Report to Community
2024/25
Land acknowledgement
Onward is located on the traditional territories of the Niitsitapi and the people of Treaty 7 which includes the Siksika, the Piikani, the Kainai, the Tsuut’ina, and the Îethka Stoney Nakoda Nations of Bearspaw, Chiniki and Goodstoney. Mohkínsstsisi, the Blackfoot name for Calgary, is also home to the Métis Nation Region 3. We recognize all nations, genders, and spirits who make their homes here and help us steward this land.
Who We Are and Why it Matters
Onward believes that home is the starting point for everything. Without a safe, stable, and affordable place to live, it’s impossible to build a life. This belief shapes every decision we make and every partnership we form.
Our Vision
With homes for all, people and communities thrive.
Our Promise
We build and own affordable, well-cared-for homes — the foundation for well-being and belonging.
Our Purpose
We recognize that housing is the essential step in the journey to stability and success. Our mixed-income model improves stigma, strengthens neighbourhoods, and ensures long-term sustainability.
Vision and Voice
Martina Jileckova, Chief Executive Officer, Onward Homes
From Our Chief Executive Officer:
Growing Impact, Deepening Commitment
It’s been a tremendous year at Onward — a year of growth, of positive challenges, and of phenomenal people joining our team. We’ve fully integrated the operations of Horizon and Forward Housing, and we’re seeing the power that scale brings: better services for our residents, new development momentum, and a greater voice in the housing conversation.
When we merged, we said this wouldn’t be one plus one equals two — it would be one plus one equals three. And that’s what happened. We took the best of both organizations, learned from others in the sector, and created something stronger than the sum of its parts.
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One of the most meaningful changes for our residents, resulting from the merger, was our decision to make our entire portfolio pet-friendly. Seniors and other residents who are pet lovers are no longer turning down safe housing — or even living in unsafe conditions — just so they wouldn’t have to give up their pets. Now all 2,200 Onward homes in Calgary allow pets. It’s been a tremendous success.
Our development pipeline is stronger than ever. This year, we opened new homes in Killarney and will be breaking ground in the community of Currie Barracks, adding over 100 units. And we’re not stopping there. We have over 600 more units in active planning, and we’re working closely with government and sector partners to make them a reality.
I want to thank Gary McNamara, the former CEO of Forward, for helping lead this merger and staying on as a senior advisor. His commitment has shaped our shared future. I’m also grateful to our Board, who bring leadership and heart to everything we do.
To our staff, our donors, our partners, and most of all our residents: thank you. You are the reason we do this work. We are building homes, yes, but more than that, we are building belonging. We are building the future, together.
Martina Jileckova
Chief Executive Officer, Onward Homes
Bryan Romanesky, Board Chair, Onward
From Our Board Chair:
Unity, Scale, and Impact
This past year has been one of incredible momentum for Onward. It’s the year where we moved beyond the paperwork of the merger and truly became one organization, one voice. And with that unity has come real measurable impact.
We experienced steady and measured growth in 2024/25. In the first months of the 2025/26 fiscal year, we added over 500 homes to our Onward portfolio by taking on a new responsibility and stepping up to manage Murdoch Manor and George C. King Tower at the request of the Government of Alberta. That kind of trust doesn’t come lightly, and it speaks volumes about the capability and integrity of our team.
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We now provide 3,000 Calgarians with safe, stable housing, and we continue to lead with our values of accountability, care, and teamwork.
One of the most important lessons from this year is that leadership matters at the executive level and at the board level. Our board helped set the tone: optimistic, empowering, forward-looking. That tone has carried through every part of Onward’s operations. It’s what allowed us to bring best practices forward, eliminate old barriers, and move faster than we thought possible.
I’m proud of the scale we’ve reached. I’m proud of the professionalism and compassion our team shows daily. I’m proud that we’re not just operating housing, we’re part of the housing solution. We’re helping create more homes, more equity, and more stability in Calgary. That’s what this work is about.
Bryan Romanesky
Board Chair, Onward Homes
This Year in Action: Growth, Partnerships, Possibility
Our significant development pipeline reflects both the strength of Onward and our
commitment to addressing the urgent need for affordable housing in our
community. Each project represents more than just bricks and mortar—it is an
investment in stability, opportunity, and equity for the individuals and families
we serve. A robust pipeline ensures we can sustain momentum, leverage partnerships,
and deliver long-term impact by creating housing solutions that are both innovative and resilient.
Ian Nash
Chief Development Officer
Scaling with Purpose
In 2024/25, we saw the full realization of the merger between Horizon and Forward Housing. With our operations, governance, and services now unified under the Onward banner, we’re delivering on the promise of scale.
Today, Onward owns and operates 2,225 homes across Calgary, housing approximately 3,000 residents.
That growth isn’t just in numbers. It reflects our enhanced ability to serve, to advocate, and to build.
Closing the gap on
affordability for Calgarians
52% below market price
According to CMHC, the average monthly rent in Calgary for all unit types was $1,577 in October 2023. Through our mixed-income community housing model, Onward units are rented for 57% less ($682/month).
Our shared goal to address the need
Onward is closing the gap on housing affordability for Calgarians through various approaches, including our mixed-income model, providing housing at below market pricing, and through referring agencies.
The City of Calgary’s Home is Here strategy
calls for 3,000 new non-market homes per year - a goal we support and participate in.
84,600
households in housing need in 2021 (earnings below median and spending more than 30% of income on housing)*
1 in 5
Calgary households cannot afford their housing costs*
*According to the City of Calgary’s 2023 Housing Needs Assessment
Housing today
Nearly 1,700 homes today and growing
Onward operates nearly 1,700 homes in Calgary – a mix of studio, one-, two- and three-bedroom apartment-style, townhome, and group home units. We are proud to offer community housing options to nearly 3,000 Calgarians.
Creating Belonging, Not Just Buildings
Onward provides safe, affordable housing to our community. For individuals and families transitioning from homelessness, stable housing is more than just a place to live, it is a foundation for a new beginning. It fosters a sense of security and stability that is essential for well-being and an improved quality of life.
Our dedicated team is committed to supporting our residents every step of the way. We believe that professional support, along with services like those from our Community Engagement Coordinator, can truly transform a house into a home by building connections and a strong sense of community. We are honored to be a part of their journey toward a brighter, more stable future.
Chris Slater
Chief Operating Officer
Inna's Story
I am very thankful to the people who helped me and guided us to this wonderful home.
Meet the Team Behind the Mission
Every person on the Onward team plays a vital role in bringing our mission to life. This past year’s growth challenged us to stretch, adapt, and build — and our team rose to the occasion with incredible dedication and heart. Whether supporting residents, maintaining homes, or strengthening our internal systems, our people embody our values of Accountability, Care, and Teamwork every day. It’s their commitment that powers our progress and helps us create spaces where individuals and communities can truly thrive.
Ryan Oliver
Director, Human Resources
Over 70 Dedicated Individuals
Special Shoutout to CREB
Onward is deeply grateful to the CREB® REALTOR® Community Foundation for selecting our Glasswaters House to receive their support.
Thanks to this generous gift, Onward was able to complete the recommended upgrades and improvements with virtually no disruption of services or displacement of residents. The CREB® REALTOR® Community Foundation grant reflects an inspiring commitment to strengthening families and building community bonds.
Collaboration Leads to Strong Community
Strong collaborations help us deliver meaningful support to residents while strengthening the fabric of the communities we’re part of.
Accessible Housing
Alpha House
Better Business Bureau
Calgary Fire Department
Calgary Police Department
Canadian Mental Health Association
Centre for Newcomers
Children’s Cottage
Community Kitchen
Calgary Catholic Immigration Society
Calgary Humane Society
Carya
City of Calgary
Community Connect YYC
Ears to You
Fresh Routes
Green Calgary
Jewish Family Services of Calgary
John Howard Society
MCG Careers
Momentum
Mustard Seed – Veterans Advocacy
Parachutes for Pets
Telus
The Alex
The Immigrant Education Society
Unison (Kirby Centre)
Snapshot of This Year at Onward
Fiscal Year 2024/25 Highlights
The 2024/25 fiscal year ended with a balanced surplus, with some growth in rental revenues and higher staff and maintenance expenses.
The maintenance expenses are associated with planned preventative maintenance and new initiatives to drive efficiencies. The additional staff costs are a deliberate investment by Onward in the growth of our portfolio. Prior to year-end, Onward completed the construction and commenced lease-up of our Killarney project. After year-end, we added two buildings, the most recent additions to our portfolio, which now comprises over 2,200 units. Onward continues to maintain strong cash balances, with funds designated for capital reserves and growth.
Stephen Cole
Chief Financial Officer
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Onward increased its total asset base by nearly $7.2 million, reflecting steady capital investment in property development and maintenance.
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Onward reduced its long-term debt by more than $3.8 million and returned over $570,000 in prior-year surplus to the Government of Alberta, as part of our stewardship responsibilities.
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We maintained a healthy $17.1 million in reserves, including $12.3 million allocated for future housing development and $3.8 million in replacement reserves to safeguard the integrity of our buildings.
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The financial statements for the year ended March 31, 2025, received an unqualified opinion from our independent auditors, affirming the accuracy and transparency of our financial reporting.
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The reduction in our cash position this year reflects a purposeful investment in construction, operational improvements, and resident support. Every decision we make is guided by our commitment to housing affordability and community impact.
Annual revenue
$22.9M
primarily from rent and government capital grantsAnnual surplus
$4.8M
reinvested in capital, services, and reserve growthLong-term debt
$60.6M
well-managed across 14 propertiesOperating cash flow
$17.9M
Year-end cash balance
$9.5M
following strategic deployment to development activitiesHow You Can Help Build Belonging
At Onward, we believe that every Calgarian deserves a safe, stable, and affordable place to call home, and we can’t do it alone.
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Show your values in action by partnering with us. Corporate donations can support resident events, fund programming, or contribute directly to new housing development. To explore capital gifts or sponsorship opportunities, reach out to us at donate@onwardhomes.ca.
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Make a one-time gift or become a monthly donor. All general donations go directly to the construction of our next affordable housing project.
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Onward provides meaningful initiatives that enrich residents’ lives and strengthen communities. Your donation helps nurture belonging and well-being.
Every donation makes a difference. Whether you’re giving once, monthly, or as part of a long-term commitment, your contribution helps create and sustain housing that supports Calgarians for years to come.
A “Thank You” to Our Partners
Onward is proud to work alongside an extensive network of referral and support partner agencies. These organizations play a vital role in connecting Calgarians to safe, affordable housing and in providing the wraparound supports that help our residents thrive.
