Canada’s housing challenges require multiple solutions. New construction is one important piece. Preserving existing affordable homes is another. 

Both approaches have their place and form an essential part of any conversation about the housing needs of our cities and communities. 

When both are supported, communities gain not only more housing, but more stable housing, for current residents and for those still searching for a place to call home. 

At NHA, we recognize that our values are a constant conversation between what we’re doing, who we’re doing it for, and the direction we’re headed in. They’re the lens we use when we’re weighing trade-offs, slowing things down, or choosing the less visible path. 

Here are a few ways that shows up in practice. 

As 2025 comes to a close, we wanted to take a moment to ask our team about the year – not just about what got done, but also what stood out to them, what still matters now, and what made the biggest difference. 

Their responses illuminated a story of progress, of meaningful relationships, and of a growing sense of shared responsibility between residents and staff for making our community everything it is. 

Here’s what stood out from the year. 

At Norfolk Housing Association, we’ve always believed that a strong community is built with residents, not just for them.

The Calgary Dollars program continues to show what becomes possible when people have more room to participate, contribute, and make meaningful choices in where they live. 

We know that safer streets start with stable homes, and City Hall controls a lot of the levers that make homes happen (or stall out). There’s no public safety without appropriate, affordable housing.

Ask your candidates how they intend to ensure we keep moving forward towards more permanent housing and safety solutions in Calgary. 

In community housing, in apartment living, there are lots of different rhythms happening all at the same time, all around us. We're often not even aware of them, until someone else’s rhythm interrupts or overlaps with our own. 

And in each instance, in each part of the day, it’s up to us to think about how to ensure that overlap – how those interactions, intentional or unintentional, will protect and support the ecosystem of community around us or degrade it.

Every 2-3 years NHA collects valuable insight from our residents that we use to do a “health check” of the organization. 

In short, we want to ensure that as we grow, as things change, we continue to honour our values and show up in the best possible way for our current – and future – residents. 

The results are usually very positive, but there are always a few areas of improvement.

This year we incorporated certain elements to our breakfast to enhance the cultural, educational and wellness experience for all attendees! In real terms?