Exceptional Women of East Village 2026
East Village has always been shaped by those willing to build something better — to imagine more inclusive systems, stronger communities, and braver futures.
In honour of International Women’s Day, we are showcasing four exceptional women who are helping shape East Village in ways both visible and quietly powerful. They are advocates, artists, connectors, and builders. They are choosing harder roads, creating safer ones, and opening doors wider for those to come.
Meet the women who embody the spirit of East Village: bold, inclusive, and ever evolving.
The 2026 Exceptional Women of East Village photographed by Matt Wallace at The Open pickleball court. Pictured left to right: Brett Bergie, Bailey Dodds, Jehan Khan and Justine Giles.
BAILEY DODDS - STATUS CARD & REGISTRATION SPECIALIST | ABORIGINAL FRIENDSHIP CENTRE OF CALGARY
Making the inaccessible accessible, the difficult easy, and the unachievable achievable, Bailey Dodds turns paperwork into recognition and empowerment.
In her role as the Status Card & Registration Specialist at the Aboriginal Friendship Centre, Bailey supports Indigenous community members in obtaining, or renewing, their Secure Certificate of Indian Status (status card) to access their legal rights as outlined in the Indian Act. The law requires registration and a status card for access to a variety of program and resources including education funding, health benefits and more — a process that can feel complicated, intimidating, or inaccessible.
An introvert at heart, working with clients one-on-one is the perfect job for Bailey. As a Métis woman, she identifies with the Indigenous people she works with because of her upbringing.
“I never got to grow up with my Indigenous side, and a lot of the people I work with are discovering their identity and connecting to their cultural roots that they didn’t grow up with,” Bailey says.
“It’s a very small thing in the grand scheme of things in your all-encompassing identity, but it’s very validating to have that signifier to say that yes, I am Indigenous.”
As the only program in southern Alberta that welcomes walk-ins, Bailey has helped nearly 1,500 people access essential services since the program launched in late 2024.
Accessibility is a key part of this program, with 89% of all clients walking in due to limitations including telephone and internet access, and 26% experiencing homelessness.
Bailey emphasizes the mission of the Aboriginal Friendship Centre — guiding people through a process that has historically been long and complicated. “The majority of clients leave with a breath of relief,” she says. “They didn’t think it would be this straightforward, and suddenly they have this recognition and access they’ve waited years for.”
“A lot of these services are life changing. I’ve helped students walk the stage at graduation able to identify as an Indigenous student because they were able to get registered.”
The Aboriginal Friendship Centre recently moved operations to the Navigation and Support Centre in East Village, a space filled with a variety of non-profits and organizations creating a one-stop shop for Calgary’s vulnerable population to access essential services and support.
“Working in East Village just feels right,” says Bailey “It’s central, close to transit, and beautiful. I love being in a place where I can reach so many people who need these services.”
When she’s not helping clients at the Aboriginal Friendship Centre, she works as a photographer and volunteers within the local arts community.
BRETT BERGIE - MULTI-MODAL TRANSPORTATION COMMUNITY ADVOCATE
Some people advocate in boardrooms. Others advocate by example — by simply living the change they want to see. For Brett Bergie, community advocacy begins on two wheels.
Brett recently stepped away from her role in government and community relations and is now fully focused on advocacy work aligned with her values: safe streets, active transportation, and climate-conscious city-building. Her work centres on fostering safer conditions for pedestrians, cyclists, and other micro-modes, while encouraging thoughtful investment in protected infrastructure.
Beyond policy conversations and committee tables, Brett’s most powerful tool is modelling what alternative forms of transportation can look like.
Trips to the grocery store are always done on her foldable bike — sometimes with a trailer. Cycling from the airport, with luggage, all the way to a downtown hotel? Possible. A guest’s first stop in Calgary — a guided tour through the city’s best cycling routes.
For Brett, active transportation isn’t just about carbon reduction or congestion. It’s about connection. When you’re walking or riding, you stop. You talk. You notice. You belong to the street in a different way.
“It’s so easy to stop and have conversations when you’re walking or when you’re on a bicycle. Community and interaction can happen without any effort.”
East Village plays a central role in that vision. She chose to live here in part because of its access to the downtown cycle track and its commitment to multi-modal design. The neighbourhood’s mix of density, destination spaces, and proximity to nature feels like a prototype for what Calgary can become.
“What does a multimodal street look like? What does it feel like? East Village helps answer that.”
Change, she believes, must be both practical and inviting. And sometimes, it starts with a bike helmet and a full grocery cart.
JEHAN KHAN - DIRECTOR OF SALES & MARKETING | HILTON GARDEN INN & HOMEWOOD SUITES CALGARY DOWNTOWN HOTEL
Carving your own path in the hotel industry as a woman of colour is not easy. Jehan Khan is proving it’s possible, and guiding others like her to do the same.
“Sometimes people will say, ‘oh, I want a seat at the table’. And I believe sometimes, the table might be fundamentally broken. So we have to be okay with creating our own table. It may not look like everyone else’s, but I believe in bringing people with me as I create my own table.”
For Jehan, every day is different – from directing sales professionals to booking meeting spaces and overseeing marketing strategy for the hotel. Creativity, innovation, and empathy are central to Jehan’s approach.
“I tell my team - let’s fail fast, let’s try, let’s execute. Even if something doesn’t work, now we know. Being open-minded is key.” She applies this philosophy in the hotel every day, problem-solving on the fly for guests, staff, and partners.
Jehan’s work goes beyond the walls of the hotel. From hosting conferences to partnering with organizations like the National Music Centre and The Confluence, she helps ensure that East Village’s arts and culture thrive. “Being able to help artists travel and participate in programs through sponsored rates ensures our community and arts culture in Calgary is uplifted,” she explains.
Her path to leadership was shaped early by her family. “Both my parents are hoteliers, and I had the great fortune to travel the world growing up. My father’s career with the United Nations really sparked my understanding that everything we do should have a connection to the community.”
Jehan is particularly proud of breaking barriers in the hospitality industry.
“Being one of the only women of colour in leadership in the hotel world in Calgary is no small feat. I’m grateful to be in a position where I can motivate and mentor others to pursue similar paths.”
Her leadership extends outside of her day-to-day work: she consults with BIPOC-owned small to medium businesses in Calgary and Edmonton, helping them navigate sales, marketing, and business development.
For Jehan, East Village is filled with exceptional places, people and things. “The sheer culture and activities here are fantastic. The community-mindedness of all the business owners, their volunteerism, and their drive to improve the neighbourhood really touches me,” she shares. “The neighbourhood has a little bit of everything — start-ups, tech, young families, older residents, pets, walkers, drivers — it’s such a nuanced, interesting community. I’m excited to see what it turns into as we continue to grow.”
JUSTiNE GILES, SINGER/SONGWRITER, SCHOOL & PUBLIC PROGRAMS EDUCATOR | NATIONAL MUSIC CENTRE
If you asked Justine Giles what she wanted to be when she grew up, she would have told you, “A singer and a teacher”.
She’s living that dream right here life in East Village, where you’ll find Justine leading music education programs at the National Music Centre (NMC) and performing on the King Eddy stage.
From leading and designing school programs to emceeing events, helping with live shows and mentoring youth at NMC’s Jam Club, Justine hopes the work she does can help create a sense of belonging.
“Music has always been something that makes me feel like I belong. The beauty of it is that it can connect people of all ages and backgrounds.”
Originally from Ontario, Justine moved to Calgary just before the pandemic. The King Eddy and NMC became one of the first places she found community.
She’s performed “a million times” at the King Eddy including an EP release, family-friendly brunch shows, and emceeing the first show for her Jam Club students. She’s decorated the walls in her home with pictures drawn by children who have attended her shows.
As an accomplished singer/songwriter winning the YYC Music Awards Solo Artist of the Year in 2024, Justine revitalized NMC’s Words to Song Language Arts program using syllable counts, rhythm and music to play with words and poetry.
“I’ve always written about my life experience. It’s been a place for me to process emotion and communicate things I wouldn’t always be able to.”
Besides teaching and performing at Studio Bell and the King Eddy, Justine’s voice can be heard throughout East Village. She’s often found performing at the Central Library, Carya Village Commons or one of the neighbourhood’s many plazas.
Despite the different demographics she works with, Justine shares this: “I think the whole point is people exploring their creativity, discovering their voice and feeling a sense of community through music.”
The 2026 Exceptional Women of East Village were photographed on location at The Open pickleball court by Matt Wallace.