Every so often, I have the privilege of witnessing a full-circle story at Momentum — one that starts with a participant in one of our programs and leads to incredible people helping to propel Momentum forward. Peter Harrison is a perfect example of this full-circle moment of success.

Peter first connected with Momentum in 2005 while he was living in Calgary’s Greater Forest Lawn area. A teenager at the time, he had a big dream: to go to university and study something science related. The challenge? He didn’t know how to make it happen, especially financially.

“I’m the second of five kids in my family,” Peter says. “My dad worked as a floor layer, which meant that some months were fantastic while others were downright dismal. No one in my family had ever been to university, and most of my friends weren’t interested either. I just knew I wanted a different path — but I didn’t know where to start.”

That changed in high school when Peter learned about Momentum’s Youth Fair Gains program. Not only could he earn matched savings that he could use for tuition — essentially, a 300% return on what he saved — but the program also offered practical financial skills that would last far beyond his student years.

“I attended the classes, and I realized those were the real treasure of the course. We covered budgeting, mortgages, buying a car, investments, debt, student loans — basically everything a young and clueless mind like mine needed to get through university and life,” he says. Peter used his matched savings to pay for his university tuition and became the first in his family to attend post-secondary.

Today, Peter has built a successful career in the tech sector and is a long-time donor to Momentum. After volunteering with Momentum in various ways, he also joined the Board of Directors in 2018 and has meaningfully contributed to several initiatives over the years. This June, Peter was appointed Chair of our Board. It’s a full-circle moment because the teenager who once came to Momentum seeking guidance is now, in a wonderful twist, my ‘boss’ on the board.

Peter’s story is a powerful reminder that programs like Youth Fair Gains aren’t just about saving for tuition — they’re about building confidence and knowledge that can have a ripple effect impacting whole families and communities.

From participant to leader, Peter continues to give back to the Momentum community. And we couldn’t be prouder to have him at the helm.

Learn more about Momentum's Matched Savings for Youth program.