McMan is a non-profit organization dedicated to building brighter futures for children, youth, and families by providing essential services such as housing, mental health support, and life skills development. With over 40 years of service, McMan empowers individuals to overcome challenges, achieve stability, and build meaningful connections within their communities.
We spoke with Soraya Saliba, Executive Director of McMan, to learn more about how the organization is addressing complex social issues and creating lasting change for vulnerable populations in Calgary and beyond.
Describe your charity/non-profit/volunteer work in a few sentences.
McMan Calgary & Area has been building brighter futures for children, youth, and families for over 40 years, supporting more than 4,000 individuals annually. We provide comprehensive, tailored services, including housing, mental health support, family reunification, and life skills development, to empower individuals to overcome challenges, gain stability, and achieve independence.
A cornerstone of our work is connecting clients to natural supports and families, ensuring they have long-term, sustainable connections beyond our support. By continually adapting our programs to Calgary’s evolving needs, we foster resilience, address immediate and long-term challenges, and build stronger, healthier communities.
What problem does it aim to solve?
We support children, youth and families with complex needs that can include mental health issues, addiction, homelessness, poverty, and disability by providing them with the services and supports they need to thrive. As a fundamental practice across all McMan’s services, we work with individuals to help them build and maintain strong connections with family, friends, and their community while providing them with the skills and resources to make positive long-lasting changes in their lives
We offer 23 programs for youth, children, adults and families. These include:
– Milestones: Supporting families with children with disabilities
– Foster Care: Providing a temporary family home for children and youth
– Dialectical Behaviour Therapy (DBT): Mental health skills training for youth and adults
– Hope Homes: Housing options and individualized supports for homeless youth or at risk of homelessness
– Wicihitowin: Assisting Indigenous youth in finding safe and stable housing options.
A cornerstone of our work is connecting clients to natural supports and families, ensuring they have long-term, sustainable connections beyond our services. By continually adapting our programs to Calgary’s evolving needs, we foster resilience, address immediate and long-term challenges, and build stronger, healthier communities.
When did you start?
I first joined McMan in 2003 as a Program Manager, then left in 2007 to take on an Executive Director role working with people with disabilities. In January 2013, I returned to McMan as Executive Director, driven by my deep belief in the organization’s mission.
What inspired you to get involved?
McMan’s values and commitment to serving vulnerable children, youth, and families align with my own passion for advocacy. Having a family member with complex needs has given me firsthand insight into the challenges many of the people we serve face. That experience has fueled my dedication to creating meaningful change and advocating for those who can’t advocate for themselves.
What was the situation like when you started?
When I stepped into my leadership role, McMan needed a clearer vision, a stronger culture, and a more defined identity in the community. Many of the people we serve experience mental health challenges, isolation, and a lack of support networks. There was a tremendous opportunity to innovate, highlight the organization’s impact, and build a reputation as a leader in our field.
How has McMan evolved?
Over the years, we have implemented evidence-based programming to ensure children, youth, and families build strong, lasting connections with their natural supports and communities—leading to exceptional outcomes and establishing McMan as a leader in this area. Today, we impact the lives of over 4,000 children, youth, and families annually across Calgary and area through more than 23 programs and services. Our focus is on fostering resilience, strengthening support networks, and creating lasting, positive change in the lives of those we serve.
Some key milestones include:
-Mental Health & Wellness: Integrated Dialectical Behavior Therapy (DBT) into community programming, supporting 630 graduates since 2021, with a 59% increase in participation in 2023–2024.
-Expanding Rural Services: Recognized a critical need and opened a family resource centre in Okotoks, providing early intervention services.
-Strengthening Organizational Culture: Built a passionate, collaborative team with strong retention rates—maintaining an 88%+ employee satisfaction score and retention rates of 89–93% over the past three years.
-Addressing Homelessness: Expanded services for youth and adults experiencing or at risk of homelessness through strategic partnerships.
-Measuring Impact: Developed a comprehensive evaluation framework to better communicate our outcomes and ensure sustainability.
Do you have any events coming up?
McMan Calgary’s Tee Up to Connect charity golf tournament returns July 30, 2025, at the Hamptons Golf Club—this time with a 1950s twist to celebrate McMan’s 50th anniversary! Rally your team, grab your retro golf gear, and join us for a day of fun on the links while making a meaningful impact. Not a golfer? Boost your brand’s visibility and make a lasting community impact by sponsoring the event or donating to our silent auction— all funds raised directly support McMan Calgary’s Youth Mental Health Programming. Learn more, register, and get involved here.
Where can we follow you?
PAY IT FORWARD: What is an awesome local charity that you love?
The Samaritan Club of Calgary is an organization I deeply respect. Their dedication to providing short-term assistance to Calgarians in need is remarkable. Through fundraising initiatives like the Super Sales, bridge luncheons, and other community events, they make a meaningful difference in people’s lives.
