Imprints on Our Hearts

“There is no greater power for change than a community discovering what it cares about.” Margaret J. Wheatley

In 2012, I took a leap of faith and left my home in Newfoundland and Labrador to join Team Vivo (then Cardel Place). The organization’s Founding CEO, Sue Scott, inspired me with a vision of extending recreation to include more people, a broader view of health, and ensuring it had a way to measure its impact from a present and generational lens. She also shared the vision of expanding the facility to create new spaces that lived into this vision.

Back then, it was a dream on paper. Over the next decade, a dedicated group of staff, volunteers, and many other friends have worked together to turn this dream into a reality. It truly took a village to make this project come to life, and I know I speak for everyone when I say it’s been a privilege to walk this path together.  

The opening of the facility isn’t until early 2023. I’m writing this reflection now because my heart is taking me and my family home, back to our beautiful rock to be with our village there.  

The expansion has been the constant in my Vivo adventure. However, these last ten years have been much more than raising a building. I started this blog post with one of my favourite quotes from Margaret Wheatley (an impressive and prodigious community builder). I can’t think of a better way to capture what this journey has been about.  

From Vivo’s expansion to high schools to murals to inclusive playgrounds to basketball courts (the list goes on and on!), the community of north-central Calgary and its passionate citizens have rallied to make sure this beautiful and diverse area has what it needs to be a thriving community. It’s moved from feeling like an afterthought caught in the middle of a quadrant planning system to bringing its many gifts and assets to bear. This has put it on the map as an area of the city you need to check out (the Mayor even lives here now ). 

It is a place that you’re even more proud to call home.   

Thank you to this community for welcoming me and, eventually, my husband and my sweet daughter. You’ve left imprints on our hearts forever. We can’t wait to celebrate in early 2023 at grand opening.  

With the most grateful heart, 

Nicole 

Vivo Philanthropy Manager/Unicorn (2012-2022)