Mission: We strengthen families by creating learning opportunities that build confidence, competence and connection through life’s transitions. 

Vision:  Families Matter is a trusted and respected resource for families and community partners.  

Families Matter is committed to the possibility of confident and inter-dependant families.

We are a not-for profit society of 30 staff, 100 volunteers, 70 community partners and 37 major and corporate donors who created and delivered 10,000 learning opportunities for Calgary Families in 2008.

We provide learning opportunities that build confidence and strengthen Calgary families and caregivers through life’s many transitions by building on our core values.

Our Core Values:

• Inter-dependence
• Balance
• Playful
• Purposeful

Our Possibility

Imagine for a moment if family members could confidently communicate, in accountable and respectful language, with their parents, siblings and peers. Imagine if parents routinely modeled effective ways of problem solving with their children in ways that build self-esteem. What would be possible for future generations if we placed as much emphasis on developing the skills and competencies of cooperation, as we currently do on individual achievement?

Imagine how well society would function if this was the normal way of being.

Our Approach

We create learning opportunities where we can engage, instruct, role model and inspire people to live Seven Core Ways of Being:

• Being Conscious 
• Being Committed 
• Being Competent  
• Being Confident 
• Being Caring  
• Being Connected  
• Being Cooperative  

As these Seven Core Ways of Being are more consistently practiced, we build the skills of leadership and collaboration onto this foundation.  The result is increased effectiveness in several essential skills.

Essential Skills

• Appreciation and understanding of self and others
• Active listening
• Service to others
• Expectation of a positive future
• Capacity for and connection to learning
• Life skills (good decision making, assertiveness and impulse control)
• Problem solving skills
• Negotiation skills
• Conflict resolution skills
• Emotional mastery
• Seeking out objective feedback