60 years of Calgary Meals on Wheels

Humble Beginnings

In January 1964, the Hospital Chaplaincy Committee of the Calgary Presbytery of the United Church voiced concerns about elderly patients being discharged from hospitals without adequate support during recovery. The United Church Women were tasked with studying the issue and recommending a solution. Their efforts led to the creation of a pilot meal service program, which was officially named "Calgary Church Women's Community Care” – the precursor to Calgary Meals on Wheels.

A Timeline of Growth and Impact

1965 – The Calgary Church Women’s Community Care was incorporated under the Societies Act of Alberta on November 30, 1965, and began operations out of donated space at The North Hill Family YMCA. The program served its first 8 clients on November 15, 1965. As demand grew, the need for larger facilities became apparent. Hillhurst United Church offered a kitchen for the program's exclusive use, becoming its headquarters for the next seven years.

1972 – On May 26, 1972, and without service disruption, moved to a leased facility at 828 - 4 Avenue SW, provided by The City of Calgary for 10 years. This relocation allowed for expanded kitchen capacity and service expansion.

1976 - Received charitable status and renamed Calgary Meals on Wheels. By this time, daily service had expanded to more than 425 clients per day.

1982-83 – The City of Calgary offered a larger building (a former LRT garage) that required significant renovations. By 1983, the organization relocated to MacLeod Trail, tripling its space. Over the next 30 years, this facility supported the preparation of more than 6 million meals.

1996 – Introduced frozen meal options to better serve a growing and diverse client base.

2000 - Launched the Hot Soup Program, providing free soup lunches to students across Calgary schools to support child nutrition.

2013 - Built a custom, 24,000 sq. ft. facility with a state-of-the-art commercial kitchen in the Great Plains Industrial Park, designed to handle high-volume meal production with efficiency and precision. The expanded space allowed Calgary Meals on Wheels to extend support to surrounding communities through a new regional program.

2014 - Partnered with the Calgary Police Foundation’s Integrated School Support Project, providing meals for vulnerable students. Also began supporting “fun lunches” organized by Parent Associations at schools.

2016 – Partnered with Calgary School Districts to deliver breakfast and lunch programs to high-needs schools, ensuring children received consistent, nutritious meals.

2020 – Adapted operations during the global pandemic, significantly increasing meal production to meet an urgent surge in demand.

2022 - Reached a historic milestone by serving more than 1 million meals in a single year.

2024 – For the third consecutive year, surpassed 1 million meals and produced a record-breaking 1.4 million meals through three key program pillars: Home Delivery, Schools, and Community. Supported approximately 9,500 clients and provided approximately 5,700 meals daily across the city.

2025 – Celebrates 60 years of service with the expansion of freezer and cooler capacity, enabling the preparation and storage of an additional 180,000 meals annually to meet growing demand.

A legacy built on compassion, community, and commitment to nourishing lives.