Best of Calgary is a celebration of the people, places and voices that make Calgary an amazing place to live and call home.

Written by: Kelsey Woods

Another Monday, another opportunity to celebrate all the good that’s happening right here in Calgary. We hope that you had a fantastic weekend in the sun, and that you’re ready to get back to it, however that looks for you. We know you’re all getting anxious to get back to a normal routine, so we’re here to support you in any way we can, sharing the absolute best of our city week after week.

Here are six more local business and individuals who are going above and beyond to serve their community:

Trolley 5

A stunning two-storey restaurant and brewery located on 17th Avenue, Trolley 5 was always a hotspot come warm summer days. While they are currently temporarily closed, this group of hardworking individuals are the epitome of community. Trolley 5 staff are working long, hard hours to ensure that this small business keeps up through safe pick-ups and contactless delivery. Head to Trolley 5 to see your delivery options, whether you’re craving beer, wine, music or games - yes, this restaurant has partnered with local businesses to also deliver you entertainment along with their beer. Even though times are tough, Trolley 5 realizes that others still need their help while they continue to support local causes like the CJAY 92 Kids Fund.

Michelle Hennebery, High Fitness

Some of you may know Michelle from her role as a fitness instructor at High Fitness while others may recognize her for her go-getter attitude. Even though she has a day job, is working from home AND she’s over seven months pregnant, Michelle is still turning out daily at-home workouts to help people stay active wherever they are. She’s currently living in a small apartment condo downtown attempting to do it all, and rocking at it too! Check out Michelle’s killer workouts here.

The Ace Class

If you’re a woman looking to feel empowered and make a bigger impact on the world, then The Ace Class is for you. This local company provides a platform for you to connect deeply, rise higher and level up your life with business courses, meaningful talks and countless resources on every topic you can think of. Their annual Rise conference has unfortunately been postponed until this fall, but they have pivoted and are now offering a Rise Digital Summit; four hours complete with successful women talking about what they do best, with the purpose of rising together, overcoming obstacles and embracing our resilience. Plus a bonus, local artist Jocelyn Alice will be performing live for the occasion. Check out The Ace Class and their digital offering here.

Stagehand

Stagehand is a local company working on bridging the gap between business and art. This local business brings live music and entertainment to public spaces, creating memorable experiences for artists, locals and businesses alike. A few months ago, Stagehand would often have musicians singing at venues like a mall or an airport, however with the recent changes all their performances are now streamed online. Any weekday, treat your ears by visiting the Stagehand Events page to see a brand new live performance by a budding local artist.

Janet Pliszka

We have absolutely adored watching friendly services pop up all over Calgary during this self-isolation period. If you haven’t gotten your ‘porch-rait’ shot yet, consider contacting Janet Pliszka of Visual Hues Photography. Janet has been working in the photography industry for ten years now, and is a mother to two lovely children. She is offering ‘pay what you can’ family portrait shots, whether you want to stand on your step, peer out the window or dress up in something fun. These shots are a great way to have fun, feel connected and have a great family memory of this unusual time in history - at whatever price you decide.

Movement U

Located just off Memorial Drive in Calgary’s northeast, Movement U is a fitness facility that offers HIIT, spin, row and yoga classes. This once bustling gym pivoted to an online platform within days of having to temporarily close their doors. The staff at Movemmet U use their passion for fitness to create motivating online content available for everyone to freely access through their Instagram account, not just their paying members. This gym also lent out their weights, bands and other equipment so that their community could get the most of their workouts at home, again free of charge. Realizing that this pandemic may last longer than anticipated, Movement U has since created an online portal with fitness classes, along with rentals for spin bikes and rowers. This is a perfect example of a fitness facility with community values, aimed at helping Calgarians to stay active and strong through uncertain times.

If you notice someone going above and beyond for their neighbours or spot a local business who has pivoted and provided for their community during these uncertain times, we want to know! Nominate these local heroes so we can give them a shout out and continue to spread positive news.

Nominate a Local Hero

Kelsey Woods is the Content & Editorial Manager for Best of Calgary.