Our Founders

Stephen McPhee, Founder and President of Stephen’s Backpacks Society

Stephen’s goal is to help end family homelessness across our nation. He has become a powerful voice for children in need across Alberta through Stephen’s Backpacks Society.

Starting when he overheard his parents talking about a homeless man they had seen on the front of a newspaper, Stephen (a high-functioning autistic child) asked, “are there kids on the street?”

Since that day, Stephen has faithfully continued his mission to bring awareness to issues surrounding homelessness and has spoken at many local and national events. He has won many awards for his efforts for Stephen’s Backpacks Society, and continues to be a humble, powerful leader in our community inspiring many volunteers and corporations to help him in his passion.

Nancy McPhee, Executive Director

Nancy has initiated and directed many programs that assist others in need. Determined to carry out her son’s passion for helping others, Nancy has coordinated projects for housing shelters and organizations to provide new “Back-To-School” running shoes, Christmas and Easter Backpacks filled with gifts and school supplies, and complete, newly furnished housing.

To increase awareness and to educate the community about children with special needs, and how to advocate for them, Nancy works on the premise that every child learns differently, emphasizing the belief that their diagnosis is only a small part of who they are.

Nancy has spearheaded global efforts in response to world events and crises. For example, she has:

  • Initiated and coordinated donations from corporations to third world countries.
  • Setup over 300 donation centres across Canada as national director of Operation Christmas Child.
  • Participated in Operation Shoe Box distributions.
  • Provided over 3000 filled backpacks to the children of Haiti during the earthquake of 2010.
  • Coordinated the sale of tribal dolls made by young women in Laos and Thailand to fundraise for their safe shelter.
Jim McPhee

Randal James Harvie McPhee, (1943 – 2017), Past President

Randal James Harvie “Jim” McPhee was a proud father of his foster children, encouraging the “light” in each child he and Nancy welcomed into their home. Jim saw that his son, Stephen, had an incredible lifelong passion for helping other children, and so he laid down the framework for Stephen’s dream and the charity that grew out of his love for his son.

Jim was dedicated to bringing the local communities of Airdrie and Calgary together as he saw there was a need for early intervention in the young life of a child. He made many friends along the way, who would say “he lit up the room and made it brighter when he left it”.

Jim fought several cancers for over a decade and lost his final battle on May 4th, 2017. The Town & Country Centre and adjacent football field were lined with family, friends, and community, many wearing the signature yellow hats that became synonymous with the movement – lighting up our community.

In honor of the late Jim McPhee, founding member of Stephen’s Backpacks Society and a dedicated husband and father, the City of Airdrie declared May 4th as Yellow Hat Day.