Eva Friesen
MBA, ICD.D
President & CEO
Widely respected, Eva Friesen has provided effective leadership in the Not for Profit sector for nearly 40 years. Calgary Foundation is one of the largest and fastest-growing community foundations in Canada with assets over $1 Billion.
Prior to joining Calgary Foundation, Eva was the CEO of Calgary Health Trust (2001-2005). In earlier days, Eva enjoyed a 22 year career with the YWCA spanning three cities, starting in Winnipeg (1979-1984), then Yellowknife as CEO (1985-1989), and Calgary as CEO (1989-2001).
A Rotarian since 1993, Eva served as the first female President of the Rotary Club of Calgary (downtown) for the 2013-2014 year, its centennial year.
Eva has served on a variety of NFP Boards including the Calgary Police Commission (1991-1996), and the Calgary Chamber of Commerce (2007-2013), and currently serves as a director on the Calgary Rotary Clubs Foundation. She has delivered the keynote address and facilitated workshops for numerous organizations and groups across Canada on a variety of Leadership and Board Development topics and for 6 years was part-time faculty at the Banff Centre for Management facilitating a Not-For-Profit Leadership program.
Recent awards include an Honorary Doctorate of Laws from the University of Calgary (2022), an Honorary Doctorate of Law from the Mount Royal University (2020), the Grant McEwan Lifetime Achievement Award from the City of Calgary (2020). In 2017 YW Calgary recognized Eva in their Canada 150 project, She Who Dares, that honored 150 women who have impacted Calgary during the past 150 years. The Haskayne School of Business recognized Eva in 2011 with the Management Alumni Excellence (MAX) award, a recognition of outstanding success of Haskayne alumni, celebrating personal achievement and extraordinary service to both the school and the community.
Originally from Manitoba, Eva has made Calgary her home for the past 32 years. Married to Calgary lawyer and rancher, Stan Carscallen, her life is made complete by their blended family, 3 lovely granddaughters and many horses.