A city of volunteers
The Olympic Winter Games Calgary 1988 contributed to a long-lasting culture of volunteering in the city, bolstering the civic pride of its residents and their community spirit.
The Games’ 9,498 volunteers helped prepare for, organise and deliver the event and develop strategies and policies. Together, they played their part in restoring the city’s “Can Do!” mentality, which had been undermined by economic decline in the early 1980s.
Calgary now has around 20,000 regular volunteers, who run more than 150 community associations across the city, the oldest of them dating back to the 1920s. These helpers also support the city’s sporting, social and cultural events, including the world-famous Calgary Stampede, an annual rodeo, exhibition and festival.
Some 325 of the city’s volunteers play a role in delivering the wide range of events and activities laid on by WinSport, a non-profit organisation dedicated to sports development. Its board of directors is also staffed by volunteers.
In 2006, Calgary was awarded the title of the Volunteer Capital of Canada. A 2010 study revealed that 71 per cent of the city’s residents volunteered to some extent, which is significantly higher than the national average of 27 per cent.