On March 19, more than 600 Albertans gathered at the Calgary TELUS Convention Centre for an evening of art, sport and creativity. The Red, White & Gold (RWG) Gala, presented by Canadian Sport Institute Alberta (CSIAB), gathered Alberta’s top athletes, sports lovers and community members in support of athlete mental health and wellness. The event raised $230,000.
“Athlete mental health is a very important topic, especially right now, as athletes finish the Olympics and Paralympics and they’re looking ahead to what the future holds,” says Gary Davies, president of CSIAB. “Athletes begin to contemplate whether they continue their career, start a new one or retire. These are obviously things that they’re not thinking about as they’re training, but [thoughts about the future] come in full force once the Games come to an end. We want to support them.”
Muscle and Motion
The gala’s 2026 theme was Muscle and Motion, celebrating the strength and artistry of Alberta athletes. Decorated athletes in attendance included 14-time Paralympic medallist Mark Arendz, Olympic champions Brett Gallant, Isabelle Weidemann, Ivanie Blondin, Kelsey Mitchell, Kasia Gruchalla-Wesierski and many, many more.
RWG put the spotlight on Alberta’s athletic talent and the athletes’ drive to stay in motion. The evening highlighted the stories of resilience and determination — and the years of devoted training — that led to global victories.
Attendees watched Olympians and Paralympians from Paris 2024 and Milano-Cortina 2026 walk the runway during a live fashion show. CSIAB partnered with Calgary fashion designer Paul Hardy, who worked with each athlete to curate and style a look that reflected their personal journey in sport.
Where art and sport intersect
Athletes train their entire lives for a moment on the world stage, and once it passes, the uncertainty of what’s next can be difficult. Beyond the personal and professional challenges following a world-class competition, all the rigorous training an athlete did to get to peak performance level, and all the pressure they endured, can take a toll.
Prior to the gala, CSIAB asked athletes what they do to manage their mental health while they train and there was one popular answer: art. To celebrate their multitude of talents, the gala hosted an athlete-artist exhibition featuring six athlete-artists from Calgary, or those who train here, alongside photography by Olympic and Paralympic photographer Dave Holland.
Attendees admired the artistic works, which included watercolour pieces of Calgary landscapes by Olympic free-style skier India Sherret and paintings by Olympic speed skater Brooklyn McDougall. The works were auctioned off and raised $17,000.
Building a stronger future
Thanks in part to the success of the gala, CSIAB and Calgarians have helped build a stronger, healthier and more resilient sport community. CSIAB’s funds go towards one-on-one mental health support, emergency action plans for mental health crises and sport-informed care for removal from, and return to, sport due to mental health concerns. CSIAB advocates for more mental health practitioners within sport organizations, hosts workshops focused on wellness, performance, and identity, and trains coaches and staff in mental health first aid.
To learn more about CSIAB’s mental health initiatives and to donate, visit csialberta.ca/donate
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