Presented by the Mayor’s Youth Council (MYC), our Feature-a-Founder spotlight is designed to highlight youth-led initiatives in Calgary making a positive impact. This month, we’re featuring Alexander Sun, the founder of Beyond Blades ASD Foundation.
When most people think of sports programs, they picture competition, trophies, and packed arenas. But for Alexander Sun, sports represent something much deeper: connection, inclusion, and community. At just 16 years old and entering grade 11 at Western Canada High School in the fall, Alexander has already built an organization that is transforming the way children with autism access recreational programs in Calgary.
Through his nonprofit initiative, Beyond Blades ASD Foundation, Alexander and his growing team of student volunteers are creating spaces where children with autism can learn new skills, build confidence, and feel supported all while having fun.
And yes, in case you were wondering, the Marvel fan absolutely sees teamwork as a superpower.
Where It All Began
The inspiration for Beyond the Blades started with something simple: noticing a gap.
Alexander had been involved in a research-based skating program designed for children with autism. While the initiative had good intentions, he realized the children weren’t getting enough actual ice time because the focus leaned heavily toward research outcomes rather than the participants’ experiences.
Instead of accepting the situation, Alexander decided to act.
Together with his father and a friend, he began taking five children to outdoor rinks in the Hamptons area of Calgary for extra skating practice. What started as a small effort quickly evolved into something much bigger.
“As we continued, we realized there was so much more we could do,” Alexander explains.
Soon, he began recruiting other students to help with marketing, fundraising, and social media. The initiative rapidly expanded, eventually partnering with Star Hope Autism Care and broadening beyond skating programs alone. Today, Beyond the Blades offers activities like badminton, is developing pickleball programming, and has even partnered with a robotics team to launch a STEM initiative for children with autism.
The name “Beyond the Blades” became symbolic of that growth: a reminder that the organization was no longer just about skating, but about opening doors to new opportunities and experiences.
Building Something Bigger Than Himself
For Alexander, one of the most rewarding parts of the journey has been witnessing how quickly the organization has grown in such a short amount of time.
Founded in late December 2025, Beyond the Blades has already grown to include more than 40 high school volunteers, a six-person leadership team, and multiple community partnerships. In only a few months, the organization successfully launched two programs while simultaneously developing its third and fourth initiatives.
But what makes Alexander most proud isn’t just the numbers, it’s the people.
“I’m really proud that we’ve created opportunities for students to volunteer for something they genuinely care about,” he says.
By involving youth directly in leadership, event planning, outreach, and programming, Beyond the Blades has become more than a volunteer organization. It has become a community of students united by a shared desire to make recreation more accessible and inclusive.
The Power of Community
One of the biggest lessons Alexander has learned as a young founder is that no one succeeds alone.
“You really need friends and like-minded people to succeed,” he explains. “A group of people can accomplish things so much faster than one person alone.”
That belief in teamwork has shaped the way Beyond the Blades operates. The team holds weekly Tuesday meetings to stay organized, maintain momentum, and continuously brainstorm new ideas. According to Alexander, that consistent communication has allowed the organization to grow at an incredibly fast pace.
He also credits much of the organization’s early success to personal connections. Many of the first volunteers were friends from middle school or people already within his network.
For Alexander, networking isn’t just a professional skill, it’s the foundation of meaningful community-building.
The Hardest Part: Starting
While Beyond the Blades now appears highly organized and fast-growing, Alexander admits the hardest obstacle was simply taking the first step.
“I think a lot of people get scared about future problems before they even start,” he reflects.
Instead of trying to solve every possible issue in advance, Alexander focused on building momentum first and handling challenges as they came. That mindset allowed the organization to grow naturally without becoming overwhelmed by uncertainty.
He believes many young people already have strong ideas they simply need the confidence to pursue.
“Sometimes you just need that push,” he says. “That huge leap into actually doing something.”
His journey serves as a reminder that impactful organizations rarely begin with perfect plans. They begin with action.
Looking Ahead
What makes Alexander’s story so inspiring is not just the scale of what he has built, but the mindset behind it. Beyond the Blades was created because one student noticed that children in his community deserved more support and decided to do something about it.
Now, through sports, STEM programs, and youth leadership, Alexander and his team are helping create spaces where children with autism feel included, empowered, and celebrated.
At an age when many students are still figuring out their own paths, Alexander Sun is already creating opportunities for others to thrive.
And if Beyond the Blades’ rapid growth is any indication, this is only the beginning.
Next Steps
Started a project? Apply to Feature-a-Founder to be featured and share your impact – submit your story here!
Need help getting your idea off the ground? Explore our grants and funding opportunities: youthcentral.com/grants.