Our Founder

Dr. Arthur Clark

Dr. Arthur Clark was born in North Carolina, USA in 1943. After graduating from medical school at Duke University in 1970, he became a Captain in the U.S. Army medical corps from 1971-73 during the Vietnam War. During this time he became disillusioned with the human behaviours that lead to conflict, violence and divide. He pursued his career in neuropathology and he became  a faculty member at John Hopkins University from 1973-1976, where he met and married Irma Parhad, who was also a neuropathologist. In 1984, they settled in Calgary together. He was a Professor Emeritus of Neuropathology and Clinical Neurosciences at the University of Calgary (UCalgary) Faculty of Medicine, and neuropathologist at the Foothills Hospital in Calgary from 1985 until 2012.

In the 1990’s the global scenario led him to see the necessity to create a healthy global community, where human beings can thrive together. From here he vowed to make Calgary, his home, a place that sets the trajectory in this direction. Inspired by the quote of Martin Luther King, “We must learn to live together as brothers and sisters or perish together as fools,” Arthur Clark has been persevered in his efforts and endeavors to make Calgary an option A City (a city where we choose to live together as brothers and sisters).

In 1995, in honour of his late wife, he established the Dr. Irma M. Parhad Programmes at the University of Calgary which provided funding to students with interest in international development issues, and an annual lectureship program. The program provided a Summer Studentship for 50 students at UCalgary. Students initiated projects where they can make an impact in their local region and around the world. 

Around 2005, Arthur Clark began opening his home for dialogue and workshop events that brought people together from diverse perspectives and walks of life. These events cultivated a sense of shared humanity and inspired people to initiate projects and quests that move us towards a healthy global community. He also played an instrumental role in the Calgary Peace Consortium at the University of Calgary with the aim to establish a culture of peace in Calgary. In 2010, he published the book, The ABCs of Human Survival: A Paradigm for Global Citizenship, which was published April 2010 by Athabasca University Press. He co-chaired the 2020 Vision for Humanity Symposium in Calgary and  then went on to establish the Calgary Centre for Global Community based on the values and vision of the ABC's of Human survival. In his pursuit towards actualizing a healthy global community in Calgary, he founded many organizations and initiatives such as Social Capital Society, Friends for Human Survival, Southern Alberta Loan Trust (SALT) and many more. Each of these organizations have many projects and initiatives that foster creative ways to build the city of Calgary.

Arthur Clark regularly leads dialogue groups in public spaces across Calgary that facilitate collaboration and creative thinking to solve human challenges and encourage , solution-based action for making a better world. In addition, he helps countless individuals and organizations to accomplish their goals and inspires many people to start their own projects and organizations to make Calgary a thriving city. He offers his support in many ways-from his own active engagement as well as financial and mental support and encouragement. He is also a catalyst to connect people and organizations that strive to improve the city. He seeks his own self improvement, starting quests for enhancing human life and making our city a better place and encouraging others to do so too (for example, writing 52 short stories in 52 weeks or writing meaningful book synopses and sharing them with all of his contacts). All of his initiatives encourage countless people to harness their individual and collective potential for meaningful change, foster creativity and imagine new possibilities. He has made a significant contribution to many people of all ages and walks of life as well as organizations across Calgary.

Today, in his 80s, Arthur Clark continues to dedicate his days to making Calgary a city at the forefront of creating a healthy global community.

MEET THE BOARD OF DIRECTORS

The Calgary Social Capital Society is guided by a dedicated working board of directors — not just decision-makers, but active contributors who roll up their sleeves to bring our vision to life. Each board member plays a hands-on role in organizing events, supporting members, and shaping the growth of our community. Together, we embody the spirit of cooperation we hope to inspire, ensuring that CSCS remains rooted in action, connection, and care.

  • Aditya Chaudhuri • President

    Aditya (Adi) is an engineer, nonprofit leader, and Hindustani classical musician whose whose career bridges public service, community impact, and the arts.

  • Saima Jamal • Vice-President

    Saima Jamal is a well-known and awarded Calgary based community organizer and helper, social activist, humanitarian, interfaith promoter and Tedx featured public speaker. Her work focuses on refugee and immigrant issues, activism, anti-racism, religious discrimination and women’s issues. As the current Co-Founder of the volunteer run Calgary Immigrant Support Society and past Program Manager of the Consortium for Peace Studies at the University of Calgary, Saima uses a unique multi-faith, multi-cultural and multi-community approach to mobilize 1000s of Calgarians to make our city the most welcoming place for newcomers to live and thrive, strengthen the social fabric of our society and to make our world a more peaceful, compassionate and more understanding place to live. Saima’s years of peace-building efforts and compassionate work as a peace activist included program development that educated Calgarians on different ways Canadians grappled with local and national calamities, conflict resolution domestically and internationally and covered the fight against deviant extremist groups, curbing radicalization, and finding reconciliation for religious conflicts and sectarian issues.

  • Myra D'Souza • Treasurer

  • Mary-Ann Stushnoff • Secretary

    Mary-Ann is a social entrepreneur, wellness professional, and Founder and Presiden of a multinational education-based charitable organization dedicated to improving literacy an alleviating poverty in underserved communities worldwide. Since beginning its development in 2006, the organization has grown through her vision and strategic leadership to support transformational education initiatives. Mary-Ann is also a respected exercise therapy specialist focused on neurological disorders and a sought-after speaker on leadership, wellness, and community development.

  • Michael Falconar • Director at Large

    Michael is a true renaissance man whose life has spanned locksmithing, survival training, teaching, real estate, and community leadership. A former president of CSCS (2017–2024), he has taught everything from welding and carpentry to robotics and psychology, while also raising two children who are now thriving contributors to society. His career has taken him from running his own locksmith business in Edmonton to 17 years as a high school teacher, a decade in commercial real estate, and back to the classroom as a substitute shop teacher with the Calgary Board of Education. Alongside his professional life, Michael has been deeply engaged in philosophy, politics, and community work—always driven by his optimistic vision of “Paradise or Bust,” a call to collective action for the future of humanity.

  • Zenia Mulhern • Director at Large

  • Ahmer Menon • Director at Large

    An active philanthropist, social worker, community volunteer, business owner, and civil engineer with many years of experience in community service and successfully coordinating and organizing various awareness workshops, seminars, fundraising activities, and social/cultural events.

  • Nazia Harris • Director at Large

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  • Dina Zaki • Director at Large

    Dina holds a Master’s degree in Mass Communication and brings a diverse professional background shaped by international experience. She began her career as a journalist in Egypt and Abu Dhabi before immigrating to Canada 28 years ago.

    After settling in Canada, Dina transitioned into a new field, earning a diploma in Special Needs Education. She currently works with the Calgary Board of Education, where she is dedicated to supporting students and contributing to inclusive education.

    Dina is a proud mother of three daughters, all of whom have earned university degrees, with two now married. Over the past decade, she has devoted herself to raising and supporting her family.

    She is currently pursuing a PhD in Mass Communication, continuing her commitment to lifelong learning and professional growth.