2024 Leadership Award- Rajveer Braich
Rajveer Braich from Calgary John Howard Society was the recipient of the Art Smith Leadership Award! This award honours leaders whose dedication and expertise have made a lasting impact in Calgary’s homeless-serving system of care.
There’s so many reasons why Rajveer’s leadership qualities stand out:
With over eight years of experience managing programs like the Place-Based Supportive Housing Program and the Adult Housing Reintegration Program, Raj amplifies the voices of those she serves, addressing critical gaps and driving meaningful change.
Raj’s passion ensures that homelessness is not seen as the default option for those involved with the justice system. By collaborating with healthcare, social services, probation, parole, and addiction services, she stabilizes housing situations for participants while strengthening the entire sector.
2024 Front-Line Employee Collaboration Award- Terran Shepard
Terran Orion Shepard from the Aboriginal Friendship Centre of Calgary received the Art Smith Front-line Employee Collaboration Award, recognizing his incredible dedication to fostering meaningful partnerships for greater impact.
Here’s how Terran’s collaborative efforts made a difference:
Terran Orion Shepard served as the Elder’s Lodge Operations Manager beginning in October 2023. The Elder’s Lodge, a 12-unit affordable housing project, was the first of its kind, offering culturally relevant services to vulnerable Indigenous Elders at risk of insecure housing or homelessness.
Terran not only oversaw daily operations but also organized programming that supported Elders in their healing journeys. This included cultural activities, ceremonies, and safe spaces where Elders could reconnect with their identity and find community after facing discrimination and hardship.
He worked closely with other Indigenous-led organizations to ensure services addressed the unique needs of residents. His leadership fostered a supportive, inclusive environment where healing and empowerment thrived.
2024 Front-line Employee Leadership Award- Kadie Hughes
Kadie Hughes, Family Strategist at Trellis, received the Art Smith Award for Leadership, honoring her exceptional dedication to empowering families and fostering inclusive community support.
Here’s how Kadie’s leadership made a lasting impact:
During her time at Trellis, Kadie Hughes played a pivotal role in helping families access stable housing and essential resources. She built trust through hands-on, unconditional support, guiding families through challenges with compassion and resolve.
Kadie brought extensive experience in programming and event planning, which she used to identify gaps and create meaningful solutions. As chair of the events committee, she organized parent connect groups that offered peer support, childcare, and wellness activities. Her efforts secured monthly funding for a full year, ensuring these programs continued to benefit families.
Her leadership inspired her peers to engage creatively, cultivating a collaborative and supportive environment. Colleagues consistently praised her kind, engaged approach and her ability to create positive, memorable experiences for participants.
Through initiatives like holiday celebrations and school supply giveaways, Kadie helped ease financial burdens while strengthening community bonds. Her work ensured families felt seen, supported, and included—leaving a profound and lasting impact.
2024 Legacy Tribute- Free Goods Program
The Free Goods Program by Calgary Drop-In Centre was recognized as part of the Art Smith Awards.
This inspiring program collects new and gently used donations and distributes them to Calgarians in need, completely free of charge. From clothing to household essentials, the Free Goods Program ensures everyone has access to the items they need.
2024 Front-line Employee Innovation Award- Soham Nimkar
Soham Nimkar, Cook Instructor at Salvation Army West Campus, received the Art Smith Award for Innovation, recognizing his creative and compassionate approach to skill-building and community care.
Here’s how Soham’s innovative work made a difference:
From the beginning, Soham Nimkar proved to be an ideal fit, bringing valuable experience and a deep passion for helping others. Though new to the nonprofit sector, he embraced a person-centered, trauma-informed approach, guiding women in developing essential life skills to maintain their homes with confidence and independence.
Soham designed a hands-on program that included practical activities focused on healthy eating, menu planning, food safety, and budgeting. His thoughtful instruction not only built culinary skills but also boosted participants’ confidence in preparing meals for themselves and their families. His respectful and inclusive teaching style fostered mutual learning, encouraging participants to share their own experiences and insights.
In addition to leading his own program, Soham volunteered with other initiatives to support parents in budgeting and healthy eating. His warm, approachable demeanor created a safe and welcoming environment where staff and participants felt empowered to grow and connect.
Soham’s contributions left a lasting impact on the program and the broader organization, helping individuals build life-changing skills while fostering dignity and joy.
2024 Project Award- Norris House- Closer to Home
Norris House, a program by Closer to Home, received the Art Smith Project Award, recognizing its innovative approach to providing safe, affordable housing and holistic support for families experiencing homelessness.
Here’s how Norris House made a meaningful impact:
Norris House was an affordable housing initiative developed in partnership with HomeSpace and Brookfield Residential, offering reliable homes to 45 families in Seton who were facing homelessness. The program welcomed families of all sizes, ensuring that housing was accessible, inclusive, and tailored to diverse needs.
The 45 townhouse units included 29 three-bedroom homes (seven of which were accessible), 11 two-bedroom units (two accessible), and five accessible one-bedroom units. Each home was offered at 20 percent below market rental value, making safe and stable housing financially attainable for families working to rebuild their lives.
At the heart of the community, Closer to Home operated a Family Resource Centre where families could connect, access services, participate in programming, and build skills to support their long-term success. The centre fostered a sense of belonging and empowerment, helping families thrive beyond housing.
Congratulations to Norris House and Closer to Home for creating a model of compassionate, community-driven support that continues to change lives.
2025 Content Coming Soon
