Calgary on Purpose
February 11
7 PM | Heather Edwards Theatre
In this time of deep disruption, join us in building shared purpose and affection in Calgary.
Some organizations, for commercial or political gain, stoke distrust in one another. We celebrate our individual experiences and encourage kindness. Each one of us, 1.6 million Calagrians are different–and that is why we all belong here.
On February 11, we will present fascinating Calgarians showcasing their work, followed by insightful interviews led by the incomparable Dave Kelly. As Dave says, these evenings are like a block party where we delight in the goodwill and remarkable talents of our neighbours. Commencing at 7 PM we conclude by 8:30, though the bar will remain open for those who wish to continue the conversation.
February 11 will be magical–literally–as one of our guests is the highly skilled magician Simon Mallett. We will also enjoy the marvellous music of country/blues singer Sonia Deleo and chat with the remarkable April Hicke, who dropped out of high school, reinvented herself, became an expert in tech and now recruits women into tech jobs. Dave will wrap up with a new story reflecting on our sense of place and will invite us to join in sharing our hopes, concerns, and dreams.
Each of us has an opportunity to contribute to building an even better Calgary, and it can only be done together. Come be energized by delight, conversation and community connection.
These evenings are a gift from us to you. Thanks to the generous partnership of Contemporary Calgary, the support of the many Calgary on Purpose volunteers and of Calgary Arts Development, the evening is free of charge.
Please register to reserve your seat—and do invite friends and colleagues!
About the Speakers
Sonia Deleo
Calgary-based artist Sonia Deleo is a force in the Canadian scene, and she’s only gaining momentum. An award-winning musician, a comedian, an actor, a playwright and a mom, she is a multi-faceted performer and all-around magnetic human being, who aims to leave a trail of connectedness in her wake. Find her event calendar and more info at soniadeleo.com or follow her on IG at @soniadeleomusic.
April Hicke
With over 15 years of experience in leadership, change management, and strategic team development, April is the founder and CEO at Toast, a tech enabled talent partner dedicated to increasing gender diversity within the tech industry. She’s a Certified Change Practitioner, Top 40 honoree, TEDX speaker, and social innovation enthusiast, she leads the business with a long-term growth mindset, driving strategic direction, building strong stakeholder relationships, and refining market strategies to maximize impact and scalability. Her role is focused on steering the company towards sustainable success through bold vision and purposeful execution.
Her core value and mission is to make a difference by disrupting the status quo and inspiring people to think outside the box, reimagine the possible, and act like owners. April is a serial relationship builder, a savvy problem solver and an exclamation mark personality. She devotes a great deal of her time coaching emerging leaders and fostering psychological safety in teams.
IG: aprilhicke
Simon Mallett Bio
Simon Mallett is an award-winning theatre director and the Executive Director of the Rozsa Foundation, but his artistic journey began with magic. As a teenager, Simon captivated audiences across North America with his magical performances, appearing at corporate events, trade shows, and Canada’s Wonderland for three consecutive summers. One of his most memorable moments was performing for an audience of 20,000 at the Toronto launch of the third Harry Potter book. While magic is no longer his primary career focus, it remains a meaningful part of his life. Simon’s deep experience in theatre enriches his magic, infusing it with narrative, emotion, and purpose. This blend transforms his performances into moments of wonder that resonate beyond illusion, creating shared experiences that bring people together.
IG: simon_yyc, simonsmagic
About the Host
Dave Kelly
Dave Kelly is an award-winning host, writer, and interviewer who creates intelligent and deeply human moments for events and keynote conversations around the world. He is the host of Dave Kelly Live - Canada’s own talk variety show. From his beginnings as a TV Host, Dave has spent decades leading conversations with business and political leaders across North America and beyond, from Stanford School of Business in California to Amman, Jordan and everywhere in between. He has led conferences and ran panels in categories as varied as health care, financial technology and artificial intelligence. He sat down for an hour-long in-depth conversation with Prime Minister Brian Mulroney in Montreal, Ellen DeGeneres selected Dave as the moderator and interviewer for her multi-city tour across Canada, and he hosted a conversation with President Barack Obama in Calgary. Dave is the co-founder of Kelly Brothers Productions, an award-winning video and entertainment company.
