Let’s make an impact together.
Hello! I ‘m Karen Ball, a nationally recognized community leader with over 30 years of experience shaping Canada’s charitable and cultural sectors. I’ve spent my career at the intersection of nonprofits, arts, and government—most recently as President + CEO of Alberta’s Nonprofit Chamber, where I championed policy and advocacy for Alberta’s 30,000 nonprofits and led a major strategic transformation that strengthened the organization’s impact and financial sustainability.
For more than 12 years, I’ve also had the joy of consulting with incredible organizations helping them align vision with action, build strong plans, policies, and systems, and create meaningful community connections with lasting cultural impact.
Selected Client Work
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![Night scene of downtown Toronto with illuminated Toronto sign featuring a red maple leaf, people walking, and tall city skyscrapers, including the CN Tower in the background.]()
City of Toronto's Festival & Event Policy
I developed and authored the City of Toronto’s inaugural Festival and Event Policy while working with the City’s Department of Economic Development and Culture. This work was informed by research conducted through the Cultural Policy Hub at OCAD University, in collaboration with departmental staff.
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![A person wearing a cowboy hat standing in front of colorful arcade game machines at a carnival or fair.]()
Calgary Stampede SAM Centre Business Model
Prior to opening in 2024, I provided a facilitated approach to craft the business model for the Calgary Stampede Foundation’s SAM Centre, a community gathering place dedicated to telling the story of the Calgary Stampede. I also created and supported the RFP process for selection of the final exhibition and experience design team.
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![Night view of City of Airdrie government building with illuminated blue lighting, flags, and neatly landscaped bushes in front.]()
City of Airdrie Civic Partnership Framework
I worked in collaboration with select City departments and key community stakeholders to develop a civic partnership framework that clearly defines the shared roles and responsibilities of the City of Airdrie and civil society organizations. The final framework included internal assessments, best-practice research, clearly articulated definitions, business standards, and outcomes and evaluation criteria.
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![A nighttime street scene featuring a performer on stilts dressed in a white flowing gown with illuminated sections, holding large circular propellers with lights, and wearing an ornate headpiece, with colorful lights and tall structures in the background.]()
Calgary's Arts & Culture Infrastructure Plan
I developed a 10-year cultural infrastructure plan for Calgary Arts Development, including a gap analysis, an assessment of existing infrastructure, best-practice research, and strategic recommendations to support the growth and vibrancy of cultural spaces in Calgary.
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![Nighttime view of the Olympic rings illuminated on a tall building, with the moon visible in the dark sky.]()
Canada's Hopeful 2026 Winter Olympic Bid
After serving on the Olympic Bid Exploration Board as Chair of the Public Engagement and Community Impact Committee, I worked with the Calgary 2026 Bid Company to assemble cross-sector partnerships supporting the cultural celebration components of the bid, engaging all orders of government, civil society, and the private sector. I also led community engagement and stakeholder relations during the early phase leading up to the bid plebiscite.
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![Empty street decorated for Christmas with a large, lit Christmas tree at the center and holiday lights on buildings and street lamps.]()
Stony Plain Action Agenda for Arts, Culture & Heritage
Building on the Town’s cultural plan, I developed a five-year action plan in collaboration with stakeholders, including stakeholders from the Paul First Nation, to leverage opportunities that advance culture and quality of life in support of municipal goals. This work included extensive public and stakeholder engagement, a clear assessment of the current state, and a final action agenda with defined timelines and measurable outcomes.
