Calgary was one of 16 communities across Canada that put their best foot forward for to help raise funds to support youth struggling with mental health at the BMO Walk So Kids Can Talk on Sunday.
The five-kilometre walk and family-friendly event took place at Peace Park and kicked off Mental Health Week.
It aims to help raise funds and awareness for the mental health services offered through Kids Help Phone.
Vice president of community giving for Kids Help Phone, Winnette Sampson, said the walk is one of their major fundraising initiatives for the organization.
“It supports youth across this country to access to youth mental health service, and Kids Help Phone is open 24/7, 365,” Sampson said. “What the fundraising does today is ensure that Kids Help Phone is there, so when a young person is up at 2 a.m. or and needs to talk to somebody, there’s somebody on the other side of that phone call or text message that can really support them navigating their future.”
Through their 16 walks across Canada, including two in Calgary and Edmonton, the walk is projected to raise about $3.9 million.
Volunteers cheer on participants at the start of the BMO Walk So Kids Can Talk at Peace Park in Calgary on Sunday May 3, 2026.
The funds will be used to ensure there are counselors available, and the continuation of their programs and services for young people.
Their data shows that 83 per cent of young people who contact Kids Help Phone tell them something that they have never told anyone else in their life.
“We need safe spaces for our young people to be able to share what’s going on in their lives, to help them navigate those feelings, to help them to build plans so that they can talk to their loved ones, and get the support they need,” Sampson said. “There are many, many mental health services across this country, but sometimes navigating through that takes weeks or days getting an appointment. At Kids Help Phone, you call and somebody’s on the other side.”
In 2025, they also saw a 43 per cent increase in suicide related interactions among children aged 12 and under, compared to the previous year.
Mayor Jeromy Farkas laced up and attended the event, and said it was great to see the city out in the park for the spring weather.
“There’s so many great events going on, and this is one of the events that I look forward to the most,” Farkas said.
Although it takes several groups to bring this event to the community, he said its worth it to make sure kids in Calgary have the critical mental health support and help when they need it.
“It’s an unfortunate topic for us to grapple, because there’s a lot of stigma surrounding it that a service like this is required,” he said. “But it is in a community like Calgary, and we’re the beneficiary of a great community that’s stepping up to provide that support That’s what this event is about. This is a weekend that a lot of people look forward to year-round, but we have to bear in mind that these organizations deserve our support every other day of the year too.”