18, 2026
Time: 1-4 p.m.
Location: Lucky Supermarket South (Sunroom), 2950 Calgary Trail NW
Ticket: $25 per person includes refreshments, Good Good Pal portrait, take-home gift, plus áo dài shopping, art and heritage displays and vibes.
Limited spots available.

** This is an all-ages, family-friendly event, however only ticket holders will receive complimentary food, portrait, and take-home gift **

Event Program:
1-4 p.m. - Food, Shopping, Portraits, Displays, Mingling. There will be brief remarks from CTCN co-founders from 2-2:30 p.m.

Wearing your Áo dài or traditional clothing is encouraged (not mandatory).

We encourage you to plan to try on áo dài for sale from local vendors at the event as well.

🎟️ Get tickets to the event! 🎟️ ➡️ https://www.zeffy.com/en-CA/ticketing/edmonton-vietnamese-womens-day-ngay-phu-nu-viet-nam-celebration-oct-18--2026

ABOUT VIETNAMESE WOMEN’S DAY (Ngày Phụ nữ Việt Nam):

Vietnamese Women’s Day occurs each year in Vietnam on October 20. On this day, Vietnamese people honour their mothers, wives, colleagues and friends, as well as the vital role and contributions women have had in Vietnamese society, community, culture and heritage.

This October 2026 is the first year that Chúng Ta Cùng Nhau Vietnamese-Edmonton Cultural Society is celebrating Vietnamese Women’s Day in Edmonton. We look forward to celebrating Vietnamese women in history and locally.

THANK YOU TO OUR EVENT PARTNERS, Lucky Supermarket and Edmonton Community Foundation. With support from Good Good Pal.

Thank you for supporting Chúng Ta Cùng Nhau Vietnamese-Edmonton Cultural Society’s efforts to help bring Vietnamese-Edmontonians and the broader community together to learn, celebrate, and preserve Vietnamese culture and heritage. 

10/06/2026

ECF's 2026 Wills Week is underway! Planning for the future can be hard – planning for a future without you can feel impossible. That's why ECF hosts this annual initiative that provides free expert advice on wills and estate planning via online and in-person sessions.

In this week's The Well-Endowed Podcast, ECF's Noel Xavier talks with Kayla Thompson, partner at Duncan Craig LLP, about succession planning for business owners and entrepreneurs. Tune in as they explore how to prepare for an unexpected departure, retirement and how to ensure the future of what you've built. You can register for a free Wills Week session using the link in our show notes.

🎧Listen to the full podcast at: https://ow.ly/iMy250ZV9Hs

🔗Link in profile.

09/30/2026

Today, September 30, we observe the National Day for Truth and Reconciliation. This day calls us to honour those who survived Residential Schools, hold space for the children who never came home, and recognize the continuing intergenerational trauma that affects communities today.

Edmonton is intertwined with this painful chapter. Residential schools operated in our region for many years, including the Youville Indian Residential School, St. Albert's Indian Residential School, and Edmonton Industrial School. These institutions left a lasting mark that continues to shape our city.

At ECF, we acknowledge Indigenous peoples’ profound and enduring contributions. Our commitment remains strong: supporting Indigenous-led and Indigenous-serving organizations, building relationships rooted in respect, and taking actions toward reconciliation.

Today offers an opportunity for meaningful engagement. We encourage you to seek out survivors' stories, participate in community events, and deepen your understanding of our shared history. True reconciliation happens when we all take steps forward together.

Visit our blog to find curated resources designed to expand knowledge of this history and support continued learning, understanding, and dedication to reconciliation.

https://ow.ly/Z2Xn50ZTblH

09/26/2026

What can an investment in education make possible over 25 years?

Since 2001, the Belcourt Brosseau Métis Awards, in partnership with Edmonton Community Foundation, have supported Métis students pursuing post-secondary education through nearly 4,400 awards.

Former recipients are now building careers, supporting their communities and inspiring the next generation.

As we celebrate 25 years of the BBMAs, meet some of the people behind this remarkable legacy.

Explore their stories: https://ow.ly/Wz2K50ZRSyZ

09/23/2026

What would you change in your community if you had $5,000 to get started?💰

If you’re a student with an idea and a drive to make it happen, ECF Youth Grants can help bring it to life. Projects can range from concerts and summits to neighbourhood gardens… even publishing a book!

Learn more about Youth Grants at https://ow.ly/n9EP50ZQORX