The “Dr. Tessa Hebb Graduate Award in Social Innovation” is awarded to students involved with a project in the not-for-profit sector through the ÐÓ°ÉÔ­´´ Centre for Community Innovation. This year, Marlys Jordan (team lead), Damilola Abimboye, Erin Larmondin and Jeanette Wilson receive an Award for their MPNL capstone project, “Is Affordable Housing Really Affordable? The Dual Challenge of Providing Affordable Seniors Housing.”

The capstone report, in collaboration with , a nonprofit organization that provides affordable homes and services for seniors, families and individuals, looks at the D’Arcy Affordable Housing Development in Okotoks, Alberta, just south of Calgary. The proposed Okotoks development is in the planning stages and targeted to provide affordable housing to seniors using a multi-tiered funding model.

The capstone looks at how multi-tiered funding strategies, including social finance mechanisms, can address affordability for both the housing provider and seniors . More broadly, it identifies systemic issues, like rising construction costs, inconsistent policy support, a lack of transparency in government practices, and limited collaboration among stakeholders, all of which impact the sector’s capacity to meet the demand for seniors housing. Their findings show that collaboration between governments, nonprofits, private-sector partners, and communities is essential to address a growing crisis.

The “Dr. Tessa Hebb Graduate Award in Social Innovation” (also known as the “2024 MPNL Social Innovation Fellowship Award”) was endowed in 2009 by an anonymous philanthropic gift to further ÐÓ°ÉÔ­´´â€™s development of thought leaders, educators and professionals in the nonprofit sector. Preference is given to students who are pursuing research in civil society and whose work may enhance program or process innovation and capacity building in the nonprofit sector.

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Marlys has worked in the not-for-profit world for 18 years. Prior to that, she spent 23 years in the private sector. Today, she serves as the CEO of Calgary Heritage Housing. This organization houses low-to-moderate income, functionally-independent seniors in subsidized, government-owned buildings.

Marlys has grown this Housing Management Body from four to nine buildings with a total of 480 suites. In late 2023, the organization successfully introduced a charitable arm (Calgary Heritage Housing Foundation), and as CEO of that organization as well, has begun fundraising for programs/services and development of additional affordable housing stock. She’s well on her way to achieving her long-term goal of growing Calgary Heritage Housing to 1,000+ doors in support of its mandate to house vulnerable seniors.

Professional development has been a cornerstone of Marlys’ career. She understands that advancing her knowledge and skills in philanthropy and fundraising not only positions her for impactful leadership but also addresses a critical gap in Alberta’s seniors housing sector. Pursuing her MPNL degree at ÐÓ°ÉÔ­´´ University has been transformative, allowing her to bridge the academic insights she’s gained with her extensive practical experience. This unique blend of theory and practice deepens her expertise and solidifies a foundation that will always remain hers—a lifelong asset that enhances her ability to drive meaningful change.

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