Media
Alice
Lam
About Me
I am a child of Chinese-Vietnamese refugees who came to Canada in 1985. In my day job, I work in commercial real estate. Both my career and my passion has centred around the importance of community service and doing our part to build a city for all to enjoy. My passion is helping people feel a sense of belonging, pride in their city, and the abilty for them to contribute in a way that we can all benefit from. I spend most of my free time volunteering for various causes close to my heart. I sit on several non-profit boards that are making our city a better place in cluding the Calgary Foundation, KO Arts Centre, Calgary Chinese Cultural Centre and more!
Career wise I have worked and lived in France, New York, and Calgary, spanning industries including senior care, law,
consulting, and marketing and communications and in the past decade have become a founder myself, having started several non profit and for profit storefronts. My goal is simple. I just want Calgarians to have the information they need to live fullsome lives whether that is related to financial literacy, health care, or how to help out our community.
I am a seasoned ideas executor. I have the ability to provide vision and build strong teams to execute. I have created a reputation as someone who "gets stuff done" with a ton of passion and heart.
In 2020, I helped create the Calgary Community Fridge and in 2021, the Good Neighbour Community Market, in 2023 we opened Good Thrift and Ren Health Collective. I love seeing cool things happen in our city and that has always been the driving force behind why I started vollyapp.com — a website to link you to volunteer events in our city. In 2022 I launched my dream project caremyway.ca to help make health literacy more accessible to immigrant families. It has the potential to be a leading health platform globally.
The more we help out in our communities, the easier it is to make our city inclusive, sustainable and fun!
Now you’ve gotten to know me a bit better, scroll to read about the projects I’ve been able to create below.
Projects
Below I’ve included some of my social enterprises and non profit projects that I’ve been lucky enough to create and build teams for.
What is remarkable about each of the projects is that it is amost entirely done with volunteers who want to use their skills to make the world a better place.
Project 1 Vollyapp.com
This website was created in 2019 to help Canadians find volunteer opportunities in an easy to use format.
Since inception we have helped over 4000 canadians find volunteer opportunities and build community. We host a number of community events each year and are passionate about increasing civic literacy.
Project was executed with volunteer software developers.
Project 2
caremyway.ca
This website won People's Choice at the 2022 Health Hack in Calgary Alberta.
Our goal was to demystify questions for caregivers when you suddenly become one.
Built over 6 weeks by volunteers, we launched a website with a financial payroll calculator as well as information on financial literacy and resources for caregivers.
wesbite under construction!
Project 3
Calgary Community Fridge
In 3 days we raised $15,000.00 and planned, piloted, and executed Calgary's first outdoor fridge and pantry combo in order to solve food scarcity during the pandemic. Since we "opened" we have had 2500 visitors to the fridge and over 1000 donors.
We created a start up guide for individuals who wanted to start their own community fridges and have helped grow fridges in 8 municipalities.
Project 4
Good Neighbour Market
In July 2021, we created a proposal and then executed a full renovation of an abandoned building in downtown Calgary to create the first "Pay What You Want" thrift store in Canada.
This 6000 sq ft space redirects over 100,000 pounds of clothing from the landfills into the hands of folks who need them. We predominant serve low income seniors, immigrant families, and youth.
Project 5
Good Thrift
In Jan 2023, we opened the fundraiser side of our thrift store. Everything in the store is a fundraiser that helps us purchase items we cannot get donated but need to distribute to our customers such as toiletries, sandwiches, new socks and underwear.
All items are still moderately priced at $5-$10 per item.
To date we have raised over 200,000.00 for the community. Annually we spend around $35,000.00 just on sandwiches alone!
instagram.com/goodthriftyyc
Project 6
Tigerstedt & Friends
In January 2019 the Tigerstedt and Friends pop up was created in a vacant retail store front that was once an ice cream shop.
Using the co-op methodology we rented out space to individual female and bipoc makers that typically wouldn't have the same access to a retail storefront. Any revenue generated above costs was redistributed to the community such as sponsoring a single mother fleeing domestic violence.
We have helped incubate several businesses from this model.
Project 7
Historic Firehall Placemaking
For the last year, in a contract with the City of Calgary, our team was tasked with revitalizing a vacant firehall courtyard with events, night markets, health literacy programming, food access events, all ages live music, art shows, and performances.
Our focus was creating an event space with accessible programing regardless of the participants ability to pay. We hosted over 20 events bringing in thousands of Calgarians to the downtown core at a time when it is typically vacant.
Project 8
Ren Community Acupuncture Clinic
In October 2023, we opened Calgary’s first non-profit community acupuncture clinic, led by Dr. Alex Judd. The idea for this space is to offer community care in a shared setting where the price per visit would be lower than market prices. This allows people to get the adequate number of treatments they need to heal their bodies and their minds.
We also use the space to provide health care literacy programming, financial literacy programming, and more!
Project 9
Moonlight Books
and Gifts
In November 2023 I opened Moonlight Books and Gifts, a shop inside of Historic Chinatowns’ Dragon City Mall.
The goal was to create a hub within a mall to bring new life and energy into an aging commercial space. We were able to coordinate 100 small busineses owned by youth between the ages of 16-25 to have a store front experience.
I was also able to curate a book selection that highlight stories from asian diaspora and chinese Canadian history.
Project 10
Friends of Chinatown
Since 2016 I have been a volunteer in the historic neighbourhood of Chinatown. Starting with community engagement and advocacy work, this quickly revealed the need for someone to take Calgarians on Historic Chinatown Tours. Since 2016 I have led over 1000 people on tours! Isn’t that nuts!
The goal is that if more people are educated on the history of Chinatown and the discrimination and systemic barriers the community had to face over 130 years, that we would be less likely to repeat the same mistakes in the future.
We also host events and share cool places to eat!
Education
M Sc. Management
Ieseg School of Management (France)
BA in Economics and East Asian Studies
University of Alberta
Board Director
- Calgary Foundation
- Calgary Health Foundation
- Creative Aging Calgary Society
- KOAC Sculpture Park and Nature Reserve
- Omni TV Advisory Council
- Friends of Chinatown
- Dignity Forum
Skills
Always been a talker.
- Solutions design
- Event curation and design
- Strategy and communications
- Human resource management
- Social media marketing
- Project management
- Business consulting
- Public speaking
- Non Profit Sector Knowledge
- Government Relations
- Fund Development
- Board Governance
Speaking Engagements
Contact me to speak at your next event!
alicelam22@gmail.com
I’ve been a keynote speaker on the topic of finding your purpose, community building, social enterprises, and of course, the importance of volunteering.
Languages
- English - Fluent (except when it comes to spelling)
- Cantonese - Fluent
- Mandarin -Conversational
- French - Conversational
Community Recognition
University of Alberta
New Horizons Alumni Award
Calgary Chamber of Commerce
Recognizes graduates who are contributing to the community through their philanthropic work and impact in society.
Calgary Chamber of Commerce
Community Champion Award
Awarded to businesses that are making an impact in the community through giving back.
United Way Award for Philanthropy
Recognizes Calgarians shaping the future through their work in the community
and charitable giving.
Queen Elizabeth Diamond Jubilee Medal 2023
Recognized for contributions to the community and non profit sector by MLA Joe Ceci.
Community Profiles
Avenue Megazine December 2021 Cover Story
2022 Compelling Calgarians
2022 CBC Asian Changemaker
Award recipient
News Articles
Calgary Herald: Avid volunteer launching new app to help Calgarians give their time
A New Pop-Up Movie Club Brings People and Energy to Calgary’s Chinatown
CBC: Retail collectives are changing how young entrepreneurs access storefront selling space
City of Calgary: Exploring downtown arts and culture: 2023 highlights
CBC: Pop Up Green House Grows Food For Calgary
Read More
CTV: How to volunteer from home during the pandemic
I’m great at turning ideas into reality.
if you have an idea you’ve always wanted to execute, I can help you brainstorm, identify pain points, figure out your pitch and layout a path to execution.
Helping people achieve their dream project is kinda my thing so don’t be shy!
Get in touch!
Contact me
1-587-703-2209
admin@vollyapp.com