Partnership You Can Trust

Marina Ortman is a devoted community advocate, apparel designer/founder of DOME' Design Studio, and proud Calgarian.  Raised in a Ukrainian-Russian family in Western Siberia, Marina immigrated to Canada in search of new opportunities, overcoming cultural and linguistic barriers to graduate with a BA, majoring in International Relations from the University of Calgary. Her career spans the legal and management, to founding locally based boutique clothing brand that focused on creativity and sustainability.

Marina’s passion for community advocacy truly shone through during her leadership in the “Save the Inglewood Pool” campaign. As the driving force behind the initiative, Marina led the group efforts to prevent the pool’s closure. Her work began with in-depth research into the decision-making process, addressing questionable practices before the City Council. Marina created material for fundraisers, designed impactful grass roots campaigns to get the message out to the community as well as the city at large ensuring that the citizens of Calgary as well as Council, understood the impact of this closure. Her tireless actions resulted in galvanization of neighbours, interested groups, special needs organizations, raising concerns with Councillors and local MLA. This collective effort resulted in City Council reversing its decision to close this essential piece of Calgary’s community-based fitness infrastructure.

Since then, Marina has continued to be a vocal advocate for community needs, with a strong commitment to preserving what has been working for the residents. She has spoken on behalf of groups requiring support, such as opposing the Glenmore Redevelopment, 45 New Street development and raised concerns over GamePLAN’s provision such as lowered aquatic standards and ongoing neglect of the existing smaller recreational amenities. Marina's ongoing advocacy work reflects her dedication to ensuring that developments align with the interests and well-being of the people she serves.