Calgary John Howard Society

10/16/2026

Congratulations to Kevin Anderson, Deputy Director of Programs at Lethbridge Correctional Centre, on receiving a 2026 Community Justice Award in the Advancing Offender Rehabilitation and Reintegration category.

We know Kevin through his partnership with the CJHS Gang Exit Program, which has a dedicated team in Lethbridge working directly within LCC. The program supports people seeking to exit gang involvement through targeted, relationship-based interventions.

Kevin has been instrumental in strengthening referral pathways into the program. His operational insight, support in identifying participants, and collaborative approach have helped CJHS improve engagement and connect people with specialized support.

Thank you to YourAlberta (Government of Alberta), Minister Mickey Amery, and Minister Mike Ellis for recognizing the people doing this important work on the ground across Alberta.

10/15/2026

Last night, we brought together government partners, employers, landlords and community organizations for an evening about one shared goal: safer communities. We celebrated what we’ve built together this year and looked ahead to the work still to come. The room was full of people who are already making that goal real.

The event's focus was employment as crime prevention. When people have a job, they have stability, purpose and a path forward. Real jobs create real change.

We also shared our strategic direction for the next three years, along with our new vision: a community that prevents crime. No one can do this work alone. It takes employers willing to give someone a second chance, landlords willing to open a door, and partners willing to invest in prevention. Looking around the room, we could see that community already taking shape.

Thank you to everyone who spoke:
• Elder Ruby, for opening our evening in a good way
• Deputy Chief Cory Dayley, Calgary Police Service
• Mayor Jeromy "Pathfinder" Farkas
• The Honourable Myles McDougall, Minister of Advanced Education
• Natalie Noble, Executive Director of the Calgary John Howard Society
• Emily O'Brien, founder of Comeback Snacks, for sharing her story and showing us what a second chance can become

10/02/2026

Our team at the Calgary John Howard Society would like to extend a huge thank you to the team at Tenaris for their generosity, time, and support of our Windsor Park youth housing complex.

Their contribution will have a lasting impact on the young people who live there. Thank you, Tenaris, for helping strengthen our community.

Our line pipe and coating teams joined the Calgary John Howard Society at Windsor Park to build a garden shed and stain a deck for residents at the youth housing complex. By volunteering alongside residents and staff and meeting some of the residents living in the complex and staff managing the program, our employees gained valuable insight into the Society’s efforts in housing, education, mentorship, and restorative justice. We also donated $4,800 toward materials and tools for the project.

A big thank you to Andrew Campbell, Shaun MacDonald, Kevin Finnerty, Mackenzie Romanovich, Brian Pacholik, and Mike Maher for helping make a positive impact on the Calgary community. 👏

10/02/2026

For 25 years, Berkana House has supported women as they transition from incarceration back into the community. As we celebrate Berkana House’s 25th anniversary, we recognize the people, partnerships, and shared commitment that have made it a place of support, stability, and new beginnings since 2001.

Created as a women-centred residence grounded in respect, empowerment, and healing, Berkana House provides housing, practical support, and opportunities for family connection. Today, it continues to help women build stability, strengthen independence, and prepare for life in the community, while staying connected long after they move on.

Thank you to everyone who has been part of Berkana House’s story over the past 25 years.

Read more about Berkana's anniversary: https://loom.ly/wbIjai4

09/30/2026

Today, on the National Day for Truth and Reconciliation, we recognize the lasting impacts of residential schools and the barriers Indigenous people continue to face within the justice system.

For CJHS, reconciliation includes creating practical opportunities for Indigenous youth to strengthen cultural connections, build stability, and access support that reflects their needs and experiences.

This work is part of our broader commitment to preventing justice involvement, supporting positive outcomes for youth, and building safer communities.

Today and throughout the year, we remain committed to learning, strengthening relationships, and advancing reconciliation through meaningful action.

09/29/2026

CJHS is proud to support the Alberta Family Wellness Initiative. Our staff are trained in the Brain Story, an evidence-based framework that shows how early experiences shape brain development, lifelong health, mental well-being, and resilience.

The Alberta Family Wellness Initiative's newest resource, AdverCity, is a short animation that tells the story of a town where adversity strikes again . and again . and again. Amid the chaos, the citizens make it through—but how?

This engaging, light-hearted resource from the Alberta Family Wellness Initiative introduces the science of resilience and explores how positive supports, as well as skills and abilities, help individuals and communities achieve better outcomes.

Watch it, share it with your networks, and visit BrainStory.org to learn more about resilience.

09/23/2026

Please join us in welcoming John Jozsa to the CJHS Board of Directors.

John is a Chartered Professional Accountant with more than 30 years of experience in financial leadership, business transformation, governance, and strategic planning. His expertise in financial oversight, organizational performance, and long-term planning will support CJHS and our mission to build safer communities.

We look forward to the insight and leadership John will bring to our board.

09/23/2026

We are pleased to welcome Medhat Hanna to the CJHS Board of Directors.

Medhat brings more than 25 years of experience in real estate development, affordable housing, infrastructure, and multi-stakeholder projects across the public and private sectors. His background in housing development and municipal land strategy brings valuable insight to CJHS as we continue building safer communities.

We look forward to Medhat’s contribution to our organization.

09/22/2026

Please join us in welcoming Matt Koohkan to the CJHS Board of Directors.

Matt is an Associate at Jenni Byrne + Associates, a national government relations firm, and brings significant experience in public policy and government. He has served in the offices of Alberta’s Deputy Premier, the Minister of Public Safety and Emergency Services, and the Minister of Environment and Protected Areas, where he developed expertise in strategic policy and public-sector decision-making. He also holds a background in psychology from the University of Alberta.

Matt's experience will bring a valuable perspective, and we are pleased to welcome Matt to the board.

09/17/2026

In partnership with Last Door, CJHS delivers financial literacy workshops focused on the financial realities many people face as they work toward recovery and greater stability.

The last session explored topics like debt, financial habits, basic needs, and planning for the future. With more than 50 people in attendance, the strong engagement showed how important this kind of support is. Together, CJHS and Last Door Recovery Society are helping connect financial literacy to the broader work of recovery, stability, and long-term change.