The Well Endowed Podcast

Building a business takes years of hard work, but what happens when it’s time to step away?

On this episode, Noel Xavier talks with Kayla Thompson, partner at Duncan Craig LLP, about succession planning for business owners and entrepreneurs as part of ECF’s 2026 Wills Week. Tune in as they explore how to prepare for an unexpected departure, retirement, and how to protect the people who depend on your business and how to ensure the future of what you’ve built. From family considerations to business continuity, discover why succession planning belongs in every entrepreneur’s estate plan.

Show Notes:

Our guest was Kayla Thompson

ECF Happenings: 

Explore all Youth Grants and deadlines here

Explore all student awards and deadlines here

Learn about Community Grants and upcoming information sessions 

Find out how to create an Endowment Fund of your own.

Want to explore different ways of giving? Check out amazing endowments by our donors for inspiration.

The Well-Endowed Podcast is produced by Edmonton Community Foundation.

The post EPISODE 215: Putting “Success” into Succession appeared first on Edmonton Community Foundation.

For 25 years, the Belcourt Brosseau Métis Awards (BBMA) have helped Métis Albertans pursue post-secondary education and build new possibilities for themselves, their families and their communities.

But what happens when that investment continues from one generation to the next?

In this episode, Andrew Paul speaks with Theresa Majeran, who has worked with the BBMAs for more than two decades and has supported hundreds of students as they begin their post-secondary journeys.

Theresa shares what she has witnessed over the years, from students finding new connections to Métis community and culture to former recipients returning as mentors, leaders and contributors.

Andrew and Theresa also explore the vision of BBMA founders Orval Belcourt, Dr. Herb Belcourt and Georges Brosseau, KC, the role of the BBMA endowment at Edmonton Community Foundation, and what it means to create a permanent source of opportunity for future generations.

As the BBMAs celebrate their 25th anniversary, this conversation offers a look at the legacy the founders created — and the possibilities still ahead.

Our guest was Theresa Majeran

Read the accompanying article “More than an Award” by Cailynn Klingbeil, which appeared in the Fall issue of the Thrive magazine, produced by Edmonton Community Foundation. Explore the magazine

Get tickets to The Belcourt Brosseau Métis Award’s 25th Anniversary: Creating Possibilities

Support the Belcourt Brosseau Métis Awards Fund at ECF

Sign up for updates on all things ECF

Explore all student award deadlines here

Find out how to create an Endowment Fund of your own.

Want to explore different ways of giving? Check out amazing endowments by our donors for inspiration.

The Well-Endowed Podcast is produced by Edmonton Community Foundation.

The post EPISODE 214: Intergenerational Success appeared first on Edmonton Community Foundation.

Some hidden gems make it into thrift stores and eventually into homes. But what about the hidden gems in our communities who are still waiting to be recognized in the workplace?

For people with intellectual and developmental disabilities, barriers to employment can mean their talents and interests go unrecognized, limiting opportunities to build independence.

That’s where Goodwill Industries of Alberta’s Career Connections program comes in. Through employment navigators, participants can explore their interests, build employment skills and find a workplace that understands your strengths.

This work is supported by Edmonton Community Foundation’s Social Enterprise Fund, which provided Goodwill with three low-interest loans totaling $2.7 million to support its operations and expand employment opportunities for Albertans with disabilities.

In this episode, we explore how finding the right opportunity can help people build meaningful careers and why recognizing the potential of people with disabilities can strengthen workplaces.

Show Notes

Read the accompanying article “A Job Well Done” by Caitlin Hart, which appeared in the Fall issue of the Thrive Magazine, produced by Edmonton Community Foundation.

Look into Goodwill’s Career Connections Program

Learn more about ECF’s Social Enterprise Fund (SEF) 

Sign up for updates on all things ECF.

Explore all Youth Grants and deadlines here

Explore all student awards and deadlines here

Learn about Community Grants and upcoming information sessions 

Look into Wills Week 2026 Schedule

Find out how to create an Endowment Fund of your own.

Want to explore different ways of giving? Check out amazing endowments by our donors for inspiration.

The Well-Endowed Podcast is produced by Edmonton Community Foundation.

Photo by: Cooper & O’Hara

The post Episode 213: Hidden Gems appeared first on Edmonton Community Foundation.

What if many of the challenges communities face today could be addressed by investing in where it all begins?

Research in Alberta has found fewer than 46% of children enter kindergarten ready for school in all five areas of development. Meaning many children begin school already facing barriers in cognitive, language, social-emotional, physical, and motor skills, that educators consider essential for success. But this is about more than the health of children, it offers a glimpse into the future of our communities.

That’s why Edmonton Community Foundation (ECF) has made early childhood development a strategic priority investing $2.5 million through 59 grants to organizations working with children and their families.

But creating this future takes more than funding. It takes the whole community. From parents and caregivers to social programs, educators and everyday Edmontonians — recognizing the importance of those early years, when 90% of brain development takes place.

In this episode, Angel Dahiya sits down with Doug McNally, former CEO of ECF and founder of the McNally Fund for Children, alongside Allan Undheim, ECF’s Vice President of Community Impact. Together they explore how investing in children and families, even small acts like reading a book, can create a big impact on the future of our little ones.

Show Notes:

Our guests were Doug McNally and Allan Undheim.

Look into ECF’s Early Childhood Development work

Learn more about Community University Partnership work at the UofA

Want to support Doug’s fund? Learn more about McNally Fund for Children

ECF Happenings: 

Explore KidsFringe — a space for little fringers

Find out how to create an Endowment Fund of your own.

Want to make a difference? Lear more about ECF Early Childhood development fund and be part of the change.

Want to explore different ways of giving? Check out amazing endowments by our donors for inspiration.

The Well-Endowed Podcast is produced by Edmonton Community Foundation.

The post Episode 212: Where it Begins appeared first on Edmonton Community Foundation.

What can Alberta’s migratory bird population teach us about our environment?

Alberta’s declining bird populations are an important indicator of growing pressures on the natural systems that sustain all life. At the heart of understanding those changes is Beaverhill Bird Observatory (BBO), one of Canada’s longest-running migration monitoring stations, where every observation contributes to the long-term data that drives conservation action.

In this episode of The Well-Endowed Podcast, Andrew Paul travels to the Beaverhill Natural Area, where he joins Assistant Biologist John Van Arragon and his crew during one of the final bird-monitoring nights of the season. Together, they explore how scientific research, community education, and Edmonton Community Foundation’s Environmental Operating Grants are helping protect Alberta’s migratory birds and build the capacity to continue this vital work for generations to come.

Show Notes:

ECF Happenings:

Find out how to create an Endowment Fund of your own.

Learn more about ECF’s Environmental Operating Grants .

Register today for Fall 2026 Community Grants informal sessions and explore funding ideas ahead of applying.

Check out some of the amazing endowment funds our donors have established.

Upcoming Student Awards:

The Well-Endowed Podcast is produced by Edmonton Community Foundation.

The post EPISODE 211: A Bird in the Hand appeared first on Edmonton Community Foundation.

Could one of the greatest risks to your lung health be the one you can’t see, smell, or taste? Even more surprising, it might be hiding inside your homes.

Canadians spend nearly 90% of their time indoors, where hidden risks such as radon, a naturally occurring gas that is colourless, odourless, and tasteless, can build up inside homes and buildings. Along with poor ventilation, mould, and everyday air pollutants, these risks can affect long term lung health.

The good news? There are practical steps you can take to create healthier indoor spaces. In this episode of The Well-Endowed Podcast, Ben Freeland sits down with Jamie Happy from Alberta Lung to explore indoor air quality, radon awareness, and how education and resources can help Albertans make informed decisions about their lung health. With support from Edmonton Community Foundation’s Community Grants program, Alberta Lung is expanding access to radon awareness resources and workshops.

Show Notes:

Our guest today was Jamie Happy, Health Promotions Coordinator from Alberta Lung

Read the companion article, “Breathe Easier,” in the Spring 2026 edition of Thrive Magazine.

Learn more about Alberta Lung

Learn more about mitigating Radon ensuring Health Canada guidelines 

ECF Happenings:

Find out how to create an Endowment Fund of your own.

Learn about Community grants and how they can help support your organizational needs

Check out some of the amazing funds our donors have created.

Read 2025 Impact Report

Upcoming Student Awards:

Al Maurer Awards

Charmaine Letournea Scholarships

Click here to find details for all of our student awards!

Ben Freeland’s interview with Jamey Happy was produced by Odvod Media.

The Well-Endowed Podcast is produced by Edmonton Community Foundation.

The post EPISODE 210: Clearing the Air appeared first on Edmonton Community Foundation.

How do you turn a successful business into a generous one?

Bill Knight started out selling vacuum cleaners door to door, knowing, in his own words, nothing about business. Decades later, he and his family run Mosaic Home Services, a home-services company that now spans the country, with giving built into the way it operates.

In this episode, Trudy Callaghan from Odvod Media sits down with Bill and his son and business partner, Steven, to talk about Mosaic’s monthly Charity Day, the funds they’ve created with ECF, and why generosity has been part of the family business from the start. It’s a conversation about what it really takes to build a company that gives back, and how everyday business decisions can grow into lasting community impact.

Show Notes:

Our guests were Bill Knight and Steven Knight of the Mosaic Home Services.

Read Caitlin Hart’s companion article, “Built to Give,” in the Spring 2026 edition of Thrive Magazine.

See the Knights’ story featured in ECF’s 2025 Impact Report.

Learn about EPL’s Children’s Enrichment Fund.

 ECF Happenings:  

Find out how to create an Endowment Fund of your own.  

Read the latest issue of Thrive.  

Read the latest on  our blog.  

Check out some of the amazing funds our donors have created.  

 ECF Youth Grants:  

Youth Grants 

Upcoming Student Awards: 

Al Maurer Awards

Click here to find details for all of our student awards! 

ECF Community Champions: 

Trudy Callaghan’s interview with Bill Knight and Steven Knight was produced by Odvod Media.

The Well-Endowed Podcast is produced by Edmonton Community Foundation.

The post EPISODE 209: Built to Give appeared first on Edmonton Community Foundation.

What does it take to build a career in a field that wasn’t built with you in mind? 

Women Building Futures has been helping women enter the trades and transportation since 1998 — not just with job training, but with the wraparound supports that make it possible to actually get there: childcare plans, housing support, fitness training, and a food pantry. Since the beginning, more than 3,000 women have come through their programs. Their work is supported in part by the JudyLynn Archer Fund, an endowment held at Edmonton Community Foundation. 

In this episode, we hear from WBF CEO Carla Madra and Red Seal welder Natalie Bak — a graduate who went from a nineteen-year-old with no experience to a welder who’s worked across Western Canada and up into the Northwest Territories. 

Show Notes:

Our guests today were Carla Madra, CEO of Women Building Futures, and Natalie Bak, WBF graduate and Red Seal welder. 

Read the companion article, “Forging Ahead,” in the Spring 2026 edition of Thrive Magazine. 

Learn more about Women Building Futures 

Learn more about the JudyLynn Archer Fund

 ECF Happenings:  

Find out how to create an Endowment Fund of your own.  

Read the latest issue of Thrive.  

Read the latest on  our blog.  

Check out some of the amazing funds our donors have created.  

 ECF Youth Grants:  

Youth Grants 

Upcoming Student Awards: 

Al Maurer Awards

Click here to find details for all of our student awards! 

Alyssa Noel’s interview with Carla Madra and Natalie Bak was produced by Odvod Media. 

The Well-Endowed Podcast is produced by Edmonton Community Foundation.

The post EPISODE 208: Forging Ahead appeared first on Edmonton Community Foundation.

What does it mean to truly live independently?

For AiLA — the Autism Independent Living Association — independence isn’t just about having a place to live. It’s about having the skills, confidence, and support to navigate daily life on your own terms. 

In this episode, we hear about AiLA’s new cooking program: a series of hands-on workshops teaching autistic adults to prepare nutritious meals, manage a grocery budget, and build real kitchen confidence. The program runs out of The Kitchen at the Stanley A. Milner Library, and was made possible through a $15,000 Community Grant from Edmonton Community Foundation.

Show Notes:

Our guest is Leanne Carr, President of AiLA. 

Read Justin Bell’s companion article, “Independence Through Cooking” in the Spring 2026 edition of Thrive Magazine. 

Learn more about AiLA.

Read ECF’s full $20 million affordable housing announcement.

ECF Happenings: 

Find out how to create an Endowment Fund of your own. 

Read the latest issue of Thrive. 

Read the latest on  our blog. 

Check out some of the amazing funds our donors have created. 

ECF Youth Grants: 

Youth Grants

Upcoming Student Awards:

Hilltop Awards & Bursaries

Winspear Fund Scholarships for Advanced Classical Music

Click here to find details for all of our student awards!

Justin Bell’s interview with Leanne Carr was produced by Odvod Media. 

The Well-Endowed Podcast is produced by Edmonton Community Foundation. 

The post EPISODE 207: Independence Through Cooking appeared first on Edmonton Community Foundation.

What happens to the artists who fall through the gap between school and a professional career?

In this episode of The Well-Endowed Podcast, we catch up with alumni of Pro Coro Canada‘s Emerging Artist Program — a free, professional-level training program for singers, conductors, and composers that’s been quietly building something in Edmonton for over a decade. 

This episode features Michael Zaugg, Artistic Director & Principal Conductor of Pro Coro Canada, Maddy Douglas and Taylor McDonough of Sóley Singers, and Noel Fanaeian, also known as hundredmillionthousand. 

Together, they explore what it looks like to come up through a program like this — and where it can take you. From launching a youth-led nonprofit choir to collaborating on a live performance that fuses choral sound, electronics, and audio-visuals, this conversation is a window into the ecosystem Pro Coro has been building for the next generation of choral artists in Edmonton. 

Show Notes:

Our guests today were Michael Zaugg, Artistic Director of Pro Coro Canada, Maddy Douglas and Taylor McDonough of Sóley Singers, and Noel Fanaeian (hundredmillionthousand).

Learn more about Pro Coro Canada’s Emerging Artist Program. 

Explore Sóley Singers’ upcoming season. 

Follow Noelle / hundredmillionthousand for updates on upcoming performances. 

ECF Happenings: 

Find out how to create an Endowment Fund of your own. 

Read the latest issue of Thrive. 

Read the latest on  our blog. 

Check out some of the amazing funds our donors have created. 

ECF Youth Grants: 

Youth Grants

Upcoming Student Awards:

Hilltop Awards & Bursaries

Winspear Fund Scholarships for Advanced Classical Music

Click here to find details for all of our student awards!

The Well-Endowed Podcast is produced by Edmonton Community Foundation.

The post EPISODE 206: A Space to Grow appeared first on Edmonton Community Foundation.