E527 – Elaine Wilson, Caring for Calgarians
“Imagine if you were living on that little amount, the thought of having to choose food or a toy, those are the kind of decisions some families have to make.”
Hope often arrives in small packages. But behind every gift, there’s a system of care—and people who refuse to look away. Elaine talks about the real stories behind Red Express—a Calgary holiday initiative delivering dignity through gift-giving—and the broader work CUPS does to help families move from surviving to thriving. Elaine shares what it means to lead a nonprofit at scale: the pressure to stretch every dollar, the weight of rising need, and the incredible strength of the people and communities they serve. With a warm, pragmatic lens, she explains how trauma-informed programming, early childhood development, and integrated care can change the life path of a child or parent.
Tyler reflects on his own experience founding Red Express, and how partnering with CUPS has elevated its reach and meaning. The result is a candid, inspiring dialogue about social impact, systemic gaps, and the power of showing up year after year—even when the work is hard. If you want to understand how cities heal, this is your episode.
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