About Unison

Unison is a not-for-profit organization that empowers people aged 50+ to lead fulfilling lives grounded in dignity, purpose, and a strong sense of belonging. Since its founding in 1973, Unison has built lasting trust with the older adults and communities it serves. Unison operates two community hubs — the Kerby Centre in Calgary and the Veiner Centre in Medicine Hat — where people aged 50+ can access a range of inclusive, culturally responsive, and trauma-informed programs and supports. We recognize and appreciate the diverse backgrounds, lived experiences, and strengths of those we serve, creating a space for meaningful connection and participation, and providing high-quality services that enhance well-being, reduce isolation, and support independence. Our work is guided by five core values: empowerment, inclusivity, compassion, respect, and collaboration. We believe life is better together with Unison!

The Need:

Older adults in our community need your support. Together, we can ensure seniors have access to nutritious food, protection from elder abuse, and programs that build connection, reduce isolation, and help them age with dignity.

Programs, Services, and Supports

Elder Abuse Shelter

Elder abuse is a hidden crisis that presents itself in many forms, affecting up to 1 in 10 seniors in Alberta, aged 65+ (AEAAC, 2025), equating to approximately 23,000 seniors. Sadly, we see only about 1 in 5 cases of elder abuse reported (Government of Canada, 2025). The number of cases increased when accounting for the community of people aged 50-64. Unison’s Elder Abuse Shelter and Outreach Program provides a lifeline, offering safety, support, and hope for those in need. In 2025, we provided 4,714 safe nights, primarily to those aged 55-59. We also had to turn away many seniors due to a lack of shelter space and funding to increase capacity. Whether emotional, physical, or financial, elder abuse is most often inflicted by those closest to the victim: adult children, intimate partners, and caregivers. Fifty percent of the clients we serve identify as racial minorities, and 17% speak little to no English — individuals who face the greatest systemic obstacles to finding safety and are the least likely to be reached by mainstream services. Grounded in dignity and equality, Unison's Elder Abuse Shelter and Outreach Program, recognized as the first purpose-built elder abuse shelter in North America, exists to help those who have nowhere else to turn.

THRIVE Food Security and Meals on Wheels

Our Thrive Food Security Program provides a holistic approach to providing food, connection, and resources for those we serve. Research shows that, compared to younger populations, seniors aged 65 and older use the Calgary Food Bank’s services multiple times (Calgary Food Bank, 2026). Another report concludes that 75% of older adults (out of 736 Calgary Food Bank survey respondents), those aged 55-64 (58% of respondents), live with severe food insecurity (Jeftic, 2026). The same report notes that 70% of seniors aged 65 and older (42% of respondents) struggle with extreme food insecurity. Our Unison Market, Calgary’s only seniors’ food bank, ensures access to essentials like fresh produce. As part of Unison’s THRIVE program, we provide grocery delivery and friendly visits to support those we serve who cannot leave their homes. At our Medicine Hat location (the Veiner Centre), our Meals on Wheels program delivers reliable, wholesome meals for clients who cannot prepare meals on their own, offering relief for caregivers and ongoing support along the way. In 2025, at the Kerby Centre, 603 clients received support with access to food, community, and connection, and meal deliveries to our Veiner Centre clients totaled 39,678.

Wellness Connection Centre and Unison Connect

Unison’s Wellness Connection Centre supports the mental, emotional, social, and spiritual well-being of older adults and seniors through a range of community-based programs, including grief and caregiver support, laughter yoga, Indigenous drumming and storytelling, and dementia education. These programs foster resilience, connection, and overall well-being among participants. In 2025, 321 unique users accessed the Wellness Connection Centre. The Centre also enhanced its impact in 2025 through four core initiatives: Coffee and Conversation, Friends Friday, Musical Drum Jam, and Compass for Caregivers — each grounded in evidence-informed, community-focused approaches that promote connection and healing. In 2025, we launched Unison Connect, our social prescribing initiative, at the Veiner Centre, which continues to grow through our partnership with Healthy Aging Alberta and support from the Alberta Government. Unison Link Workers connect older adults to health services, social programs, and essential community resources, helping seniors age in place with dignity while reducing isolation and reliance on costly healthcare supports such as long-term care.

Seniors Supports

Through our Seniors Support program, individuals can access free income tax clinics, secure safe and affordable housing, attain crisis response and support, and apply for eligible income benefits they did not know they had. Seniors in Calgary face financial instability, struggling to find and apply for affordable housing or access the benefits they deserve. Our free tax clinic helps low-income seniors maximize deductions and credits. Throughout 2025, we filed 5,102 tax returns at the Kerby Centre and 1,380 tax returns at the Veiner Centre. For older adults and seniors, the cost of living has become difficult to keep up with. Though most receive government retirement benefits, they don’t receive enough to keep up with the rising costs (Jeftic, 2026). For example, last year, the average pensioner received a monthly cheque of about $845, while the typical cost to rent an apartment in Calgary was $2,051 (Jeftic, 2026). Through our Seniors Support program, Unison helps to bridge the growing financial gap. In 2025, our tax clinics returned $920,345 to our clients. Our Seniors Support team ensures our clients can access every dollar owed to them, understand and navigate complex systems with confidence, and remain housed, stable, and connected in their communities.

Active Aging

Unison's Active Aging platform supports older adults and seniors in maintaining their health, independence, and quality of life by promoting physical, social, emotional, and cognitive engagement. The program coordinates opportunities for creative engagement and challenging experiences through art, games, crafts, music, and woodworking. Studies show that older adults who incorporate regular physical activity, including recreation and leisure, walking, or any movement that engages the skeletal muscles and uses energy, produce several health benefits, including the prevention of noncommunicable diseases and cognitive decline (World Health Organization). And we designed our Active Aging program to help our clients receive these benefits. In 2025, the Kerby Centre had 190 in-person courses, 19 additional courses at satellite locations, and 63 online classes, and the Veiner Centre saw 4,300 sessions and classes.

Super Membership

The Super Membership is a collaboration between Unison and other senior-serving organizations across Calgary, offering a single shared membership that provides coordinated, citywide access to programs, services, and community connections for people aged 50+. What began as a partnership between two centres has developed into a unified network that currently reaches nearly 10,000 older adults each year. Together, the partner organizations are expanding their impact to 15,000 older adults annually and growing Super Membership participation to 1,500 members across Calgary.

Every gift makes a difference. Whether you give a little or a lot, your support helps seniors in our community to live their best lives.

Nourishment & Food Security

• $25 delivers emergency food support to seniors.

• $50 helps three seniors access essential groceries through our no-cost Food Market.

• $100 provides a week of nutritious meals through our Meals on Wheels program.

• $250 supports one month of subsidized meals for a senior living on a fixed income.

Health, Wellness & Connection

• $150 provides grief and wellness support, fostering connection and emotional well-being.

• $500 delivers engaging online programs that keep isolated seniors active and connected.

• $1,000 sustains one full month of programs and services, from wellness classes to social events, in Calgary and Medicine Hat.

Safety & Support

• $250 provides a safe night of shelter for a senior escaping abuse.

• $500 supports outreach services for seniors experiencing elder abuse.

• $10,000 sponsors a private room at the Unison Elder Abuse Shelter, offering safety and stability in times of crisis.

Transportation and Independence (Veiner Centre)

• $50 funds a day of transportation for seniors to attend medical appointments or visit loved ones.

Volunteer Community

"No act of kindness, no matter how small, is ever wasted." – Aesop

Volunteers are the heart of Unison. In 2025, 280 volunteers dedicated an outstanding 44,073 hours (the equivalent of 21 full-time employees), supporting the community we serve. Also in 2025, 99% of volunteers at our Veiner Centre location reported increased well-being and purpose, and a sense of accomplishment through their involvement. Our volunteers make it possible for Unison to meet older adults and seniors where they are, bringing compassion and human connection that makes all the difference.

To learn more about our volunteering opportunities, click here, call 403-234-6570, or email [email protected].

Thank YOU for making a difference in the lives of those we serve! We couldn't do what we do without you!