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

Our final week of positive news stories has arrived - and what an inspiring journey it has been. Ten weeks of nominations pouring in daily to report kind individuals, caring neighbours and generous businesses spotted anywhere from across the road to the opposite edge of the city. The combination of kind acts along with the willingness to share good deeds made our job easy, Calgary, so thank you for stepping up and supporting your neighbours during this time.

Before we announce the first wave of 2020 Best of Calgary winners next week, we have four final individuals who deserve a mention as well as some resources to support the Black Lives Matter movement in educating our city during this time.

Local Nominations

Lana McGillivray

Lana is a yoga teacher here in Calgary and a global pandemic sure didn't stop her from sharing her passion. Before studios temporarily closed, her classes were packed down to the minute the doors closed and the practice began. During COVID-19, Lana chose to teach one-hour daily yoga classes on her Instagram Live feed, free for anyone who wanted to join in. She went above and beyond to accommodate every request, being a source of positivity and energy that was so needed during this time. Lana was a true hero who helped her community maintain a positive outlook with what she does best.

Natalie, Lavish Canvas

Natalie had grand plans for 2020 - she was going to sell her house early in the year and set up a 'glamping' site for the summer. When wedding plans started getting cancelled and camping this summer looked like a no-go, she was left with a dud of a business venture and considered writing 2020 off altogether as people would be confined to their homes for a while. Luckily, she didn't let this stop her from offering a refreshing experience. Out of this unique situation, Natalie introduced a new business idea, Lavish Canvas. This summer, Natalie and her team will deliver and set up unique tents furnished with lavish rugs, full-sized beds, chandeliers and so much more in people's backyards, allowing them to relax in a new environment while also enjoying a stay-cation and keeping their money right here in Alberta. Instead of travelling across the province this summer, Lavish Canvas allows you the ability to stay at home with the luxuries of a grand hotel.

Samantha Thompson

Samantha has a big heart and is always looking for new ways to help others whenever she can. She regularly carries around Dollar Store and Tim Hortons' gift cards to give away to those she meets on the street and may need a helping hand. During this time, she has also been offering free photoshoots for graduates here in Calgary, due to the cancellation of ceremonies - this has meant so much to these graduates and their families. Thank you for being both selfless and generous in this time of need, Samantha.

Glynndon F Dobson

On Victoria Day long weekend, there was an outstanding act of selflessness spotted by the Bow River. A woman was in distress as her dog swam further and further into the river chasing ducks - the dog was getting tired but it was still not responding to her calls. A man walking by, Glynndon, asked if she needed help and without hesitation, took off his clothes and jumped into the river. He swam to the dog, corralling it and eventually leading it back to shore. We are happy to report that the dog is fine and the owner was very relieved. Without looking for any recognition or praise for the selfless act, Glynndon replied "you're very welcome" and continued on his walk by the river. What a nonchalant hero!

We want to give a huge shout out to everyone who nominated a local individual or business to be featured here on Best of Calgary. We are truly blown away by the amount of compassion and selflessness seen during these tough times. We are here to celebrate the people, places and voices that make this city great, so thank you for sharing your stories and continually looking out for your neighbours, Calgary.

Resources

During this time, we have been watching, listening and educating ourselves on the issues of systemic racism and police brutality around the world. Below we have compiled a few resources for you to educate yourself and help support Black-owned businesses right here in Calgary.

Watch YYC Colours Documentary

This documentary was created to start discussions about racism in Calgary as well as Canada in 2017. Taking over a year and a half to produce, the Canadian Cultural Mosaic Foundation spoke to hundreds of people and over 100 interviews were recorded through a community call to action that contributed to the content of the film. By having honest conversations about racism and privilege in our society, YYC Colours aims to help us understand hate crimes, privilege, white fragility, bigotry, xenophobia and islamophobia.

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Support Black-Owned Restaurants

A local individual has compiled a list of some Black-owned restaurants here in Calgary, should you choose to dine in, order take out or support in another way. See their Instagram profile here, the comments section of the post and the Google maps link on their profile for more restaurant ideas.

Additional Action & Education

Syma Habib has compiled a guide to existing anti-racism work found here in Calgary and outlined it an Instagram post, including the documentary mentioned above. She offers suggestions for locally produced content and resources to learn more and educate yourself.

We fight and stand together in solidarity during these times, Calgary. Next week we'll be announcing the first five 2020 Best of Calgary winners, so stay tuned!

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