Mayor Farkas signs first-of-a-kind non-profit partnership agreement with Calgary Nonprofit Chamber

Mayor Jeromy Farkas signed a memorandum of understanding with the Calgary Nonprofit Chamber on Wednesday, a non-binding agreement the city describes as the first of its kind in Canada. Signed at Historic City Hall, it formalizes a framework for the mayor's office to regularly engage with Calgary's charitable and volunteer sector on policy discussions and emerging issues.

The city is home to more than 7,000 non-profit organizations. Alberta's non-profit sector employs 314,000 people and contributes $6.2 billion to the provincial GDP. Albertans donate time valued at $5.6 billion annually, and more than half of the province's non-profits rely entirely on volunteers.

Angie Gélinas, president and chief executive of the Calgary Nonprofit Chamber, signed on behalf of the organization. The Chamber, formed in 2004, represents and advocates for the city's charitable and volunteer-based sector.

"Today's agreement gives us a practical mechanism to do that with the sector that touches virtually every aspect of life in our city," Farkas said. "This agreement gives us another way to understand issues affecting the sector as a whole, and to bring that perspective into our work here at city hall."

Gélinas framed the accord as an entry point for policy input. "I see this as a gateway into policy discussions, choices the city will make," she said. "We're at the beginning of a relationship. What we do know is there's commitment."

The memorandum will be reviewed annually. Farkas previously served on the boards of The Alex Community Health Centre and Big Brothers, Big Sisters of Calgary and Area, and was CEO of Glenbow Ranch Park Foundation.