Alison Karim-McSwiney is the Executive Director with the International Avenue Business Improvement Area (INTLAVE BRZ). She has 20 years of experience as a Place Manager and is the recipient of many awards. Her visionary leadership includes recent successes of securing $176 million for the multimodal redesign and infrastructure improvements along International Avenue. Alison has been instrumental in bringing innovative community initiatives to International Avenue including creating Canada’s first food tour in 1997 which is still running today. She has organized hundreds of successful events from parades, festivals, galas, conferences and tours. She is an alumni of CJSW radio where she hosted a show for five years in the mid-80’s and was part of the committee to organize CJSW’s first Funding Drive. Indy music has been her passion along with her partner Don McSwiney, a well known musician and former CJSW radio station manager.

She co-chairs and is a founder of the International Avenue Arts and Culture Community and is founder of International Avenue Mural Society which is responsible for the development of public art in East Calgary.