The event kicked off with reflections and a blessing from Elder Wanda First Rider. She remarked about how as she was driving to Fort Calgary, she felt very moved by seeing the unhoused people in the downtown core. She noted we shouldn’t just drive by – it’s important to understand, see and hear from the people experiencing hardship right now in Calgary.
As partners of Enough for All, United Way’s Karen Young, The City of Calgary’s Rob Wiles and Momentum’s Jeff Loomis all spoke about the importance of our community-owned poverty reduction strategy and how valuable Champions have been in moving the strategy forward.
Throughout the event Calgary’s Poet Laureate Wakefield Brewster inspired conversations with his spoken words about inequality, sustainability, progress, uncomfortable change, the marginalized and the urgency of working together. Here's a sample of his words.