| Calgary is considered a fortunate community, with economic prosperity, clean air and water, and equality for all. But not everyone has a place to call home, traffic congestion is resulting in increased pollution, and some people still have to fight for their rights. There are several organizations giving their time and effort to make our city a better place to live – please take a few minutes to browse through this guide and consider how you can contribute.
HUMAN RIGHTS AND SOCIAL JUSTICE
AFRICAN SOLIDARITY NETWORK
www.ucalgary.ca/~knschoon/
A hub for all citizens concerned with Africa and development.
ALBERTA COALITION AGAINST POVERTY
262-2390
Anti-poverty coalition with goals to eliminate homelessness and poverty.
AMNESTY INTERNATIONAL
270-8026
www.amnesty.ca
Worldwide voluntary activist movement that works impartially to prevent violations of people’s fundamental, civil and political human rights by governments and opposition groups.
ANTI-RACISM ACTION CALGARY
www.geocities.com/aracally/main.html
Expose, oppose, and confront all forms of racism, sexism, and homophobia, (bigotry in general) on a street-level.
ARUSHA CENTRE
270-3200
www.arusha.ab.ca
A collectively run, member-supported organization that provides resources and programming on local and global social justice issues.
CALGARY AND DISTRICT LABOUR COUNCIL
262-2390
CALGARY COALITION FOR PEACE AND AGAINST RACISM
244-7559
An ad-hoc group of individuals, created in solidarity with the rising worldwide protest movement, as an alternative voice.
CALGARY COALITION FOR SOCIAL JUSTICE
http://members.shaw.ca/cdlc/cdlcccsj.htm
Dedicated to the elimination of police brutality.
CALGARY COMMUNITIES AGAINST SEXUAL ABUSE
237-6905
Works towards a community without sexual abuse through support for people in crisis and preventing sexual abuse and assault through education.
CALGARY DROP-IN CENTRE
266-3600 or 234-7373
www.cadvision.com/cdic/
Creates a friendly, non-invasive, safe and supportive environment as an alternative to the street, and provides an atmosphere for personal growth.
CALGARY HOMELESS FOUNDATION
262-2921
www.calgaryhomeless.com
Provides capital funding for housing projects and provides the vehicle for community consultation on homelessness issues and community collaboration on solutions.
CALGARY IMMIGRANT WOMEN’S ASSOCIATION
263-4414
CALGARY INTERFAITH FOOD BANK
253-2059
www.calgaryfoodbank.com
Dedicated to gathering and providing emergency food to those in need.
CALGARY STATUS OF WOMEN ACTION COMMITTEE
209-3232
www.mycalgary.com/cswac
Non-profit organization committed to strengthening the social, economic and political position of women through education and action.
CALGARY WOMEN AND GLOBAL ACTION COLLECTIVE
209-3232
Uses an integrated feminist perspective to analyze the impact of Corporate Globalization on women, both locally and globally.
CANADIAN CENTRES FOR TEACHING PEACE
1-800-574-7126
www.peace.ca
Promoting lasting peace through "thinking globally, acting locally," building peace in the community, strategic action planning, networking and information sharing.
CANADIAN NETWORK TO END SANCTIONS IN IRAQ
270-9669
A network of organizations and individuals who respond to the injustice, death and human devastation in Iraq that resulted from UN sanctions.
CHILD AND YOUTH FRIENDLY CALGARY
266-5448
COALITION FOR JUSTICE
228-6578
CUSO PRAIRIES
283-2871 ext. 4
A Canadian international development organization which supports alliances for global social justice.
DEVELOPMENTAL DISABILITIES RESOURCE CENTRE
www.ddrcc.com/
Proponents of education and employment for people with developmental disabilities.
ELIZABETH FRY SOCIETY
294-0737
www.elizabethfry.ab.ca
Provides pathways to healing for women involved in the criminal justice system by providing support, programming and advocacy.
FEEDING CALGARY’S CHILDREN INITIATIVE
520-1513
FOOD NOT BOMBS
http://foodnotbombs.mdaines.com/
Collective committed to the protest against poverty and violence in societies by serving healthy, vegetarian or vegan meals to the hungry.
GAY AND LESBIAN COMMUNITY SERVICES ASSOCIATION
234-8973
Creating, networking and community building among all people by providing gay, lesbian, bisexual support, education and resources.
JOHN HOWARD SOCIETY
266-4566
www.justice4youth.com
www.johnhoward.ca
Working with individuals and communities with regards to the criminal justice system. Advocates Effective, just and humane responses to the causes and consequences of crime as opposed to punitive justice.
LATIN AMERICAN COMMUNITY ASSOCIATION
568-9045
www.stormpages.com/laca/
Advocating and protecting the best interests of Latin American nationals living in Calgary, regardless of place of birth, political, or religious beliefs.
LESBIAN MOTHERS SUPPORT SOCIETY
265-6433
www.lesbian.org/lesbian-moms
Non-profit group which provides peer support for lesbian parents and their children, as well as those lesbians considering parenthood.
MAD MOTHERS AGAINST PEDOPHILES
www.mmap.ca/
MADNATION
www.madnation.ca/
Social justice and human rights in mental health.
OXFAM CANADA
1-800-466-9326
www.oxfam.ca
Dedicated to creating self-sustaining programs in developing communities worldwide by focusing on health security, food security and democratic rights.
PEOPLE CONCERNED ABOUT THE LOW INCOME REVIEW
935-4129
Strive to develop public and government awareness around low-income issues.
PRIDE CALGARY
262-3410
Unity in Diversity.
PROJECT PLOUGHSHARES
270-7366
www.cadvision.com/projectp
Public education and advocacy on peace and social justice issues.
PROJECT SUDAN
691-5519
Works towards helping citizens in war-stricken Sudan.
SCOPE SOCIETY
509-0200
www.calgscope.org
Works in alliance with people with disabilities, their families and friends, and other community members to understand problems and create solutions to personal and social justice issues.
STUDENTS FOR A FREE TIBET
256-3170
www.ucalgary.ca/~sft/
Students and community members dedicated to addressing the brutal occupation of Tibet by China for over half a century.
WOMEN’S CENTRE OF CALGARY
264-1155
http://members.shaw.ca/womenscentre/index.html
The Women’s Centre provides peer support, drop-in services and programming defined by client need.
WOMEN OF COLOUR COLLECTIVE
209-2764
WOMEN FOR WOMEN IN AFGHANISTAN
244-5625
www.w4wafghan.ca
Volunteer solidarity group committed to raising awareness of the plight of women in Afghanistan.
WOMEN’S COMMITTEE OF THE CALGARY AND DISTRICT LABOUR COUNCIL
283-7054
Striving to bring a feminist perspective and women’s issues into the labour movement and a class perspective and labour issues into the women’s movement.
YOUTH ACTION FOR PEACE
www.geocities.com/RainForest/Vines/1750/
Group of high school and university students participating in issues including nuclear abolition, landmines, anti-violence, racism, aboriginal issues, environmentalism and human rights.
ENVIRONMENT
ALBERTA ECOTRUST
209-2245
www.albertaecotrust.com
Supports sound and effective
community-based action.
ALBERTA WILDERNESS ASSOCIATION
283-2025
www.AlbertaWilderness.ca
Defending wild Alberta through awareness and action.
ALBERTANS FOR RATIFYING KYOTO
www.web.net/~ark/
BANFF ENVIRONMENTAL ACTIONS AND RESEARCH SOCIETY (BEAR)
403-762-0361
www.bearsociety.org
Dedicated to the protection and restoration of wilderness in the Rockies.
BOILED FROG TRADING CO-OPERATIVE
262-2194
Environmental co-operative promoting and providing sustainable technology.
BOW VALLEY GRIZZLY BEAR ALLIANCE
www.bowvalleybears.org
CALGARY COALITION FOR ALTERNATIVES TO PESTICIDES
201-2797
Contact bkinnie@cadvision.com
CALGARY RAINFOREST ACTION GROUP
www.calcna.ab.ca/populati/communit/crag/crag.html
Raises awareness of forest destruction.
CANADIAN PARKS AND WILDERNESS SOCIETY (CPAWS)
232-6686
www.cpawscalgary.org
National grassroots organization dedicated to preserving Canada’s native species through building public support for the protection of wild lands.
CLEAN CALGARY
230-1443
www.cleancalgary.com
Provides urban environmental education and awareness programs including the annual Paint Round Up, Reuse Extravaganza, composting workshops, energy conservation.
EARTH DAY CALGARY
www.earthdaycalgary.ca
FRIENDS OF NOSE HILL
www.cadvision.com/davideo/FNH/index.html
Society dedicated to the preservation of Nose Hill Park for all users.
PEMBINA INSTITUTE
269-3344
www.pembina.org
Independent institution committed to protecting the environment and developing environmentally sound solutions to meet human needs.
SIERRA CLUB OF CALGARY
201-2797
www.sierraclub.ca/prairie/Chinook/index.html
Focuses on the loss of animal and plant species, deterioration of the earth’s oceans and atmosphere, presence of toxic chemicals, destruction of wilderness areas, spiraling population growth and over-consumption.
SOCIETY OF ENVIRONMENTAL ECONOMIC DEVELOPMENT OF ALBERTA (SEED)
270-0680
Society dedicated to supporting local green business through Green Pages conscious consumer network, and a grant-giving body providing funding to individuals and groups with innovative ideas for developing their communities.
SOUTHERN ALBERTA LAND TRUST SOCIETY
403-652-4784
www.salts-landtrust.org
Dedicated to conserving the environmental, economic and cultural values of Alberta’s rangelands.
SUSTAINABLE CALGARY
270-0777
http://telusplanet.net/public/sustcalg
Promotes, encourages and supports community-level discussion, actions and initiatives that move Calgary toward a sustainable future through our Sustainability Indicators, Green Map and Ecological Footprint projects.
TROUT UNLIMITED CANADA
221-8360
www.cadvision.com/bowriver/
Actively pursues the mission to preserve and protect Canada’s coldwater resource on the Bow River.
UNIVERSITY OF CALGARY ECO CLUB
www.ucalgary.ca/ecoclub
Student-based club dedicated to education and action on environmental issues important to the U of C community.
COMMUNITY
ACTION FOR AGRICULTURE
403-932-5561
www.action-for-agriculture.8m.com/
Creating public awareness of agriculture in Alberta’s municipalities.
ALBERTA INDEPENDENT MEDIA CENTRE (IMC)
media@activist.ca
Building up and linking existing independent media projects, groups and individuals. Expanding reach and diversity by bringing together the wide range of voices within our communities.
ALBERTA REAL ESTATE FOUNDATION
www.aref.ab.ca
Funder of real estate-related projects to educate professionals or the public, to support affordable housing.
ALBERTA MENTOR FOUNDATION FOR YOUTH
270-3637
BIG SISTERS & BIG BROTHERS
777-3535
www.bsbb-calgary.ca
Enriching the lives of children through mentoring.
BRENDA STRAFFORD CENTRE
270-7240
Secure housing for women and children who are leaving abusive situations.
BUILDING STRONGER COMMUNITIES
266-0072 ext.260
www.buildingcommunity.net
Supports the process of community development by encouraging the building of community capacity.
CALGARY ALTERNATIVE TRANSPORTATION CO-OPERATIVE
802-8082
http://walk.to/catco
Member-owned co-operative that promotes, develops and operates transportation alternatives in Calgary.
CALGARY ANIMAL RIGHTS COALITION
http://carc.enviroweb.org
Promotes animal rights and animal related issues.
CALGARY COMMUNITY DEVELOPMENT NETWORK
270-4520
A coalition of community development groups, including The Community Development Council, Building Stronger Communities, Sustainable Calgary, Healthy Calgary and The Arusha Centre.
CALGARY DOLLARS BARTER COMMUNITY
270-8002
www.bcbc.ab.ca
Grassroots initiative that brings together local resources to strengthen the local economy and build community without using money.
CALGARY FREEDOM TO READ WEEK COMMITTEE
283-2085
www.writtenword.org/calgary_freedom
Participates in the annual Canada-wide recognition of freedom of expression and thought by publicizing and organizing events in Calgary.
CALGARY HUMANE SOCIETY (SPCA)
250-7722
www.calgaryhumane.ca
Animal welfare organization which operates the only shelter in the city for dogs, cats, rabbits, birds, rodents and other domestic animals.
CALGARY INSTITUTE FOR LOCAL INITIATIVES
220-3624
Dedicated to generating critical and constructive debate on important issues.
CALGARY MULTICULTURAL CENTRE
237-5850
www.calgarymulticultural-centre.com
Promoting a society respectful of different values and cultures.
CANADIAN WORKER CO-OP FEDERATION
287-2069
To develop and support an integrated network of democratically controlled worker co-ops, which work together to support the development of healthy and sustainable local economies.
CHEERS PROJECT
244-1430
www.cheersproject.com
Demonstrates how laughter and humour can help alleviate stress, connect with others and maintain physical and emotional health.
CHILD FIND ALBERTA
270-3463
www.childfind.ab.ca
Provides resources in the location of missing children and raises awareness around the prevention of missing children.
CJSW 90.9 FM
220-3902
www.cjsw.com
Campus-community radio station giving voice to volunteer-based multicultural and public affairs programming, as well as local and independent music.
CRITICAL MASS
www.critical-mass.org
A bicycle ride through the streets of downtown Calgary on the last Friday of every month.
HABITAT FOR HUMANITY
253-9331
www.calgaryhabitat.com
Builds homes for low-income working families.
HOUSING REGISTRY NETWORK
www.lowcostRENT.org
A free web service that links low-cost rentals with people looking for affordable housing.
MCC EMPLOYMENT DEVELOPMENT
272-9323
Practices Community Economic Development by partnering with the underemployed to develop their productive futures.
PEACE CALGARY
www.peacecalgary.ca/
Loose coalition of peace and anti-war activists in the Calgary area.
REVOLUTIONARY KNITTING CIRCLE
http://knitting.activist.ca/
Building community and speeding forward the revolution through knitting.
STREET TEAMS
228-3390
www.streetteams.com
Provides prevention, intervention and recovery services to children and youth who are at risk or involved with street life, prostitution and/or pornography.
UNIVERSITY OF CALGARY CAMPUS COMMUNITY GARDEN
brycelan@ucalgary.ca
A co-operative community garden growing organic vegetables.
VOLUNTEER CALGARY
265-5633
www.volunteercalgary.ab.ca
Building a community that provides leadership in volunteerism, as well as providing information on places that people can volunteer.
WORK WELL CALGARY
239-3419
www.calcna.ab.ca/populati/communit/ workwell/ww_hp1.html
Working towards a workplace that incorporates a balanced, co-operative, democratic, flexible lifestyle for the individual into an environmentally sustainable economy.
HEALTH ISSUES
AIDS CALGARY
508-2500
www.aidscalgary.org
Reducing the harm associated with HIV and AIDS for individuals and communities in the Calgary region through support and community outreach.
CALGARY BIRTH CONTROL ASSOCIATION
283-5580
www.cbca.ab.ca
Pro-choice organization that offers a range of counseling and education services that help people consider their sexual and reproductive options.
CALGARY VEGETARIAN SOCIETY
www.d-jackson.com/calgaryveg/
DISABILITY ACTION HALL
717-5613
http://disability.activist.ca/
A place for people with disabilities and their friends to come to and create ways to shape events, actions and attitudes that affect their lives.
FRIENDS OF MEDICARE
780-423-4581
http://friendsofmedicare.ab.ca
Raises public awareness on concerns related to medical care in Alberta.
GRASSROOTS CALGARY
288-1412
Concerned Calgarians challenging public water fluoridation in Calgary.
POLITICS AND DEMOCRACY
ALBERTA CIVIL LIBERTIES RESEARCH CENTRE
220-2505
www.aclrc.com
Promotes awareness about civil liberties and human rights through research and education.
COUNCIL OF CANADIANS
www.canadians.org
Provides a critical voice on key national issues: safeguarding our social programs, promoting economic justice, renewing our democracy, asserting Canadian sovereignty, promoting alternatives to corporate-style free trade, and preserving our environment.
FAIR VOTE CANADA (Calgary)
www.emmett.ca/fvc-calgary/
Committed to reforming Canada’s electoral system.
NATIONAL CITIZENS COALITION
269-3545
www.morefreedom.org
Canada’s largest independent pro-free enterprise citizens advocacy group. We stand for free enterprise, less government, individual freedom and property rights.
PARKLAND INSTITUTE
818-9807
www.ualberta.ca/~parkland/
Alberta-wide research network examining political and economic policy issues from the perspective of the public interest. Aims to conduct high-quality research on current issues and disseminate the results to the public and other public interest groups.
WESTERN AFFAIRS COMMITTEE
http://members.home.net/peterfitz/ wac.html
Dedicated to the promotion of democracy through public discussion of significant social, political and economic issues.
In compiling this guide, we made every effort to include as many organizations as possible. If we missed your organization, please send us the name, phone number and/or e-mail, and a one-sentence description – we will include it in next year’s guide.
We also urge you to visit the Calgary Activist Network (www.activist.ca), an online source of organizations and events, which has helped to make this guide possible. |
Copyright ©2003 FFWD. All rights reserved.