We’re dotting a few i's and crossing a few t’s on our latest report that’s coming out in a few weeks. Several Enough for All champions were involved in the project, seeking to examine the state of wellbeing in our city. We know that poverty is about so much more than an income cut off. It’s also about experiences – experiences with systems, community, navigating daily life. It’s also important to examine where systems are keeping some people back.

Systemic racism, ageism, sexism and exclusion make it more difficult for many Calgarians, including Indigenous peoples, new Canadians, 2SLGBTQIA+ people, visible minorities, people living with disabilities and aging populations, to access jobs and services, and to feel welcome and supported in the community. This can have implications to a community’s wellbeing, for instance:

• People from equity deserving communities – notably visible minorities, Indigenous people and recent immigrants – continue to report above average rates of poverty.
• According to the CMHC, nearly one out of every three unhoused young people in Canada identifies as 2SLGBTQIA+ and are twice as likely to experience severe poverty.
• During the COVID-19 pandemic, more visible minority groups in Canada reported their mental health to be fair or poor than average. 
• According to Statistics Canada, racialized Canadians are less likely to find as good of jobs as their non-racialized and non-Indigenous counterparts early in their careers.

At VCC, we’re committed to providing tools and resources to help our Champions, staff, leadership and the community understand the issues at play. As we close out Equity, Diversity and Inclusion week today, let’s also consider actions we can take to create spaces to advance anti-racism and anti-oppression. Also, take a look at Enough for All’s Allyship tools and resources and if you have suggestions for other useful tools, connect with us on social media.