Your Place to Belong
Every family deserves a solid foundation. No matter where you are in your journey, we welcome you exactly as you are.
Who We Are
Parenting is one of life’s most profound joys, but it can also be uniquely isolating and exhausting. At Families Matter, we step into that gap to ensure no parent in Calgary has to struggle in silence. We aren't just a service provider; we are a dedicated support system built on the belief that every family deserves a village.
How We Help
We help you navigate the transitions of parenthood with confidence. Whether you are managing postpartum anxiety, seeking ways to bond with your toddler, or looking for a mentor who understands the journey of fatherhood, we provide the professional tools and community connection you need to build a strong, resilient home.
Our Core Philosophy: Learn, Play, Love
Learn
We provide evidence-based education to help you understand your child’s development and your own wellbeing.
Play
We create safe, joyful spaces for families to bond and for children to discover the world.
Love
We lead with compassion, ensuring every family, regardless of background or circumstance, feels respected and heard.
Our Annual Reports
Take a look back at how Families Matter, with the incredible support of our volunteers and donors, has helped Calgary families build stronger, more resilient homes over the years.
Our Annual Reports
Mission, Vision & Values
Our Mission
To empower families so that caregivers and children build resilience and thrive.
Our Vision
A connected community in which children and families are nurtured and supported to be happy, healthy and resilient.
Our Values
We are an agency that lives its values in our work every day.
- Respect
- Resilience
- Collaboration
- Playfulness
- Self-Awareness
Board of Directors
Families Matter is guided by a Board of Directors who don’t just lead; they believe. For our board, this work is personal. Below, they share the "why" that fuels their commitment to the families we serve and their vision for a community where every family thrives.
Kelly Siemens
VICE CHAIR
Tom Hansen
CO-CHAIR
Alyson Jenkins
TREASURER
Stephanie Whyte
SECRETARY
Jessica Brown
DIRECTOR
Allison Smith
DIRECTOR
Jennifer Hammer
DIRECTOR
Cheryl-Lee Cosgrove
DIRECTOR
Faisal Ali
DIRECTOR
Frequently Asked Questions
Our programs are for parents/caregivers with children from prenatal to grandparenting. Classes can be about parent education, fathering, mental health (perinatal mood disorder), and parents under 23. We also offer parent and child together programming.
We offer home visitation in the participants home. Our Family Life Education classes are held throughout the city at other agencies, delivered privately, and at our Family Centres. Parent and child programming takes place at our 3 Family Resource Centres located in the NE, SE and NW quadrants of Calgary. In the summer we also offer plenty of outdoor Parent and Child programming.
Yes. We offer classes in the evenings, daytime and also limited weekend programming. We offer classes in-person as well as online over Zoom.
Our public offerings are covered by generous contributions from our funders; including municipal, provincial and federal government funding, charitable organizations, and private foundations. Registration is required for all offerings.
We offer limited in-person services to neighbouring communities.
We do have a peer support program for families experiencing perinatal mood disorders, which can support Albertan families anywhere in the province. To enquire about this program please call Amanda at 403.205.5187.
Yes, we can deliver programs privately to businesses or organizations at any time. Topics can be tailored specifically to your group’s interests. For information on costs and availability, please contact Lindsay at LindsayHacking@familiesmatter.ca.
Yes, we are a not-for-profit society charity registered with the Province of Alberta.
We are not affiliated with any specific religious organization. We are happy to collaborate with any group, including faith-based organizations, which share our objective of strengthening families.