Street Festival with Performance Gala

Happening on Friday, 12 September and Saturday, 13 September, we focus on mental health messaging and resources with the intent to inspire exploration and gather feedback, helping citizens to benefit from these services and support. The designed environment motivates connection between industry partners and learning in attendees.

An opportunity for organizations to come together, create synergies for evaluation, and demonstrate how together we’re providing holistic mental health support for Calgarians.

The street festival features standing banners that tell a story, to help attendees explore important concepts around mental health, neuroscience, and wellbeing. This allows individuals and groups to learn at their own pace, digest the material on their own or with others, and practice the skills shared at our games and activity stations.

With related workshops and numerous relevant partner booths placed strategically at designated emotional touch points, we're able to support our audience's enjoyment and curiosity.

“Teaching stories allow you to simplify complex topics by providing easy-to-follow models for behavior and skills. While a trust story is built around you, a teaching story can also be an indirect narrative — using someone else’s story, a fictional one, or a parable to deliver your message.” (Source)

In-person event focused on mental health, anticipating 500+ people.

Supporting equitable access to our local mental health ecosystem.

2025 East Village Layout

In each scenario, we’ve planned for:

• a gala of performances and speeches the night before, from 8 different organizations and artist teams, hosted at the Calgary Public Library’s Central location.

• a central pathway (along 8th Ave SE or 11th St SW).

• 16 printed large format banners to line each side for traffic flowing in each way.

• the banners to convey key messaging from our local mental health ecosystem, supported by a meaningful story.

• layers of support for the conversation through decor, staging elements, performances, partners, games and activity zones.

• food vendors and eating areas for people to gather and rest.

• partner booths, workshops, and activity areas both inside and outside.

• an artist committee designing and artist teams building the decor elements over 2025 February - August with facilitation from other partners.

• showcasing partner agencies, organizations, volunteers, and leaders within compassionate spaces, designed to support empathy and interaction.