United Way of Calgary and Area – Opening Doors for Economically Challenged Families

The United Way of Calgary and Area is engaged in groundbreaking work to reduce poverty and to open doors for economically challenged families. In 2004, United Way collaborated extensively with community partners and took significant steps to help more families share in Calgary’s high quality of life.

Last year, United Way invested $5.7 million to improve lives and strengthen communities across Calgary and area. In 2005, United Way is investing a further $7.2 million. These investments keep families in secure, affordable and safe housing; build safe community hubs and a network of support for families; and help families to secure stable employment with increased income.

In addition to mobilizing community action and investing in long-term solutions for families, United Way continues to raise awareness about the challenges faced by low-income families and to develop strategies for lasting change.

On a national level, United Way of Calgary and Area works to enhance child and family well-being through the Children’s Initiative Coalition and the Neighbourhood Change Initiative. Calgary is also involved in numerous partnerships, including a task group charged with strengthening relationships between the United Way and corporations and a national coalition of United Way agencies researching key policy issues.    

These innovative measures help ensure that more Calgary families have the opportunity to break through the generational cycle of poverty, to thrive and achieve their full potential in the community. Family Service Canada is proud to honour the United Way of Calgary and Area with its 2005 Leadership Award. 

Ms. Dianne Bascombe

Dianne Bascombe has played a leadership role for more than 15 years with voluntary sector organizations such as the Canadian Child Care Federation, the Centre for Voluntary Sector Research & Development at Carleton University and the Coalition of National Voluntary Organizations.

For the past four years, Dianne has served as Executive Director of the National Children’s Alliance, a unique partnership of 67 national organizations committed to improving the well-being of children, youth and families. Guided by the principles of cooperation, collaboration and consensus-building, the Alliance advocates for children’s issues and develops policy recommendations by bridging research, practice and policy.

Under Dianne’s leadership, the Alliance has facilitated groundbreaking dialogue among organizations, researchers, policymakers, families and individuals who have not traditionally worked together. A roundtable brought together diverse stakeholders to focus on services for children and families with disabilities. A year later, a first-ever roundtable was held for Aboriginal and non-Aboriginal organizations, finding ways to overcome systemic barriers to collaboration between the groups. In 2005, the Alliance brought the voices of youth representatives to the table with voluntary sector organizations to begin the process of developing a national youth agenda.  

Working with limited resources, Dianne has demonstrated exceptional leadership to move important issues in a challenging political environment. Like many of its member organizations in the voluntary sector, the Alliance struggles to fund its public education and advocacy work.

Dianne carries out the ambitious set of activities planned by Alliance members in a focused, energetic, positive and cheerful manner. She truly believes that the key to successful advocacy is working in partnership and always fully engages members in decision-making, key meetings and all the work of the Alliance. Family Service Canada is honoured to present Dianne Bascombe with its 2005 Leadership Award.

Mr. Warren Brooke

Warren Brooke is Executive Director of Family Service London, a position he has held for the past 16 years. He has also chaired the FSEAP Management Committee for the last nine years, a period marked by daunting challenges, ranging from increased competition to changing expectations from clients and customers. Under Warren’s stewardship, the FSEAP network has been able to innovate, adapt and make significant progress.   

Warren has also shown considerable leadership on a regional level by promoting the Families and Schools Together Program in Ontario and by lobbying the Ontario government for Early Years funding with Family Service Ontario. Locally, he has established his agency as a premier services provider in the greater London/Thames Valley area and successfully led his organization through a merger with Credit Counselling of London. In his own community, he has championed solutions that improve services for victims of domestic violence and persons with mental health crises.

Among his peers across the country, Warren is seen as a leader and a mentor. He is well-known for his unfailing respect for divergent opinions, his calm and skilful management of volatile situations and his creativity in finding solutions to what often appear to be insoluble dilemmas. To every task, he brings humour, optimism, good will and a clear desire that all Family Service agencies succeed. Family Service Canada is proud to honour Warren Brooke with its 2005 Leadership Award.