Hi everyone,

Settling into fall, I find myself reflecting on what has been another inspiring summer at Girls Inc. of Northern Alberta. From our summer programs to Golf Tournament, we’ve created opportunities for girls to learn, grow, build relationships and discover just how strong, smart and bold they can be.

None of this would be possible without the incredible support of investors, volunteers, community partners and staff. Thank you for your commitment and energy. Your continued support helps ensure a 100% cost-free programming where girls feel encouraged to try new things, find their voices and believe in themselves.

I also would like to re-share the news that I will be stepping down from my role as Executive Director on November 16, 2026. Since joining Girls Inc. in 2019, I’ve had the privilege of growing the organization while expanding the opportunities and deepening the impact we offer in our community and beyond. It’s been incredibly rewarding to be part of this journey, and I am grateful for the relationships, experiences and memories I will carry with me. This organization holds a special place in my heart, and I’m proud of all we have accomplished together to build on the 47 years of our stories.

Our Board of Directors is actively recruiting our next Executive Director, who will have the opportunity to build on this strong foundation and help shape the future of Girls Inc. of Northern Alberta.

Meanwhile, our Women of Inspiration series is well underway. This initiative celebrates the remarkable women who lead, inspire and make a difference in our community. And this year, Girls Inc. girls are taking the lead in researching inspirational women in the community. Join them by submitting your nomination today!

PS – Cash calendars draw start on November 2. Get your tickets today by emailing admin@girlsincofnorthernalberta.org if you haven’t done so just yet!

In solidarity and with gratitude,

Nanase Tonda
Executive Director
Girls Inc. of Northern Alberta

Summer Programming Update

Program Update: A Summer of Learning, Creativity and Connection

 

From exploring science and the arts to building confidence, developing leadership skills and connecting with culture, Girls Inc. of Northern Alberta had a busy summer filled with opportunities for girls to learn, grow and have fun. Fall programs began and in-school programs resumed during September and the busy autumn schedule is off to a good start.

 

• A total of 1505 participants have attended (+120 from the previous month) programming since the beginning of January to September 2026.
• 9.6% self-identifying as Indigenous
• A total of 334 program kits delivered to date across Fort McMurray, Janvier, Northlands Online School, and Fort Chipewyan.

Summer Highlights for July & August

Girls Leading Change Summit (Ages 15–18)

Seven youth participants travelled with Jayna to Washington University in St. Louis, Missouri, for a four-day leadership summit. The girls presented their project to other Girls Inc. affiliates, strengthened their leadership and communication skills, and connected with Girls Inc. alumnae. A special highlight was Nirva advancing to the final round of an elevator pitch activity!

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Girls on the Go (Ages 5–15)

More than 40 girls attended our two-day physical activity program, enjoying games and sports such as dodgeball, badminton, relay races and parachute games. Beyond getting active, participants built friendships, worked as teams and practised making decisions together.

 

     

 

Power of Stories (Ages 5–15)

Girls explored Indigenous culture through hands-on activities, including storytelling, sewing medicine bags, beading and creating animal-hide keychains. Participants learned about the medicine wheel, developed new skills and asked thoughtful questions. Sharing strawberry tea and bannock added a meaningful opportunity for connection and community.

 

Young Women In The Trades (YWITT) Goal-Setting Workshop (Ages 14–17)

In partnership with Careers Next Generation’s Young Women in the Trades Summer Camp, 14 participants explored goal setting and career planning. The girls created digital vision boards and wrote empowering letters to their future selves, complete with SMART goals and words of encouragement to revisit in June 2027.

 

 

Girls Gone STEM (Ages 5–8)

Seventeen girls discovered the fun of science through hands-on experiments. They built boats to explore buoyancy and made ice cream in a bag to learn about changes in matter, developing curiosity and foundational STEM skills along the way.

 

Creative Voices (Ages 5–13)

Through painting, portrait-making and clay creations, participants explored their creativity and self-expression. Younger girls created personalized portraits inspired by The Scream, while older participants drew inspiration from Frida Kahlo. Both groups had opportunities to express their individuality, build friendships and try something new in a supportive environment.

 

Fall Programs Are Underway!

     

     

 

Our fall programs are bringing girls together to build confidence, explore new interests and strengthen their voices.

• Staying Strong Mentoring (Ages 5–15): Participants are building friendships, exploring creativity and developing confidence through hands-on activities and the Lead From Here campaign.
• Beading Circle (Ages 13–18): With guidance from guest facilitator Rhonda, participants learned beading techniques and created beaded pins for ASPIRE 2026.
• Teen Advocacy Council (Ages 14–18): Participants are exploring advocacy, discussing community issues and researching topics for their Women of Inspiration projects.
• Operation SMART (Ages 9–13): Girls are learning about ecosystems, systems thinking and problem-solving as they work toward their Ecosystems Showcase projects.
• P.E.P. (Period Education Program) Rally (Ages 9–18): Participants learned about their bodies, growth and development through an informative workshop facilitated by medical students.

Thank you to our staff, volunteers, partners and supporters who help make these opportunities possible. Every program gives girls another chance to discover their strengths, build meaningful connections and grow into the strong, smart and bold individuals they are meant to be.

 

Finning STEM Scholarship Award Recipients

 

Maryam Saleem

Maryam Saleem is completing an Honours Bachelor of Science in Psychology at the University of Alberta, with plans to pursue a Master’s degree in Clinical Psychology and a career supporting young people’s mental health. Her path has come full circle: Maryam spent two summers with us as a Summer Program Assistant (2023 and 2024), supporting the girls in our programs before returning to university, and it’s that experience she credits with strengthening her desire to work with youth. With volunteer experience at the Stollery Children’s Hospital, Safewalk, and her campus EDI Committee, Maryam brings both scientific training and a deep commitment to community. We’re proud to support her next chapter.

Nevaeh Presnail

Nevaeh Presnail is pursuing her M.Sc. in Orthodontics with a clear goal: opening her own orthodontic clinic on Treaty 8 lands, employing young practitioners from her community, and making space for herself, and other young Indigenous women, where there otherwise wouldn’t be. Her scientific journey began in Applied Animal Biology, and she’s built a remarkable record of giving back along the way, from designing a sustainability garden for a Calgary daycare with Youth Challenge International’s Climate Futures Lab, to founding her school’s Operation Eyesight Club. Nevaeh also shares her Indigenous culture through food, volunteering to make fry bread and bannock for Truth and Reconciliation Day. We can’t wait to watch her make her community proud.

 

Women of Inspiration

Nominations Close on October 31, 2026

Girls Inc. of Northern Alberta is bringing a new generation of voices to its annual Women of Inspiration series and Gala, by celebrating both girls and women together as leaders, role models and voices for change.

The Voices of Change: Women of Inspiration Gala 2027 will take place March 6, 2027, at SMS Equipment Place. New to the event, the Gala celebrates three girls selected through Girls Inc. youth participation, alongside three remarkable local women. The six featured leaders will be paired together, each pair representing one core pillar: STRONG, SMART, and BOLD. Each girl will have the opportunity to select the woman she is paired with, placing them at the centre of decisions about who is recognized as a community leader.

Girls Take the Lead

Long before the gala, each girl honouree will take an active role in shaping the event itself. The three girls will participate in confidence and leadership-building programs that include interviewing their paired woman honouree, collaborating with the gala committee on event decisions, and preparing to present the award on stage.

Through these experiences, the youth honourees will have the opportunity to be active contributors, develop public speaking skills, exercise decision-making, and step into visible leadership roles within their community.

“The goal is for girls to see themselves not just as future changemakers, but as people whose contributions matter now,” says Jayna McMillan, Program Director with the organization. “Through hands-on learning and mentorship, girls will gain confidence and skills while also inspiring others.”

Six Honourees, Three Pillars

The 2027 Gala will recognize three adult women and three girls for their commitment to one of the key pillars:

• The STRONG Award: Celebrating an individual who champions wellness and empowers others to build foundations for lifelong well-being. This award honours someone who embodies personal strength, serving as a STRONG role model for the next generation.
• The SMART Award: Celebrating an individual who champions knowledge enrichment, lifelong learning, and drives innovation. This award honours someone who embodies ingenuity, serving as a SMART role model for the next generation.
• The BOLD Award: Celebrating a person who champions social change, lifelong advocacy, and community action. This award honours someone who embodies courage, serving as a BOLD role model for the next generation.

Nominations Close on October 31, 2026

Girls Inc. of Northern Alberta is inviting the community to nominate women who demonstrate the qualities of STRONG, SMART or BOLD and who make a meaningful difference in the lives of others.

The 2027 gala will provide an opportunity to celebrate these women while also shining a spotlight on the girls who are developing their own voices, confidence and leadership skills.

Please note, the girl honourees will be selected from youth Girls Inc. programming whose journey demonstrates a commitment to a core pillar.

Women of Inspiration Nomination Form 2026/2027

 

Highlights

Safari on the Green: A Wild Success!

What an incredible day at Thickwood Golf Club! On September 6, we hosted our “Safari on the Green: Helping Girls Find Their Roar” fundraiser under beautifully sunny skies. Eighteen teams, a wonderful mix of adults and children, took on the course and raised an impressive $39,725 in total.

This event wouldn’t have been possible without our title sponsor, Imperial, and we extend our heartfelt gratitude to every sponsor and volunteer who made this day so special. Together, we’re helping girls find their confidence, and their roar!

Stay tuned for more updates as we put these funds to work supporting our mission. We hope to see you all again on the golf course next year.

  

Thank You, Home Hardware!

We fired up the grill on July 25-26, 2026, for our Home Hardware BBQ and what a great couple of days it was! Thanks to everyone who came out, we raised $1,089 to support our mission.

A huge thank you to Home Hardware for hosting us, and to all our amazing volunteers who gave their time to make it happen. Your support truly makes a difference!

Run for a Reason

On September 20, we laced up (well, sort of!) and joined the Run for Reason. While our fundraising total came in modest at $60, our hearts were full: two of our girls were on-site cheering runners across the finish line. Watching them wave signs and celebrate our community’s athletes was a reminder that showing up for others is its own kind of victory. Thank you to everyone who supported us. Every dollar goes back into programming for girls in our region, and every cheer made someone’s race day brighter.

 

October Updates

 

There’s lots happening at Girls Inc. of Northern Alberta to get involved with. From fostering mental health support and well-being, to connecting through our Book Club, we’re continuing to create opportunities for girls to learn, grow and discover their strengths.

• Looking for ways to support Girls Inc.? Keep an eye out for Cash Calendar reminders, or email admin@girlsincofnorthernalberta.org to purchase tickets.
• Mark your calendar for our November 9–10 casino fundraiser. Click here for volunteer sign-up details.
• Watch for our Lead From Here campaign, highlighting skills that help girls build confidence, develop leadership skills and find their voice.
• Every bit of community support helps us continue inspiring girls to be strong, smart and bold.

 

Thank you to all the sponsors from our Golf Tournament 2026

Donate & Give Girls

Your Support Makes Her Growth Possible

Because of you, Girls Inc. of Northern Alberta continues to create safe, empowering spaces where girls can explore their interests, build confidence, and challenge stereotypes. Your generosity directly supports programs that introduce girls to new skills, leadership opportunities, and future pathways.

Every donation strengthens our ability to deliver cost-free programming that equips girls with the tools they need to thrive — today and into the future.

[CONTRIBUTE TODAY]

 

 

 

 

Thanks To Our Partners

We extend our heartfelt gratitude to our program partners: RMWB, Government of Canada, Government of Alberta, Syncrude (operated by Suncor), TC Energy, Finning Canada, Pembina, TD, BizKids, Canada Post Foundation, Ted Rogers Foundation, and Imperial. Your unwavering support is essential to delivering these impactful programs, ensuring our girls are empowered to be strong, smart, and bold.