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Tag: innovation
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Thank You For Making a Difference!
Since 1963, Goodwill has been making a positive impact by changing lives for the better, through the power of work and the dignity of a job.
Thank you to our shoppers, as your dollars provide purpose and employment to Albertans with disabilities.
Thank you to our donors, as your support helps the environment and changes lives for the better.
And Thank you to all Albertans as You stepped up for the GOOD of our community this year.
Together, we will continue to strengthen our province.
To show our appreciation and as a thank you to our shoppers and donors, we are excited to offer an opportunity WIN a luxurious 2-night stay in the beautiful Rocky Mountains!
When you visit a store in the Edmonton and surrounding areas, enter for a chance to win a 2-night stay at the gorgeous Fairmont Jasper Park Lodge! When you visit a store in Calgary and surrounding areas, enter to win a 2-night stay at the picturesque Fairmont Chateau Lake Louise!
We couldn’t have provided this Alberta staycation without our partners at the Fairmont.
The fun won’t end there, because throughout November and December, we’ll be saying thank you in our own unique GOODWILL way, because your contributions have helped further our mission of helping those with disabilities get back into the workforce, finding the right job, for the right person.
Some things to consider about your contributions:
• You helped send 167 Albertans through our Path to Employment.
• You’ve contributed to the more than 500,000 donations we received this past year.
• Through recycling and re-purposing we have diverted about 16million kilograms from landfills annually.
• 89.2 cents of every dollar you spent was reinvested into Goodwill’s mission.Together we are changing lives for the better, strengthening families and communities through the power of work and the dignity of a job.
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Got Forks? How to make a life sized polar bear using thrifted utensils
What do 16,000 forks (and counting), Goodwill, and a polar bear have in common? They are all key aspects of Edmonton artist Dave McAuley’s silverware artwork and sculptures. Dave has been using thrifted and recycled silverware found at Goodwill stores to create a large, metal polar bear statue.
Photo Courtesy of Dave McAuley The statute has been a labour of love and passion project for the welder, who was inspired to create the polar bear after “something lit up in my head”. Beginning the project last spring, the first forms of the design began with a steel cup used for the bear’s nose. In total, he estimates that more than 600 hours or the equivalent of 25 (full 24 hours days) have been lovingly invested into the sculpture.
Photo Courtesy of Dave McAuley Dave is often known as the “silverware guy” to Edmonton area Goodwill stores and is only 4,000 pieces of silverware away from completing his sculpture. Since the polar bear is a female, her cub is next up to create. Should Dave end up at a fork in the road (pun intended) in completing this project, we have him covered at Goodwill – as we’ll be looking and collecting silverware and eagerly awaiting his final sculpture!
Photo Courtesy of Dave McAuley Check out Dave’s thrifted utensil sculpture below:
For additional media coverage please see:
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Recap: Goodwill Virtual Sustainability Show
Back in August with the help of Zoom, Goodwill held its first-ever LIVE Goodwill Virtual Fashion Show and it was a smashing success! Following this show, Goodwill hosted it’s second LIVE Virtual Show – but this time with a sustainability twist!
Wrapping up waste reduction week, Goodwill Industries of Alberta hosted its first-ever Goodwill Virtual Sustainability Show, featuring 6 local thrifting artisans, environmental entrepreneurs and upcycling crafters.
The Goodwill Virtual Sustainability Show focused on showcasing businesses and people that take thrifted items and recycled waste materials found at Goodwill and at Goodwill’s Amazing Edmonton Impact Centre and transforming them into works of art, creating functional items and giving them a second chance at life; rather than ending up in one of Alberta’s landfills.
The 6 participants in the show were:
Corey – [ReWaste]
Reusable Snack bags made from an old singular use strawberry bag? A plastic coaster made from an old diaper genie? These are just a few of the many recycled and repurposed goods from Edmonton’s own [Re]Waste
Started by Environmental entrepreneur Corey, [Re] Waste is committed to diverting plastics and other reusable “wastes” from landfills, oceans and incinerators, by repurposing the plastic/wastes into practical pieces like coasters, bags, and everything in between.
Instagram: @rewaste.ca
Facebook: [Re]Waste
Coasters/Tiles made from recycled plastic flakes 
Photo courtesy of [Re]Waste Laura – Reverie Crafts & Creations
From Macramé key chains and wall hangings
to upcycled furniture masterpieces to homemade masks, Laura from Reverie Crafts & Creations is also a very familiar face to the Goodwill Family!
Laura works at one of our Calgary Goodwill stores and recently started her own small business now called Reverie Crafts & Creations just a few short weeks ago.
Instagram: @reverie_crrafts_creations.yyc
Facebook: Reverie Crafts & Creations
An upcycled end table, lovingly restored by Reverie Crafts and Creations 
Photo Courtesy of Reverie Crafts & Creations Jonathan – Full Circle Plastics
Located near Lethbridge, Alberta Full Circle Plastics creates long-lasting, durable products using recycled plastic materials and extrusion.
Full Circle Plastics loves the creativity of taking items that are odten seen as waste, and recycling them into products that can last a lifetime. Some of their products include fence boards, plastic lumber, parking curbs and park benches!
Instagram: @fullcircleplastics
Facebook: Full Circle Plastics Ltd.
Website: www.fullcircleplastics.ca
Believe it or not, this bench is made from recycled plastic chips! 
Photo Courtesy of Full Circle Plastics Lee – Urban Squirrel Designs
Lee from Urban Squirrel Creations in Calgary describes herself was a city dwelling quilling artist living in a repurposed universe, who breathes new life into various paper mediums and prevents them from ending up in our landfills.
She chooses mediums like books that are bound for the trash – ranging from Atlases, comic books, sheet music and even damaged bibles. All pieces are created to be unique, creative, elegant and thought provoking – things that buyers would be proud to keep or give as a gift.
Instagram: @urban_squirrel_designs
Facebook: Urban Squirrel Designs
Website: https://urbansquirrelcreations.webs.com/
Hand quilled paper art created from upcycled books like damaged bibles and atlases that would otherwise end up in the landfill 
Photo Courtesy of Urban Squirrel Designs Nicole – BOOM Bags #YEG
Locally based in Edmonton, Boomerang Bags #YEG has been formed to get folks together to make reusable shopping and produce bags in a fun and social setting. The bags are made from DONATED material.
Every fabric Boom Bags YEG can keep approximately 700 plastic bags out of our landfill. The bags are given away FREE to our friends, families, and folks we don’t even know!! as a plastic bag alternative that can be used and reused or passed on to others. The only requisite to receiving one of our FREE shopping bags, is that the receiver PLEDGES to use it! If they cannot, they promise to pass along to someone else.
Instagram: @boombagsyeg
Facebook: Boomerang Bags YEG
Website: https://boomerangbags.org/listings/edmonton-ab-canada-boombagsyeg/
The amazing volunteers behind BOOM Bags #YEG 
Photo Courtesy of BOOM Bags #YEG Johnson – Commercial Services, Goodwill Industries of Alberta
Located out of the Amazing Edmonton Goodwill Impact Centre, the Commercial Services team is comprised of individuals with disabilities who take discarded items and make them new again. The team makes cleaning cloths out of discarded t-shirts and towels, works with Suncor on a nuts and bolts program, creates outstanding upcycle furniture among others.
Johnson the leader of the Goodwill @ Work program is here to talk about the amazing opportunities this team has created at Goodwill.
Website: www.goodwill.ab.ca/commercialservices/
Goodwill’s famous cleaning cloths- made from recycled t-shirts and towels 
Photo Courtesy of Commercial Services, Goodwill Industries of Alberta Be sure to follow these amazing businesses! Not only are you supporting Albertans but also supporting sustainability champions!
For those who missed the live show, a recorded version can be found and viewed below.
We’ll be adding more themed shows to this series… so stay tuned for our next Virtual Goodwill Show!
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Boxing Day!
To show our appreciation and as a thank you to our shoppers and donors, we are excited to offer an opportunity to save BIG at Goodwill!
On December 26, 2019, for ONE DAY ONLY, the retail stores across the province of Alberta will be 50% OFF regularly priced merchandise!!!
Not only this, but throughout Boxing Week, up until January 1, 2020, you will receive a bag with your purchase. Return this bag with a donation to your local Goodwill Donation Centre and you will receive an opportunity to SAVE EVEN MORE with our Scratch and Win Cards!
Our mission of helping Albertans with disabilities finding and gaining meaningful employment wouldn’t be successful if it wasn’t for you and the rest of the province. THANK YOU for making a difference in the lives of your fellow Albertan as we continue to strengthen families and lives through the power of work.
Happy Holidays and a Happy New Year from Goodwill.
Courtesy of Doug Roxburgh
Goodwill Industries of Alberta Contributor
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Thank You For Making a Difference!
2019 is coming to an end and this year we couldn’t thank our wonderful shoppers, donors, volunteers and team members for making this year one of the most successful yet!
To show our appreciation and as a thank you to our shoppers and donors, we are excited to offer an opportunity to save BIG at Goodwill!
Together, we proudly support and serve Albertans with disabilities, and ensure they receive valuable career development and job placement. We couldn’t do it without you and your contributions.
Some things to consider about your contributions:
• You helped send 187 Albertans through our Path to Employment.
• You’ve contributed to the more than 500,000 donations we received this past year.
• Through recycling and re-purposing we now have a 90% diversion rate from landfills.
• Thanks to you, Goodwill connects Albertans with disabilities to meaningful employment.
• 88.7 cents of every dollar you spent was reinvested into Goodwill’s mission.This award-winning year is thanks to your support! We continued on with our Sustainability Action Plan, and were honored to receive an Emerald Award for Sustainability and a Calgary Chamber of Voluntary Organizations award for Innovation in terms of our environmental stewardship.
As honoured as this makes us, we enter 2020 excited to reach all new heights of success.
Together we are changing lives for the better, strengthening families and communities through the power of work and the dignity of a job.
Merry Christmas, Happy Holidays and a Happy New Year from Goodwill.[/fusion_text][/fusion_builder_column]
Courtesy of Doug Roxburgh
Goodwill Industries of Alberta Contributor
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Goodwill Cleaning Cloths: Hotel Collection
Commercial Services Launch NEW product!
A new product has launched at Goodwill Industries of Alberta in conjunction with the Alberta Hotel and Lodging Association (AHLA). The new Goodwill Cleaning Cloths: Hotel Collection are now available at Edmonton and surrounding area Goodwill retail outlets, with proceeds going to help fund programs that enable Albertans with disabilities to find and gain meaningful employment.
“This new product is made possible by having partner hotels donate their unwanted towels with Goodwill’s Commercial Services Division transforming them into an exclusive item used for everyday purposes,” says Johnson Tran, Manager of Goodwill at Work.
Commercial Services is a division of Goodwill that employs Albertans with a disability. This division provides professional assembly and packing services in sustainable ways.
The new Cleaning Cloths: Hotel Collection is a product donated by hoteliers in Alberta through the Goodwill/AHLA partnership. These unwanted towels will then be sorted, cut and packaged into a new product and giving it a new purpose.
Through this partnership, over 10,000 kilograms of towels will be diverted from the landfill. This means more employment opportunities and more career fulfillment, as Goodwill continues to strengthen communities and lives through the power of work and the dignity of a job.
Courtesy of Doug Roxburgh
Goodwill Industries of Alberta Contributor
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WWII Medals Family Found in Calgary
Calgary, AB (November 2, 2019) – Through the re-sale of donations, Goodwill helps support programs that enable those with a disability to gain meaningful employment. This past week, a generous donor accidentally dropped off some historical items that were mixed in with some other donations to our organization at the Goodwill Trans Canada Retail Store and Donation Centre. Among these items were a Memorial Cross with the name Sgt. R.W. Finch engraved on it, various medals from World War II and photographs of family members. We felt strongly that they should be returned to their rightful owner as they held too much sentimental value and so the search for the donor began.
Within 8 hours of a Social Media post asking the public to help find this donor, the message spread from Calgary, to Edmonton, to Winnipeg. Messages poured in from right across country from people willing to offer any little information that they had to help us track down the family members. Fort Garry Horse, Veteran Affairs and many volunteers helped with this search and last night at about 9:30 p.m. MST a family member was found!
Tracey Scott, a Calgary resident and grand daughter of the fallen war veteran, was contacted by friends, stating that she needed to see this Facebook post and after doing so reached out to our organization and we discussed at length, how these items were mistakenly donated and how the photographs brought on so many different emotions.
On Sunday November 3rd, Scott arrived at the Trans Canada location to retrieve the box of items she never knew existed. Scott’s hands were trembling as she held onto photos of her grandmother, grandfather and mom, and the medal given to the young widow.
“I went to the story and saw my grandmother and my grandfather and my mom staring back at me.”
Her grandfather had died in battle in 1945 and is buried at the Groesbeek Canadian War Cemetery in the Netherlands, a place Scott visited with her grandmother in 1995. Scott’s grandmother and mom died a few years ago. She has no idea how the photos and medals wound up where they did. Those touched by this story are just thankful the box of memories has been saved to help keep a war hero’s story alive.
Goodwill Industries of Alberta is proud to return these items back to the family, back to their home and back to their rightful place, as we can only imagine the emotions running through this family. We are very proud to serve our community and this is one of the ways we were able to show that we care.
Thank you very much to the public who helped locate this family. We are very appreciative, because without your help, we could not have found the family as quickly as we did. Together we showed how amazing this country is, simply by offering a helping hand.
Thank you again.
For additional media coverage please see:
Courtesy of Doug Roxburgh
Goodwill Industries of Alberta Contributor
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AHLA Partnership
Alberta Hotel and Lodging Association (AHLA) and Goodwill Industries of Alberta
Goodwill has teamed up with the AHLA to implement two outstanding projects that will divert tens of thousands of kilograms of waste from local landfills, all while creating jobs for people with disabilities. This will impact our community for the better.
The Eco-Check Out Program
This program will encourage partner hotels to divert goods from the landfill. Goodwill will accept a wide variety of donations from hotels that will be sold in various retail locations throughout the province with 89% of all revenues being invested in Career Development initiatives for people with disabilities.
Track The Donations
Our goal is to get 50,000 kilograms of donations from hotels, but we can’t accomplish this without YOUR help!
Follow the progress with our interactive donation meter!
Thank you to the following hotels who have already made contributions:
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- Hampton Inn & Suites by Hilton Edmonton International Airport
- Hampton Inn & Suites Edmonton West
- Sandman Hotel Edmonton West
- Staybridge Suites Calgary Airport
- Wingate by Wyndham West Edmonton
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Courtesy of Doug Roxburgh
Goodwill Industries of Alberta Contributor
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Emerald Awards
Emerald Awards
For 29 years, the Emerald Awards recognize and celebrate the outstanding environmental achievements of large and small businesses, individuals, not-for-profit associations, community groups, youth and governments.
This year, Goodwill Industries of Alberta was the proud recipient of the 2019 Emerald Award for the Goodwill Edmonton Impact Centre in the category of Community Group or Not-For-Profit for a Large Organization. Receiving the award on behalf of Goodwill was President and CEO Dale Monaghan and Board Chair Kevin MacDonald.
This award recognizes associations dedicated to furthering a particular social cause or advocating for a shared point of view that have demonstrated a significant commitment to the environment through their actions.
“Thanks in large part to the Sustainability Action Plan, initiated by Goodwill and ATB Financial, Goodwill has been an innovator when it comes to waste reduction and environmental stewardship,” says Monaghan. “We are proud to make a positive impact in our community, all the while creating employment opportunities for Albertans with disabilities.”
Congratulations to all of the other organizations and nominees for this prestigious award, including our partners College H.U.N.K.S. Hauling Junk and Moving, as their hard work continue to excel the nonprofit sector. Award winners exemplify creativity and innovation through new models of organizational effectiveness, collaboration, and program delivery. They increase impact and address systems-level gaps. They create an inspiring picture of the future and empower others to have a positive impact on the community. From well-known programs to a variety of smaller scale initiatives, there are many rich examples of innovative practices in Alberta’s nonprofit sector.
For more on the Emerald Awards, please visit: https://emeraldfoundation.ca/about-the-emeralds/
Courtesy of Doug Roxburgh
Goodwill Industries of Alberta Contributor
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Nonprofit Innovation Award
Calgary Innovation Awards
Calgary AB (October 3, 2019) – The Alberta Nonprofit Innovation Awards celebrate nonprofit professionals and organizations across Alberta who have challenged the status quo and inspired others with creative and disruptive solutions to address enduring community challenges.
Today Goodwill Industries of Alberta was the proud recipient of the 2019 Calgary Chamber of Volunteer Organizations for social enterprise innovation. Receiving the award on behalf of Goodwill was President and CEO Dale Monaghan, Vice President of Donated Goods and Retail Fay Wisted, as well as Store Managers from throughout the Calgary region.
The award recognizes innovation and high performance success in the operation of the Amazing Edmonton Impact Centre and the Sustainability Action Plan, for which ATB Financial is a major supporter of.
“For over a half century, Goodwill has been changing lives for the better, strengthening families and communities through the power of work and the dignity of a job,” says Monaghan. “We are proud to make a positive impact in our community, while being leaders within our industry.”
Congratulations to Mortimer Capriles and the amazing team at the Impact Centre as well as to everyone else who had a hand in building the Sustainability Action Plan, including Fay Wisted, Shabeena Habib, Yvan Boutin, John Gebbie and Brenda Hawryluk. This successful plan was endorsed and supported by the wonderful Board of Directors at Goodwill including the Sustainability Champion Board Member, Jodi Tomchyshyn London.
Also congratulations to all of the other organizations and nominees for this prestigious award, as their hard work continue to excel the nonprofit sector. Award winners exemplify creativity and innovation through new models of organizational effectiveness, collaboration, and program delivery. They increase impact and address systems-level gaps. They create an inspiring picture of the future and empower others to have a positive impact on the community. From well-known programs to a variety of smaller scale initiatives, there are many rich examples of innovative practices in Alberta’s nonprofit sector.
For more information on the Alberta Nonprofit Innovation Awards, please visit: https://www.calgarycvo.org/innovation.
Courtesy of Doug Roxburgh
Goodwill Industries of Alberta Contributor
