Welcome to the 2026-2027 school year.

We are excited by the upcoming year.  Foothills Academy’s emphasis on best practices in education and psychology, and our attention to continuous growth, helps us to remain at the forefront in the fields of Learning Disabilities (such as Dyslexia) and ADHD.  And, the synergy between our School and Community Services has continuously evolved in order to maximize the academic, emotional, and social support we offer.  

This is reflected in this year’s theme:  Mattering: valuing each person, and their unique contributions

The science of “mattering” refers to two key aspects - feeling like you are valued, and feeling like you add value.  Mattering is highly related to our foundational focus on Self-Determination Theory.  We feel as though we matter when we experience relatedness; feel competent; and feel like we have some autonomy over our actions and decisions.

In both our School and our Community Services, our position in the Learning Disabilities and ADHD landscape remains prominent throughout the province and across the country.  Our wide range of programs allows us to deliver essential support to more than a thousand young people every year.  Our staff all share a desire to continually learn and do our best, in the knowledge that Foothills makes a difference to the lives of so many children and families.  They are at the forefront of everything we do.  Our goal is to show them that they matter.

We are keenly aware of the positive impact our programs and services have, so we believe that if a young person meets the criteria for our programs, finances should not be a barrier to attending.  Our bursary benefits many families who could not otherwise access the programming they need.  It is for this reason that we strive to raise one million dollars each year.  Our fall Gala “Crystal Ball” will be held at the Palliser Hotel on November 14, 2026, and the Annual Gordon Hoffman Golf Charity Classic will be held again next summer.  Donors and other community supporters of Foothills make all the difference in helping to shape and change the lives of so many.  

Our sincere gratitude goes out to the entire Foothills Family; including the incredible staff, donors, volunteers, board members, and of course, the young people and families who inspire us every day.

Wishing everyone a great year.

Karen & Simon