Debbie Korzeniowski, Director of Business Development, has been one of the CHR’s representatives in the imagineCALGARY Partnership for the past year, and today serves as the Coordinator of the Partnership’s Steering Committee. She’s also one of the Partnership’s most active supporters. “imagineCALGARY is the right thing to do for us at the Calgary Health Region,” Debbie says. “It’s an alignment with our vision and our mission at the most basic levels.”

The CHR has developed a group of imagineCALGARY volunteers who are committed to the issues of sustainability and building a healthier, happier community. These volunteers discuss issues regularly via email, have monthly meetings and also bring in guest speakers to share their perspectives. “Relatively speaking, there’s been lots of support on a volunteer basis,” Debbie says. “We hear a lot – especially from newcomers to the city – about how grateful people are for Calgary being what it is. From a volunteer perspective, imagineCALGARY is a great vehicle for motivating the community.”

For the CHR, incorporating imagineCALGARY’s vision has other benefits as well. “I think imagineCALGARY is going to help us both in the recruitment and retention of staff,” Debbie says. “People are wanting their organizations to be more sustainability-focused, and imagineCALGARY is a great way for companies to do that.”

Earlier this year, the CHR furthered its commitment to sustainability with the creation of a new position, Director of Sustainability and Business Strategy. Nilesh Kavia has assumed this role and will soon be incorporating imagineCALGARY targets within his sustainability vision for the organization.

“This new position will make it possible for us to formalize our efforts to achieve imagineCALGARY Targets,” Debbie says.

Plans for integrating imagineCALGARY in the CHR planning process are still in the works, but Debbie expects they will soon be launching pilot projects around the built environment and the social system, mostly out of Nilesh’s new area.

For Debbie, participation in the imagineCALGARY Partnership has been rewarding, both personally and professionally. Through her involvement with the Steering Committee, she’s had a unique opportunity to see the ways the imagineCALGARY Plan is being used across the community. “It’s been a real growth opportunity because of the diversity of the members sitting around the table,” Debbie says.

What’s the biggest misconception that Debbie hears about imagineCALGARY? “Some people just aren’t aware that it’s still going on,” Debbie says. “They have the misconception that the Plan was a one-shot wonder, and they are often surprised to learn that so much is happening on so many different levels across the community.”

Debbie’s advice to other Partners is simple. “We all want imagineCALGARY to succeed, and to be of value to both our organizations and the city as a whole,” Debbie says. “I think understanding our own cultures is critical. There are always going to be emergent priorities that can get in the way of long-term vision. It’s important to keep our eyes on the long-term and to constantly measure our progress.”