CUPS says special thank you to Stampeders’ Corey Mace

Join us in cheering for our friend Corey Mace as the Calgary Stampeders’ defensive line coach — and proud CUPS supporter — is moving to the Toronto Argonauts as their new defensive coordinator.

After 11 seasons in Calgary as a player and coach, we are excited for Corey and his family, yet we’ll certainly miss his presence on the field and what his years here meant to the entire CUPS community.

It’s important to share with our sponsors, donors and the people we help, who Corey is to us and, as an extension, the amazing work he’s taken on as part of our relationship with the Stampeders.

Since 2013, CUPS has been thrilled to be among the organizations receiving turkeys and hams through the annual Corey Mace Turkey Drive. For him, the holiday meal is special; food brings people together.

“It’s still the same old us, but more and more people are taking the time and spending their hard-earned money in tough times to help others,” Corey said. “That’s kudos to the city of Calgary.”

For Corey and his wife Petra, the hustle was on during the holidays. Every year, their event was met with the city’s generosity with great support from both the Calgary Stampeders and Calgary Flames.

“He didn’t want people to have to choose between putting a hot meal on the table around the holidays or providing a gift or toy, something for the kids under the tree,” Petra said.

Each year, the Corey Mace Turkey Drive was brought to new heights, even as the event pivoted and changed, especially these past two years as people are faced with the realities of COVID-19.

CUPS helps people experiencing homelessness, poverty and trauma in building their resilience. Food insecurity, an issue close to our own Chef Sameer, affects many, and we help remove this toxic stressor.

“If we’re able to help in a situation, when really, all we’re doing is providing a little bit of extra help to what CUPS already does, we’re just doing our best to assist an amazing organization,” Corey said.

In that our care coordination team knows the unique challenges our clients face, their efforts, along with those from our family and child development centres, get the turkeys to the people who need them.

For us, it means a tremendous amount to have the Calgary Stampeders as longtime CUPS supporters.

Their dedication has positively impacted peoples’ lives, not only as we face challenging times today, but in past years as well when we could meet safely in person.

CUPS was the first organization Corey learned about when he arrived in Calgary in 2010.

We’re reminded of when Corey, and other Stampeders, served meals to our clients at our popular Christmas in January dinners and when we used to host the CUPS Stampeders Kick off Breakfast.

“Even the big dogs feel really good about giving back to the community,” Petra said.

From the moment the Stampeders approved the turkey drive in 2013, it has “grown legs and run.”

In 2021, Calgarians helped raise $40,494 or an equivalent 2,030 turkeys. These were provided to CUPS, the Airdrie Food Bank, Enviros Wilderness School, Children’s Cottage Society and 1835 House.

In the years since the event began, over 5,000 turkeys/hams have gone to people in need.

“Regarding CUPS and where we are right now, the pandemic has a lot of people and families in new territory,” Corey said,” Anything we can do to spread the word about CUPS will benefit more people.”

CUPS utilizes client centred care, and while we’re able to assist with immediate needs, our team gets to the root cause of peoples’ concerns and builds resilience for themselves, as well as future generations.

“It’s a big hill that people need to climb,” Petra said. “Step by step, we can climb those stairs; that’s when you’re setting people up for success.”