What happens when one of Calgary’s largest women serving charities and social enterprises partners with a post secondary institution to create new opportunities for students and the community? A new collaboration between Women In Need Society (WINS) and Bow Valley College is answering that question through the launch of an innovative campus thrift store that combines affordability, experiential learning, and community impact.
The recently opened WINS thrift store on campus gives students access to affordable clothing and household items while also creating opportunities for hands-on learning. Located at Bow Valley College’s downtown Calgary campus, the store serves as both a retail space and a learning environment where students can gain real-world experience in areas such as marketing, operations, human resources, and supply chain management.
What makes this initiative particularly interesting is the way it brings together education and social impact. Through the partnership, students have the opportunity to see firsthand how a social enterprise operates and how business can be used to address community needs.
At Trico Charitable Foundation (TCF), we’ve had the privilege of working alongside both WINS and Bow Valley College over the years. WINS has long been recognized as one of Calgary’s leading social enterprises and have taken a part of our very own A.S.E.S.S. program. In January 2014, Founders of TCF, Wayne & Eleanor Chiu, made a $3 million donation to Bow Valley College toward their school of business. Recognizing the contribution, Bow Valley College named its business school the Chiu School of Business. Seeing them both partner on this initiative is exciting because it brings together the strengths of two organizations that share a common vision for impact and social enterprise and holds a special place in our hearts.
The store also comes at a time when affordability is growing as a challenge for many students. Access to low-cost clothing and essential items can make a meaningful difference, particularly for those balancing school, work, and everyday expenses. At the same time, the partnership supports a more sustainable approach to consumption. By extending the life of donated goods, the thrift store helps reduce waste while making useful items available to those who need them.
Karen Ramchuk, President and CEO of WINS says:
“When partnership, shared values, and innovation come together, transformative things happen. That is exactly what the collaboration between WINS and Bow Valley College has created.
Together, we are building a model for how post secondary institutions, charities, and social enterprises can work alongside one another to create meaningful community impact while developing future leaders.
There is no greater way to inspire social entrepreneurship than by immersing students directly in the realities, challenges, and possibilities of caring for people in our communities. This partnership is not only creating opportunities for students and organizations today, it is helping shape a more compassionate, innovative, and socially conscious future for Calgary.”
For organizations working in the social enterprise sector, this collaboration offers an encouraging example of what can happen when educational institutions and community organizations work together. Students gain practical experience, community members gain access to affordable essentials, and social and environmental benefits are created along the way.
Bart Chudleigh, Dean of the Chiu School of Business and Technology says:
“At Bow Valley College, our mission is centered on helping learners build meaningful futures through accessible, career-focused education. WINS shares a remarkably similar purpose, empowering individuals and families with the support, resources, and opportunities they need to thrive.
That alignment is what makes this partnership feel so natural.”
Initiatives like this remind us that social enterprise is not only about generating revenue. It is about finding creative ways to solve problems, strengthen communities, and create opportunities for people to thrive. The new campus thrift store does exactly that, bringing learning, sustainability, and community impact together under one roof.