Campus News, Community & Events, Media
MaKami College Stampede Breakfast: Supporting Calgary Through Food & Education
Jul
Calgary’s community spirit was in full swing at the recent MaKami College Annual Stampede Breakfast, a vibrant event that perfectly encapsulates the institution’s commitment to supporting its students and the broader community. The event, held at the college’s Marlborough Mall campus in Calgary, brought together students, alumni, and local residents for a morning of free pancakes, live music, and family-friendly activities. Beyond the festivities, the breakfast served as a powerful reminder of MaKami College’s core values, including its dedication to wraparound support and its recent landmark transition to a not-for-profit Independent Academic Institution (IAI).
The annual breakfast held by MaKami College has been recognized by the Calgary Stampede Committee and has given the college the Stampede Spirit Recognition award again this year. This honour has been given to MaKami for its dedication to supporting local families and for making the event one of the biggest Stampede breakfasts in the city.
In a series of on-location interviews, Adam Salzman, Strategic Academic Learning Team (SALT) & Student Success Centre (SSC) Manager, and Camae Marayag, Senior Marketing Lead at MaKami College, discussed the significance of the event, the college’s expanding program offerings, and what the new IAI status means for students.
A Tradition of Giving Back: The Stampede Breakfast
The Stampede Breakfast is more than just a fun summer event; it is a tangible expression of MaKami College’s dedication to its community. As Adam Salzman explained during the event, the breakfast is a direct response to a pressing local issue: food insecurity.
“We recognize that there’s a lot of Calgarians currently experiencing some level of food insecurity, about one in three people,” Salzman noted. “And so we really want to show how we support our community, support our students, showing a little bit of that wraparound services experience that you get at MaKami College.”
By feeding thousands of attendees every year, MaKami College demonstrates its commitment to holistic support. This approach, often referred to as “wraparound support,” ensures that students receive not only academic instruction but also the personal, financial, and emotional assistance they need to succeed. The college offers a wide range of services, including:
- Mental health counselling and stress management support
- Learning strategies, tutoring, and ESL assistance
- Financial aid guidance and connections to government funding
- Housing and childcare resources
- Addiction support and food security initiatives
The Stampede Breakfast is a public extension of this philosophy, showcasing the college’s dedication to removing barriers and fostering a supportive environment for everyone.
Expanding Opportunities: 25 Years of Building Careers
Founded in 2001, MaKami College has a long history of preparing students for successful careers. As Camae Marayag highlighted, the college has grown significantly over the past 25 years and now offers 10 different programs.
“MaKami’s goal is really to meet Alberta’s workforce needs, and we want graduates to have career-ready skills and relevant skills to meet the workforce,” Marayag stated.
The college’s current program offerings include:
- Advanced Clinical Massage Therapy (3,000-hour diploma)
- Business Administrative Assistant
- Personal Training
- Medical Office Assistant
- Health Care Aide
- Early Childhood Education Certificate and Diploma
- Applied Politics and Public Affairs
- Master Instructor
- Alberta Basic Security Training
In September 2026, MaKami is set to launch two exciting new programs:
These programs further expand the opportunities available to students.
A Huge Milestone: Transitioning to an Independent Academic Institution (IAI)
Perhaps the most significant news discussed at the event was MaKami College’s recent transition to a not-for-profit Independent Academic Institution (IAI). This milestone, finalized in early 2025, marks a new chapter for the college and its students.
“It’s actually a huge milestone for us, and it means that we are accredited by the Alberta government, and our programs and curriculum have been reviewed and approved,” Marayag explained.
For students, this transition provides an added layer of trust and assurance. As Marayag pointed out, “It just means that they can trust the education they get here at MaKami College, and that we will support them every step of the way, from when they’re studying to graduating and up until they get their future careers.”
The shift to a not-for-profit IAI aligns MaKami College with other provincial institutions and reinforces its commitment to serving the public interest. It ensures that the college’s focus remains squarely on providing high-quality, accessible education and comprehensive support services to its diverse student body.
A College Built Around Its Community
The MaKami College Annual Stampede Breakfast is a testament to the institution’s vibrant community spirit and its unwavering commitment to supporting those it serves. Through its expanding program offerings, comprehensive wraparound services, and recent transition to an accredited not-for-profit IAI, MaKami College continues to build on its 25-year legacy of empowering individuals and meeting Alberta’s workforce needs. As the college looks to the future, it remains dedicated to providing a positive, supportive, and transformative educational experience for all its students.
