Heather Edwards

Thank you to Heather Edwards @queenbelayer for her remarkable $1 million gift to the NAC Foundation’s Next Act Campaign, in support of the NAC Orchestra! A proud Calgarian and NAC Trustee, Heather’s generosity is guided by a powerful belief: that artists from Western Canada deserve greater pathways to national stages and audiences. Because of her gift, Western Canadian artists like @kevinchenpiano and @trumpetjens will be presented, supported, and celebrated at the NAC and in communities nationwide. Merci à Heather Edwards pour le don exceptionnel d’un million de dollars à la campagne Le prochain acte de la Fondation du CNA, en soutien à l’Orchestre du CNA. Calgarienne de cœur et membre du conseil d’administration du CNA, Heather transforme sa générosité en action : ouvrir les portes des scènes nationales aux talents de l’Ouest canadien. Grâce à son don, des artistes de la région comme @kevinchenpiano et @trumpetjens pourront se produire, bénéficier de soutien et briller au CNA et aux quatre coins du pays. 📷 1 & 2: Curtis Perry 📷 3: Greggory Clark 📷 4, 5 & 6: Catherine Wilkie #NACOrchCNA #SupportTheArts #SoutenirLesArts

Twenty years ago, Adam arrived early — and inspired something extraordinary. Born eight weeks premature and weighing just three pounds, he needed specialized care to grow stronger each day. In honour of his journey, the Edwards family made a visionary gift to open the Edwards Family NICU, ensuring Calgary’s most fragile babies could receive life-saving care close to home. Thanks to the extraordinary care of NICU doctors and nurses, Adam grew into the strong, healthy young man he is today. And thousands of babies have been given that same chance. As Adam turns 20 and the NICU marks its 12th anniversary, we’re reminded how one gift can change countless lives. Go to the link in our bio to watch our NICU video and see the impact.
#everythingpossible

Adam! Happy 20th birthday! ❤️ It is the biggest joy and privilege of my life to be your Mom and be on this journey with you. You are the kindest, most compassionate, joyful, interesting, hilarious, intelligent, loyal, mature, wise beyond your years, insanely strong climbing, self-motivated, loud-car driving, ridiculously smart futures-trading, triple-degree getting, loving and thoughtful, down to earth, full of integrity, equally comfy in a dusty crag or a tuxedo at a gala, hard working, humane-society volunteering, ARCT piano playing, best backgammon partner, great hugging, calm and all around best person I know and love in the world. And yes…that was grammatically incorrect. But all the truth. When you were 5 and we were at the sketchy room in the west Edmonton mall hotel, you woke me up at the crack of dawn with “mom,mom, mom, come here…”and I curled up with you and you pointed out the window and said “aren’t we lucky to see the sunrise!?” You were right. We are so lucky. I am so lucky. You make every simple moment meaningful. I love you, Adam. ❤️❤️❤️Thank you for the ADventures, always. I am so proud of who you are. Xoxoxo (Had to include a pic of that morning with the sunrise, our shared pics of trades and cars 😂, Also a shot of us on a day up at Ace 🧗‍♀️ deep in existential crisis conversation! And You and Claire ❤️ and you and Nana and you and Josh/Regan/Sean. 🤗. And you next to the NICU incubator you were in as a 3 lb baby for 6 weeks and look at you now!🙏) @adamffatem

Congratulations, Kevin Chen, on being named an Honorary Fellow of the Royal Conservatory of Music! 🎹 Following his outstanding second place win at the 2025 International Chopin Competition, we’re proud to announce that @kevinchenpiano is now the youngest recipient of the prestigious Honorary Fellowship. At the age of 20, Kevin has already won the top international piano competitions, including Liszt, Rubinstein and the Concours de Geneve. He is also the youngest pianist in RCM history to have earned his Associate Diploma (ARCT), at the age of 9. A special recital and celebration was held in his hometown of Calgary, hosted by Kevin’s long-time supporter and friend RCM Board Member Heather Edwards. At the event, Michael and Sonja Koerner President & CEO Alexander Brose formally presented Kevin with the award. It was also an opportunity to honour Marilyn Engle @j.marilynengle , who taught Kevin for much of his life and is a shining example of RCM excellence in pedagogy. Also in attendance was Jens Lindemann @trumpetjens , Alberta trumpet virtuoso who is also an Honorary Fellow of the RCM. Kevin, we are so proud that you are such a stellar alumnus of the RCM!

My happy place: ❤️ Climbing trip with Adam and his awesome friends Theo and AJ in November. So much amazing climbing, laughs, yummy meals, Wii golf/bowling, escape room (in record time!), starry skies and moon night sessions, driving a huge truck on the Utah/Vegas highways, and just soaking up watching Adam and his awesome friends do what they love in the most gorgeous setting. I was the videographer/driver/pad hauler. 😁 I couldn’t post all the climbing videos - they crushed it!!! 💪🏻. Love you Adam. ❤️

Thank you to Heather Edwards (@queenbelayer ) for her $1 million donation to RCM’s Smart Start early childhood music program. This donation will bring the program to underserved communities in Western Canada and will help make Smart Start a truly national program. “Every child should have the opportunity to have music in their lives,” Edwards said at a special gala on November 1. “Music has such a meaningful and joyful impact, especially on young children. I am so moved by the work being done by RCM through this incredible Smart Start programming.” Edwards is an RCM board member from Calgary, and has a life-long connection to RCM through her own musical education. Michael and Sonja Koerner President and CEO of the RCM Alexander Brose said this about Heather’s gift: “We are so honored to have the support of a genuine philanthropist like Heather. As we launch Smart Start to a global community, partnerships like this are essential to ensure that music becomes ever more central to the cognitive and emotional development of young children.” Thank you, Heather, for your belief in the power of music to transform lives.

The most joyful weekend of music, friends, food, art, autumn leaves and community. My heart is full. ❤️ 🎶 🙏 🍁 🇨🇦

It was such an honour to support and witness first-hand the incredible artistry and brilliance of my friend Illia Ovcharenko and conductor Oksana Lyniv as they recorded THREE left hand piano concertos. What an unprecedented and inspiring feat! I can’t wait for the release in spring. Thank you to Illia and Oksana for sharing your talents, as well as @mdr_mitteldeutscherrundfunk orchestra and editor (and lunch menu translator) Holger Busse. Pure joy all around! 🙏🎶❤️🎹

Look 2025 was a smashing success for Contemporary Calgary and all it does for the arts! Thank you to David and his team at CC and to everyone who supported this beautiful event!! Thank you to my amazing friends and to Adam for making it just the best, most joyful evening. ❤️🙏

Mother’s Day makes me feel like the luckiest person in the world. Because I am your Mom. Love you beyond words, Adam. From when you burst into the world 8 weeks early with things to do….and look at you doing them! You’re kind, compassionate, funny, thoughtful, classy, humble, SMART, strong,hardworking, interesting, artistic, and the best son and friend I could imagine. Love you. Thank you for making Mother’s Day the best gift in the world for me every day. Also this year let’s not hike up to Ace and spray bear spray all over your arms please. ❤️❤️❤️

Happy Mother’s Day to my amazing Mom who is always such a great support and can laugh with us through whatever is going on in life. Love you Mom, moon and back. ❤️

Thank you to everyone who joined us last night for the opening of the LOOK25 Art Auction exhibition in collaboration with FREE First Thursday! 🎨✨ This exceptional showcase features works generously donated by some of the nation’s most celebrated artists, many of whom were in attendance. The LOOK25 Art Auction is generously sponsored by Heather Edwards, with special thanks to Kanika Anand, Senior Curator, and Muriel N. Kahwagi, Associate Curator at Contemporary Calgary, who are serving as Auction Curators. We are deeply grateful to the artists, gallerists, sponsors, donors, collectors, and committee members whose continued support strengthens Calgary’s vibrant arts community. Proceeds from the auction directly support Contemporary Calgary’s exhibitions and public programming. Couldn’t make it to the opening? Don’t worry—you haven’t missed out, you can still explore the LOOK25 Art Auction exhibition in person through May 29. The silent auction is open on Givergy and runs until 12:00 AM on June 1. The live auction takes place on May 31 during the LOOK25 Gala in the Dome Theatre. To bid in person, a VIP Dinner or Cabaret ticket is required. Not able to attend in person? No problem! Contemporary Calgary will accept absentee bids and live telephone bidding. To learn more and register, contact us at [email protected]. Link in bio to explore the auction and start placing your bids! 🔗 ✨🎟 Tickets for LOOK25 Gala: Noir Nouveau, presented by MAWER (@mawerinvestmentmanagement ), are on sale now! Tap the link in bio to grab yours today. #ContemporaryCalgary #NoirNouveau #LOOKGala #LOOK25 #YYCEvents #YYCArts