Hope in the City Edmonton

Edmonton Hope in the City is returning to the Fantasyland Hotel on Thursday November 26 to kick off our 2026 Christmas season of giving. This year’s event features gridiron superstar Henry “Gizmo” Williams.

The funds raised by Hope in the City support many of The Salvation Army’s year-round initiatives. We are so grateful to have the opportunity to make a difference in the community.

For more information please email [email protected] or call 587-643-3107 

Presented by:

Time: 7 p.m.
Location: Fantasyland Hotel Edmonton, AB

Featuring: Henry “Gizmo” Williams

Henry “Gizmo” Williams is an icon of professional sports and a monument to the power of the human spirit. Widely celebrated as the most electrifying return specialist in professional football history, Williams spent the majority of his legendary 14-season career with the Edmonton Eskimos (now Elks), accumulating an astonishing 23,927 all-purpose yards and setting more than 20 league records. His game-breaking speed was so dominant that the league established the “designated American rule” specifically to accommodate his unique talents.

However, the true measure of Williams’ greatness lies in the hurdles he cleared off the turf. Born into extreme poverty in Memphis, Tennessee, he suffered the loss of both parents and several siblings during his youth. Refusing to be defined by circumstance, Williams used football as a vehicle for survival, earning All-American honours in college before launching a professional career that spanned the USFL, NFL, and CFL. Famous for punctuating his touchdowns with spectacular end-zone backflips, his 115-yard return in the 1987 Grey Cup remains voted as the greatest play in championship history.

Since retiring, Williams has built an equally impactful legacy as a premier motivational speaker and personal trainer in Alberta. Combining quick wit, infectious optimism, and raw vulnerability, he delivers unforgettable keynotes on mental health, overcoming systemic adversity, and the power of community. Williams does not merely speak on resilience; he lived it.

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