A group of people gather under a white tent with a red banner that reads "Welcome All to the Calgary Pop-Up Care Village" at Central Memorial Park. Volunteers wearing reflective vests and visitors are seen interacting around tables covered with red tablecloths. The background features tall buildings, greenery, and other tents.

Volunteers and visitors connect at the 4th annual Calgary Pop-Up Care Village in Central Memorial Park. Kyle Sieben, Communications

Sept. 11, 2025

UCalgary students and alumni lead Calgary Pop-Up Care Village 2025

Volunteer leaders guide a public event blending essential services with music and art

The Calgary Pop-Up Care Village (C-PUCV) returned to Central Memorial Park on Aug. 21, transforming the historic landmark into a vibrant hub of community care.

Now in its fourth year, the festival, co-founded by fourth-year University of Calgary nursing student Bill Zheng, brought together more than 50 partner organizations to provide Calgarians experiencing systemic vulnerabilities with free health care, clothing, food and social services.

This year’s event featured the unveiling of FYidoctors’ new mobile optometry bus, a boutique-style clothing shop, live art activations and one of the largest student-volunteer mobilizations in the festival’s history, with about 75 people helping bring it to life.

With more UCalgary students and alumni stepping into key leadership roles with the event, C-PUCV is sustaining its vision of dignity and joy while ensuring it continues to grow through the next generation of community leaders.

Kyle Sieben, Communications