Check out the photos from our 15 Year Anniversary Celebration!
We are deeply grateful to everyone who joined us to mark this special milestone. Seeing past and current Coaches, donors, and partners come together to celebrate meant so much to us. Together, we’ve built a community that lifts young people up, helps them see their strengths, and builds their confidence.
Thank you for being part of our story, and for continuing to stand alongside us as we look ahead to the next 15 years of impact, growth, and possibility.
The realization for me, was that if we asked young people to get rid of what was potentially ‘wrong’ we would also be getting rid of what was potentially ‘strong’ about them – that maybe young people already had what they needed to take steps in a new direction and rise above their circumstances, they just needed a chance to see and use their strengths in new ways.
We saw In the Lead as a unique opportunity to co-create a program and build something meaningful together —- it is amazing to be at this milestone, with 15 years of qualitative and quantitative data behind us, able to confidently say that we achieved what we set out to do.
“In The Lead didn’t just change my life—
it changed my daughter’s future too.”
Coral Wales, ITL Alumni (2014)
By Stephen Dawe
@stephendaweartist
stephendawe.com
To help us celebrate our anniversary and In the Lead’s partnership with Cenovus Energy, we commissioned local artist, Stephen Dawe (who has supported ITL’s branding and graphics over the years), to create a unique piece of art. This art was gifted to our incredible partner, Cenovus Energy, who stepped up to make In the Lead a reality 15 years ago and hasn’t stopped supporting us since.
This piece, titled Fifteen, is an abstract representation of the collaborative efforts, partnerships, and participation of those who have helped shape In the Lead over the past 15 years. Here is a description from Stephen about the inspiration for this piece:
“Like pixels of a computer image, a larger picture is made clear through the collaboration of many individual components.
Here, those pixels are raw forms, each beautiful single tone shaped by imperfect brush strokes and their unique interaction with the canvas. Derived from the familiar brand colours of In the Lead and the program’s largest contributor, Cenovus Energy, the palette is a mosaic meeting of inspiration, strength, and collaboration.
Individually, they represent each participant, teacher, sponsor, coach, young leader, and supporter of the program, now 15 years strong. Together, they begin to paint the picture where a vibrant downtown Calgary meets the familiar Alberta big sky — a picture that continues to be made whole by the contribution of every piece in it.”
Stephen Dawe — 2025
We have 9 prints left for sale – with a portion of the proceeds going directly back to In the Lead programming.
Your support is transforming lives.
Celebrate the difference you’ve made, and help us continue making an impact over the next 15 years.
Volunteer with us to support youth in your community as they build confidence, gain leadership skills, and realize their potential. Click below to learn more about becoming a volunteer with In the Lead.
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With respect, gratitude, and accountability, Calgary Youth Justice Society acknowledges the traditional lands of the Blackfoot Confederacy which includes the Siksika, Kainai, Piikani Nations, the Îyârhe Nakoda Nation, Tsuut’ina Nation, the Métis Nation of Alberta, Districts 5 & 6, and we honour all people who make their homes in the Treaty 7 region of Southern Alberta.
We see and celebrate the many strengths of Indigenous people and commit to reflect upon and change our ways of knowing, being, and doing so that we can truly work towards reconciliation in a meaningful way.
