Partnerships
About us
Community
Partnerships
Community is a core value at United Active Living. One way we live this value is through our partnerships with the larger Calgary community. These partnerships offer residents access to new learning opportunities, art, music, fitness and other activities and programs. Many of our fun and engaging Arts & Culture Programs are made available to residents through these community partnerships.
Meet Our Partners
Calgary Civic Symphony
Calgary Civic Symphony has been performing for Calgarians for more than 40 years. The orchestra is made up of amateur musicians who volunteer their time for the love of the music. United’s partnership with the Civic Symphony includes sponsoring the CCS concertmaster Maria van der Sloot. In return, residents attend concerts at the Jack Singer Concert Hall, and enjoy performances with Maria and her colleagues at United communities.
Calgary Jazz Orchestra
The Calgary Jazz Orchestra is a high energy, passionate and fun group of musicians whose goal is to engage and reach the audience with every song. Led by the inimitable trumpeter, singer, arranger, and composer Johnny Summers, the atmosphere is upbeat and fun and is consistently enjoyed by all ages and all musical tastes. The musicians are personable and witty—and laughter by all is guaranteed in every show. United residents attend CJO concerts and players from the orchestra also come as duos to our communities for intimate and interactive experiences.
Calgary Philharmonic Orchestra
Calgary Philharmonic has been a cornerstone of Calgary’s arts community since 1955. It is one of North America’s most versatile live music ensembles presenting an average of 85 concerts a year featuring music from classical giants to rock and roll hits and family favourites. The Calgary Phil reaches more than 20,000 people annually throughout Alberta through educational and outreach programs to students, older adults and charitable organizations. Residents attend selected CPO dress rehearsals. They also enjoy in-house performances and lectures by Calgary Phil musicians.
Honens
The Honens Piano Competition takes place every three years and is considered one of the world’s most prestigious events of its kind. The annual Honens Festival is one of Canada’s premier piano events. Our partnership with Honens sees United residents heading to concert halls for the Honens Piano Festival concerts and enjoying intimate in-house recitals by world-class Honens Laureates.
Lunchbox Theatre
Lunchbox Theatre delivers a fun and unique experience to its audience—upbeat performances in an intimate and comfortable atmosphere. Patrons are encouraged to eat their lunch while they enjoy the show. This friendly approach makes Lunchbox Theatre an ideal place to introduce theatre to new audiences, both young and old. Lunchbox Theatre focuses on the development and production of original one-act plays, many of which are written by local Calgarians. The United Active Living partnership includes actor and director talks in our community as well as discounted tickets for the performances.
THIRD ACTion Film Festival
A cultural shift has started, and we are but one more pebble in the landslide that is age-positive living in life’s third act. For the vast majority of Canadians, the third act will be the last three decades of our life. THIRD ACTion Film Festival’s focus is to celebrate aging and the accomplishments of older adults to help speed along an age-positive culture shift and empower everyone to envision their best third act. United Active Living residents have special film screenings curated just for them from the Festival’s Executive Director. These screenings sometimes include personalized greetings from the filmmakers and a post-screening discussion of the films.
Wilder Institute / Calgary Zoo
The Wilder Institute/Calgary Zoo is an ingrained part of the Calgary community and a favourite destination for all ages. For almost 100 years, Calgarians and visitors have frequented the zoo to learn, explore and play. The Wilder Institute / Calgary Zoo is passionate about inspiring and educating about the importance of biodiversity and conservation. From talks with conservation experts in our communities to unique experiences at the Wilder Institute / Calgary Zoo, residents learn about how together, we can be a force of nature for making the world a wilder place.
Educational Opportunities
Mount Royal University
Mount Royal Music Conservatory has developed a recital series with United Active Living featuring gifted students who perform for our residents. United’s residents have also partnered with English program students to create a “Writers in Residence” program that gave voice to the life experiences of United’s residents. The MRU Arts and Culture series features University faculty engaging with our residents on diverse topics—from politics to Bach. Both these initiatives provide residents with learning opportunities that expand the meaning of community. In return, students and faculty discover that learning has no age limits.
St. Mary’s University
Coinciding with the opening of United’s Fish Creek community, United and St. Mary’s University agreed to pursue mutually beneficial activities in education, research and more.
Students benefit from the opportunity to learn from and work with our residents. Residents in turn benefit thanks to educational talks from professors, performances by student artists and musicians, and many opportunities for intergenerational connection and learning.
