Reimagining Dementia Calgary Initiative
Taking It to the Streets - Calgary:
Stories of Resilience, Connection, and Living Well with Dementia
Thank you for joining us for Taking It to the Streets – Calgary, held September 26–29, 2026 at the University of Calgary.
Over four days, the exhibition brought together stories, photographs, artwork, poetry, film, and lived experiences shared by people living with dementia, family and friend care partners, community members, advocates, artists, students, and care providers. Together, these contributions challenged the idea that dementia is only a story of decline and made visible experiences of resilience, connection, creativity, adaptation, humour, hope, and everyday life.
The exhibition has ended, but the conversation continues.
More exhibition materials, photographs, videos, and reflections will be added to this website soon.
Why are we Taking it to the Streets?
▸ COMMUNITY ENGAGEMENT
Taking It to the Streets is an initiative of Reimagining Dementia: A Creative Coalition for Justice, a global movement that is creatively transforming the tragedy narrative of dementia.
"Around the world, millions of people are living with and impacted by dementia. And yet, dementia continues to be surrounded by a fear-, shame- and stigma-filled cone of silence that impacts us all." - Mary Fridley
📑Read Mary's essay on the emotional dominance of tragedy narratives and its impact on living with dementia.
"Stigma is produced and reproduced in everyday interactions on the streets, in community centres, in clinical spaces, in the media, in families, and in public discourses. If dominant narratives are sustained socially, then narrative change must also occur socially." - Jasmine Hwang
📑Read Jasmine's article about the inspiration behind Taking It to the Streets - Calgary and why changing the story of dementia matters.
Calgary is taking it to the streets to:
Shatter the silence about dementia &
Creatively transform the journey of dementia for everyone
A Look Back at the Exhibition
More exhibition materials, photographs, videos, and reflections will be added to this website soon.
Join Our Volunteer Team
This community-led initiative is made possible by passionate volunteers, advocates, and artists. Whether you have a few hours or would like to be in volved throughout the exhibition, we'd love to have you join us.
📸 Photography – Capture meaningful moments throughout the exhibition.
🎥 Videography – Record the event and interviews for future storytelling and knowledge sharing.
📱 Social Media & Communications – Share highlights and help amplify the conversation online.
🙋 Exhibition Hosts & Venue Guides – Welcome visitors, answer questions, and help create a warm, inclusive environment.
🖼️ Exhibition Setup & Takedown – Assist with installing and dismantling the exhibition.
💬 Public Engagement – Facilitate conversations and invite visitors to share reflections.
📚 Knowledge Mobilization – Help share project resources and connect visitors with community organizations.
📣 Marketing & Community Outreach – Promote the exhibition and help us reach broader audiences.
🤝 General Event Support – Help wherever an extra pair of hands is needed.
No previous experience is necessary for many roles—just an interest in supporting a meaningful community initiative.
✨Interested in volunteering?
We'd love to hear from you! Please contact jasmine.hwang@ucalgary.ca and let us know a little about yourself, your interests, and how you would like to be involved.
Stay Connected
Taking It to the Streets – Calgary is continuing beyond the 2026 exhibition. We are exploring future opportunities for community engagement, research, creative collaboration, and dementia narrative change.
If you are interested in contributing to future activities or staying connected with the initiative, we would be happy to hear from you.
Contact: jasmine.hwang@ucalgary.ca
That works much better with where REIMAGINE is going now.
▸ OUR PARTNERS
This initiative would not have been possible without the generous support of our community partners, organizations, advocates, and volunteers. Thank you for helping us spread the word and reimagine dementia together.
▸ SPONSORED BY
Reimagining Dementia: A Creative Coalition for Justice
Reimagining Dementia: A Creative Coalition for Justice is an international group of people living with dementia, carers/care partners, family and community members, dementia activists and allies, health professionals, advocates, artists, academics, policymakers, and others.
We share a vision of care, support, and social transformation that promotes inclusion, relationships, creativity, joy, and the possibility of growth for everyone impacted by dementia.