Calgary Awards received by 13 of the city’s best, brightest individuals and groups

This year’s Calgary Awards have been announced, recognizing 13 people for making the city a better place in various ways. (FILE)

This year’s Calgary Awards have been announced, recognizing 13 people for making the city a better place in various ways.

The City of Calgary named the fresh round of recipients Wednesday night.

A ceremony was held at city hall in downtown Calgary, after which an official list of recipients was made available via release.

The Calgary Awards were first handed out in 1994.

2026’s winners

Wunmi Idowu, a multidisciplinary artist, filmmaker, educator and cultural leader “advancing African, Caribbean and Black arts,” received the Community Achievement Award for art.

The art award is given to someone whose “artistic accomplishments bring recognition to Calgary” or “contributes to developing a stronger arts community.”

Martha Hart is 2026’s Calgarian of the Year for “extraordinary contributions to the community.”

Hart founded the Owen Hart Foundation after her husband’s death in 1999. Foundation programs “help low-income Calgarians buy homes and pursue post-secondary education.”

Lorraine Robinson received the Community Advocate Award for an individual, which recognizes “significant contribution to the community through volunteer activities and initiatives.”

Robinson “strengthened the Millican Ogden Community Association (MOCA) through dedicated, hands-on volunteer leadership.”

It’s her 13th year on the MOCA board.

Momentum received the Community Advocate Award for an organization “implementing, improving, supporting or assisting an established project or program.”

Momentum is “dedicated to reducing poverty and advancing financial inclusion through training and education.”

The Community Achievement Award for education was given to the University of Calgary’s Pamela Farrell.

Farrell “oversees practicum placements for nearly 800 teacher candidates across 222 schools” and “has created a low-cost food hub on campus.”

The Community Achievement Award for heritage, for promoting and/or preserving Calgary’s history, went to The Confluence.

The Confluence was recognized for Kípaitápiiyssinnooni (Our Way of Life), “a Blackfoot-led exhibit advancing community-led, ethical heritage stewardship.”

The Community Achievement Award for social impact by a business went to XhAle Brew Co. for “pairing award-winning beer and non-alcoholic drinks with a social mission, donating nearly $20,000 to community causes.”

Evan Li received the Community Achievement Award for social impact by a youth.

Li “co-founded Futurlign to promote AI literacy with free courses, contributed as a student co-author to bioinformatics research and speaks internationally on technology.”

Li also “founded the Elvaria Music Foundation.”

The Urban Society for Aboriginal Youth (USAY) received the Award for Accessibility for universal design.

USAY “created Calgary’s only dedicated Indigenous Youth Centre designed with accessibility at its core.”

Habitat for Humanity Southern Alberta received the Environmental Achievement Award, which recognizes stewardship that “advances the goals of the City of Calgary’s environment strategy.”

Habitat for Humanity Southern Alberta “advances affordable housing and environmental impact through Calgary ReStores.”

The Grant MacEwan Lifetime Achievement Award, recognizing 25 or more years of significant community contribution, went to Gordon Moores Bullivant.

Bullivant is “a respected education leader and long-time executive director of the Foothills Academy Society.”

He’s also “a pioneer in developing supports for students with severe learning disabilities.”

The International Achievement Award, recognizing international acclaim or significant recognition brought to Calgary, was given to Henry Tsang.

Tsang “is an acclaimed architect, educator, and researcher focused on healthy, accessible, regenerative design.”

He’s also “recognized for Calgary’s Japanese Community Centre and connecting local community impact with global innovation.”

And the W.O. Mitchell Book Prize, recognizing literary achievement by a Calgary author, was given to Marcello Di Cintio.

Di Cintio has written six books, and his writing appears in multiple Canadian publications.

His most recent book, Precarious: The Lives of Migrant Workers, “examines resilience and vulnerability in migrant labour.”