Alberta Canada spent most of her life fighting for the well-being of the people of Tacoma, Washington. She made a personal commitment to live in the city's Hilltop area, where she raised her family and was a loving friend in that economically depressed and socially disadvantaged community.

She was a mentor to dozens of young people and adults, focusing on helping people of color overcome prejudice and the disadvantages they face, to become positive, productive citizens.

Canada worked successfully with African-American children in the Hilltop neighborhood while the local police department and social agencies treated them as though they were lost to society. Believing in them and helping them believe in themselves, Canada fought for better schools, housing and for public safety—all the large issues that impacted the individuals she was mentoring.

Canada risked many dangers to herself and her family as she challenged drug dealers, gang members, police officers, and even religious organizations that she believed were not helping the people of Hilltop. Many of the individuals she worked with had been written off by the community as too far gone and too dangerous to deal with.

Canada, who lived in her Hilltop home for 38 years, was a founder of the Martin Luther King Housing Development Association, and arranged for the restoration of many run-down Hilltop homes.

Alberta Canada died four years after being commended as a Giraffe Hero.