Through our charitable partnerships, we help bring local ideas to life, like Crescent Heights Community Association’s Goose‑Bear Hill improvement project, made possible through a Calgary Foundation Neighbour Grant. This multi‑stage initiative brought neighbours together to restore natural habitat, support pollinators, and create a more welcoming community space.
The project began in November 2023 with a bee hotel building event at the Community Hall. Volunteers sourced materials, prepared the wooden boxes and pre‑drilled logs, and welcomed more than 80 participants—including a full Scout troop—to build bee hotels together. The energy and enthusiasm showed how eager residents were to contribute.
In April 2024, volunteers returned to clear, weed, seed, and prepare the hill with guidance from the City’s ecologist and Parks team. Native seeds were planted in carefully dug rows, hand‑watered, and tended. In August, the team planted native plant plugs to support pollinators and restore biodiversity. The project concluded in September with the installation of a new bench, garbage can, and solar light, creating a more welcoming space for everyone who visits Goose‑Bear Hill.
What really stood out about planting day was an 8‑year‑old volunteer named Andy. As he planted the last pollinator seed in the garden bed, he looked at it with a big smile and said, “I’m planting flowers for the bees, so they have food to eat.” His enthusiasm was contagious and incredibly powerful for the other volunteers. His simple, thoughtful words captured the heart of the project—small actions adding up to meaningful impact.
The Friends of the Federation is honoured to support projects like this. To help us bring more community initiatives to life, donate through Rogers Birdies for Kids presented by AltaLink, where your gift is matched up to 50%.
Together, we can grow even more.
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