Events

Presentation:

Nature Calgary: The Quiet Force Behind Calgary’s Wild Spaces

Before Fish Creek was protected. Before Nose Hill became a park. Before citizen science was a movement. There were volunteers working behind the scenes.

For nearly 70 years, Nature Calgary has quietly shaped the conservation landscape of our city. From publishing the foundational “Green Book” on local biodiversity to stewarding Frank Lake and leading citizen science initiatives like the City Nature Challenge, we continue to connect Calgarians with nature and protect the places that define our region.

Join us to learn how a small volunteer organization helped protect some of Calgary’s most treasured landscapes and what comes next.

www.naturecalgary.com

Kaya Konopnicki is the President of Nature Calgary and a long-time advocate for local conservation. She has been involved with the organization for nearly a decade, first joining when her mom encouraged her to step in as secretary. What began as a volunteer role quickly grew into a lasting commitment to protecting Calgary’s natural spaces.

Kaya holds a Bachelor of Science in Environmental Science from the University of Calgary and works as a Naturalist and Program Coordinator for the Invasive Plant Program with the Weaselhead/Glenmore Park Preservation Society. She is especially passionate about birds, and finds that birding keeps her grounded, curious, and continually learning. Through birds, she has built community, deepened her connection to place, and discovered countless opportunities to engage others in nature.

Jean-Claude Munyezamu, originally from Rwanda, is the founder and Executive Director of Umoja Community Mosaic (formerly Soccer Without Boundaries). Umoja fosters community engagement for refugee, immigrant, and low-income families through innovative youth initiatives, including sports, music, after-school programs, summer camps, and community events. The organization also empowers minority groups by offering culturally tailored food hampers, translation services, and system navigation support.

Jean-Claude’s contributions have been widely recognized: he was awarded the Queen Elizabeth II Diamond Jubilee Medal and named one of "Twenty Compelling Calgarians" in 2018. That same year, he earned the Western Legacy Award for Innovation. In 2022, he was honored with an Immigrants of Distinction Award, and in 2021, he received both the Calgary Black Achievement Award and the Glenbrook Community Association Partnership Award. Additionally, in July 2021, he was recognized with a Community Justice Award in the leadership category. Most recently, in December 2022, Jean-Claude received the Queen Elizabeth II Platinum Jubilee Medal for his advocacy work and dedication as a youth sports ambassador, and in 2025 he was awarded King Charles III Coronation Medal for his work in the community.

He has contributed to cultural and community initiatives as a member of the Premier’s Council on Culture and the Arts and served as the media and public relations representative for Calgary’s Rwandan community. He also played a key role on the organizing committee for the commemoration of the 1994 Genocide Against the Tutsi in Rwanda.

Jean-Claude’s remarkable journey has been featured in Canadian Geographic Magazine, Reader's Digest, and the travel memoir *Road Trip Rwanda* by Giller Prize-winning author Will Ferguson. He was also highlighted in Canada’s 150th-anniversary anthology, What’s Your Story: A Canada 2017 Yearbook. 

This week's meeting will provide Club Committtee reports and or the Story of one of our Club Members.

🌷🐣 Happy Easter! 🐣🌷
Wishing you a joyful Easter filled with fresh beginnings, bright spring colours, and moments of happiness with family and friends.

Spring 2026 Club Assembly at 6:30 PM meeting to start around 7:15 pm, buffet opens at 6:15 pm. Updates from Club President Chris Ritter and the Club's Board Members plus vision of incoming Club President.

In 1978, Marilyn began her training to become a Registered Nurse. Her first job was working as a nurse's aide in Yorkton and her first RN position was at the old Saskatoon City Hospital, where, at the wise age of 21 years, was regularly in charge of an acute care med/surg unit holidays, weekends and nights. She moved to Edmonton to earn her degree in nursing and worked cardiology at the U of A Hospital, eventually moving to Calgary in 1987 and securing a position in CCU at the Foothills Hospital. Clinical practice expanded to include neurology, Health Link and palliative home care. She even did a stint as a nurse on the Stampede Grounds! Through virtually all of Marilyn's 48 years of work in direct patient care, the reality of death was a frequent undercurrent and her heart broke to see people so painfully unprepared to deal with it. Once she was no longer an employee, "Death Maven" was born.

After retiring from bedside nursing in April 2024, Marilyn decided to provide “death literacy” education and advocate for a safe space where no question is off the table. People often yearn for a different type of conversation but don't know how to begin. Marilyn's company “Death Maven”, takes the holistic approach and normalizes the death conversation. She has spoken at nursing conferences and created online webinars. Occasional public speaking has become a regularly scheduled “Death Café”, showcasing Canadian films and documentaries with content guided by Canadian nurses. Following the films, questions and discussions are guided by a seasoned palliative care nurse. This work is necessary because death hasn't changed, but the way we navigate it has.

This week's meeting will provide Club Committtee reports and or the Story of one of our Club Members.

Summary of presentation: Learn more about Calgary Meals on Wheels through the story of our mission and vision, operations and programs, the opportunities and challenges we face, and the impact of our work in the community. We’ll also talk about how you can get involved as a volunteer and make a tangible difference in the community.

Bio – Esther Elder, CEO

Esther Elder is the CEO of Calgary Meals on Wheels, the largest Meals on Wheels organization in Canada, providing over a million meals annually to those facing food insecurity. With a background in psychology from the University of Calgary and a certification in Community Economic Development from Simon Fraser University, Esther blends her understanding of human behavior with strategic leadership to drive meaningful social initiatives.

Born in the Netherlands and immigrating to Canada in 1975, Esther’s early experiences with food insecurity shaped her lifelong commitment to helping vulnerable populations. With 25 years in the nonprofit sector, she has championed community building and social change.

As a leader, Esther is known for her collaborative approach, implementing initiatives that enhance service delivery and outcomes. She is also committed to continuous learning, with certifications in Change Management, Indigenous Canada, and Corporate Governance, which have strengthened her ability to lead through complex challenges.

Esther’s work embodies a deep belief in the power of community and the importance of addressing food insecurity with both compassion and strategic action.

Bio – Lauren Knowles, Volunteer Recruitment & Engagement Coordinator

Lauren Knowles is the Volunteer Recruitment & Engagement Coordinator at Calgary Meals on Wheels. She is passionate about connecting people to causes through volunteering and creating meaningful experiences for volunteers. With a background in Volunteer Management and as a lifetime volunteer herself, Lauren understands the volunteer experience and continuously strives to find creative ways to engage and involve volunteers. Outside of work, Lauren enjoys reading, birding, and hiking.

AI is real, but the hype often hides what it takes to get real value. In this session for business leaders, I’ll explain why trusted, scalable AI starts with investing in a solid knowledge foundation, just like a successful building starts with the right base. We’ll make it tangible through a heritage arts organization that is leveraging AI to digitize archives dating back to 1883, enabling visitors to ask simple questions and instantly learn an artwork’s story and provenance. Using the art archive, I’ll provide an overview of what it takes to build a knowledge foundation that scales AI, keeps answers trustworthy, and powers premium digital experiences that grow engagement, loyalty, and revenue.

Mike Morley Bio:

At Neo4j, I work “at the face,” the front line where technology meets the real world. I help organizations close the gap between AI hype and implementation by building the knowledge foundations that make AI reliable, scalable, and valuable.

Previously, I founded Menome Technologies (acquired by Arcurve in 2020) and spent 11 years at Matrix Solutions leading enterprise architecture and technology strategy. I also support Calgary’s innovation and arts communities as an A100 Charter Member, Arcurve Community Advisor, and board member with The Kinkonauts.