Make-A-Wish^® Southern Alberta was established in 1995 by Dave and Carol Stinton.  Dave was attending an insurance conference in Vancouver when he heard about Make-A-Wish. He was so touched by the story that when he returned home he wrote a letter to Make-A-Wish^® Canada and told them that if they were ever interested in starting a chapter in Calgary, he would love to help. About a year later they contacted him and said they were ready to proceed.

At first Dave and his wife Carol were responsible for the whole of Alberta but it soon became apparent that the territory was too vast to properly interview children and complete their wishes. Dave contacted a friend of his in Edmonton, Gary Kwasnecha and the Northern Alberta chapter was established.


In-Kind Giving

The Make-A-Wish^® Southern Alberta consistently strives to be a leader in obtaining donations of goods and services for each wish that we grant.This is vitally important because it allows us to leverage each and every dollar even further. From transportation services to event tickets to professional services such as advertising and marketing, we are grateful to the community for this tremendous support. Here are some ways you can help:

Wish Enhancement Gifts

Each time our wish-granting volunteers visit our wish children and their families, they bring small "wish enhancement" gifts for the wish child and their siblings. These gifts help introduce the wish grantor to the family while preparations for his/her wish are underway. Currently, our greatest need is for travel games and books for young children. However, we have an ongoing need for new and age-appropriate "wish enhancement" gifts for children between the ages of three and 17.

Your donation of the following items would be much appreciated:

* Beach Towels, Bags, Coolers and other Beach Accessories
* Books for Young Children
* Crayons/Markers and Activity Books
* Hair Accessories
* Hockey Cards
* Hot Wheels
* Barbie Dolls
* LEGO or K’NEX
* Nail polish (plain colours)
* Pencil Cases filled with School Supplies
* Princess Crowns, Gowns and Wands
* Single-Use Cameras
* Sports DVDs
* Spy Watches
* Sudoku or Maze Books
* Travel Games

All items must be new and age-appropriate. If you can help, or would like to organize a toy drive in your workplace, please contact Carolyn Gorrill at (403) 228-3666 for more information.