Toolkit helps organizations build mentorship programs for women

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Last week, we asked if you'd ever been involved in a mentorship program, and nearly half of you said you've stepped up as mentors—guiding children through schools and Girl Guides, coaching new employees, and supporting new moms navigating those early days at home. One reader summed up what many discovered through the experience: people genuinely appreciate the help they're offered.

It's that kind of impact that a new national toolkit is trying to scale up, giving organizations across Canada the tools to build structured. Read on below.

👀 In today's edition:

• Construction site thefts drive up housing costs

• A small town loses its last major bank branch

• A vintage shop goes mobile to beat construction woes

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New national toolkit helps organizations create mentorship programs for women

A national initiative is giving Canadian organizations a free resource to build mentorship programs that address the barriers women face in the workplace, particularly in male-dominated industries.

Mentor Me Equal launched last week as a self-paced, interactive toolkit developed by Mentor Canada and Mentorat Québec, with financial backing from Women and Gender Equality Canada. The online resource walks organizations through designing, implementing, and evaluating mentorship programs aimed at making workplaces more inclusive. Tracy Luca-Huger, executive director of Mentor Canada, said research shows mentorship can be transformative for career advancement and breaking down systemic barriers.

The toolkit is available in English and French at no cost for employers, professional associations, institutions, unions, and other organizations. Jennifer Petrela, executive director of Mentorat Québec, said the resource provides practical tools to advance careers and address barriers, especially in workplaces where women have historically been underrepresented.

A pilot phase last fall showed that organizations wanted structured approaches to support talent development and retention, strengthen workplace culture, and build leadership capacity. The organizations that tested the toolkit saw it as a way to make a real difference within their teams while contributing to broader efforts around women's economic security.

Need to know

🐕 Calgary Police Service welcomed Sadie, a black Labrador retriever trained as the force's first operational stress intervention dog, to help officers and civilian staff manage trauma and workplace stress.

🚧 Calgary police are warning about a rise in construction site thefts across new communities, with one developer saying stolen materials can add three to five per cent to home costs.

🏦 Blairmore's CIBC branch closed this week, leaving residents in the Crowsnest Pass town to travel 40 kilometres for banking services as small Alberta communities continue losing branches.

🍺 Olds College is shutting down its craft brewing program and brewery after low enrolment led to suspended student intake last year, affecting nine staff members at Alberta's only post-secondary brewing program.

🚌 A Bridgeland vintage fashion store owner converted a shuttle bus into a mobile shop to avoid construction disruptions after last year's 11-week street redevelopment heavily impacted her storefront.

💼 Over 12,000 Alberta government employees returned to offices full-time this week as the province ended its pandemic-era hybrid work arrangement, with more than 725 workers filing grievances.

🚇 Calgary city council will debate eliminating the downtown free fare zone on CTrain's Seventh Avenue just months after narrowly voting to keep it, citing safety and fare evasion concerns.

National Music Centre offers free admission and '80s-themed Family Day celebration

Studio Bell is throwing open its doors for free on Family Day with an '80s-themed celebration headlined by Calgary synth-pop band BETABOYS.

The National Music Centre is inviting families to spend February 16 exploring five floors of exhibitions celebrating Canadian music history, along with activities designed for all ages. Andrew Mosker, president and CEO of the centre, said Family Day is about creating meaningful moments through music and bringing generations together to celebrate Canada's musical story.

The day's lineup includes an '80s costume contest, a kids jam session on the main floor, and an interactive scavenger hunt where families can explore the museum while completing creative challenges. Visitors can also catch demonstrations of the Kimball Theatre Organ and hear Sheldon Zandboer play Oscar Peterson songs in tribute to the centre's latest exhibition marking 100 years of the jazz legend. Current exhibitions also spotlight 2025 Canadian Music Hall of Fame inductees Sum 41 and showcase Canada's country music legends through interactive displays with rare memorabilia.

BETABOYS will perform sets throughout the day, encouraging families to dig out their best '80s outfits and embrace their most awkward dance moves. After exploring Studio Bell, families can head across the street to the King Eddy for free, all-ages performances from acoustic ukulele duo The Crickettes. Studio Bell will be open from 10 AM to 5 PM on February 16, and all memberships, including family memberships, will be half price for one day only.

Where to eat and drink

🍴 Francine's: This French bar in Calgary's historic Chinatown serves old-world cocktails, spirits, and aperitifs alongside tavern-focused, French-accented fare.

🍴 IBU: A father-son team blends global flavours with vibrant Asian influences in dishes inspired by 30 years of culinary experience across the Middle East, Australia, and Southeast Asia, with IBU meaning "mother" in Indonesian to represent warmth and community.

Have a food or drink suggestion? Message us and we might share it!

Things to do

🎟️ Secret Impro Show: Loose Moose Theatre Company presents live improvised comedy shows every Saturday evening at 8 PM featuring popular formats like Maestro Impro and Gorilla Theatre, recommended for ages 14 and up with assigned seating available.

🎟️ Cold Spell Fun for All: The Confluence Historic Site hosts free family-friendly winter activities on February 7 from noon to 5 PM, including horse-drawn carriage rides, winter sports to try, food trucks, and fireside crafts for kids across the parkland.

Have an event suggestion? Message us and we might share it!

That’s it!

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