Commons AGM: Updates & Marda Loop Developments
By Jeremy Duncan
As we celebrate 10 remarkable years together, I want to express my heartfelt gratitude to you—our incredible community. Your kindness, support, and generosity have made Commons one of the great joys of my life. Thank you!
Highlights from an Extraordinary Year
Over 1,000 of you joined us for our 10th anniversary celebration at Jack Singer Concert Hall—a truly unforgettable gathering!
Christmas Eve services welcomed a record-breaking 1,600 attendees, making it our largest celebration yet.
Our Advent campaign raised over $120,000, directly impacting our community across Calgary.
Attendance grew an incredible 36% in Season 11, and even with this rapid growth, our amazing staff kept expenses to just a 5% increase while giving rose by about 3%.
A Special Thanks to Our Staff Team
Our staff has absolutely been the backbone of Commons, bringing exceptional talent, passion, and consistency—particularly as we made the transition from online gatherings back into physical spaces. Creating space for our team to try new things, grow personally, and share their unique gifts remains a top priority for me.
Gratitude for Our Board
Special thanks to two board members who completed their terms this year. Janice Hsu-Chan, whose leadership and strategic vision strengthened our community during pivotal times. Thanks also to Michael Wing, whose financial expertise has positioned us for incredible opportunities ahead. Both have served two full terms and will be missed, but we are equally excited to welcome Meredith Caspell, Angela Gosselin, and Aspen Redecopp to the board. Bobbi and I can't wait to get to work with this new board heading into 2025.
Visit www.commons.church/team to read full bios.
Facility Investments and Marda Loop Update
In 2024 we made significant improvements at our Kensington location, but our real focus right now is on Marda Loop, a fantastic opportunity to further our vision. Patience, however, has been a virtue this year. The Marda Loop building, a beautiful but aging 100-year-old church, needs careful assessment and repair, especially around the roofing and structural integrity, before we build a timeline for a parish launch.
We've discovered two significant issues that require immediate attention:
Correcting a flat roof addition from the 1970s that's causing water pooling.
Stabilizing outwardly deflected sanctuary walls and cracked roof beams.
Though our progress has been slower than anticipated—due partly to necessary inspections and hazardous material abatements—we are moving forward responsibly to manage our resources and safety obligations. We have one more area of the structure that needs to be opened up and assessed by our engineers before we will have a full picture of the path ahead.
The immediate goal is stabilizing the existing structure and removing hazardous materials so that we can begin renovations and prepare to launch public services as soon as possible, but this will still likely be at least a year away.
The existing church is nearing the end of its life, but we are planning for a decade of use before the building reaches that end. At that point, the property, which includes the house immediately beside the church facility, presents exciting redevelopment opportunities given the rapid growth of Marda Loop and the larger South Calgary neighbourhood. Still, we need time and capital to properly evaluate those options regardless. So, the priority is putting our attention into fixing up the building.
We are moving forward as quickly as possible, but we're also committed to thorough due diligence, patience, and strategic planning, which will lay a foundation for the next decade and beyond at Commons.
Your Continued Support
Your prayers, patience, and support are invaluable as we navigate these exciting opportunities. Let's continue pursuing our vision—a vibrant network of Commons parishes across Calgary, beginning with Marda Loop. And perhaps consider driving by the property to take a look for yourself and pray for our future. Marda Loop Church, 1638 30 Ave SW Calgary AB T2T 1P4.
Thank you once again for your incredible contributions this year. Our first decade was extraordinary, and I truly believe the next decade will be even better.
Jeremy
Head to Marda Loop, walk in the neighbourhood, and offer a prayer for this future Commons parish.
