September 21,2021, Calgary, AB –Vibrant Communities Calgary (VCC) and the Canadian Poverty Institute (CPI) have released a new publication outlining the incidence of poverty to equip the community with poverty-specific data related to Calgary’s 14 wards. This information can be used to stimulate debate and highlight poverty as a key election issue with local candidates running in the upcoming municipal election on October 18, 2021.
“Our goal is for municipal candidates to use these profiles to inform their platforms and priority issues and consider how other orders of government and community organizations could address the various issues of poverty,” says Derek Cook, Director of CPI. “In addition, voting Calgarians can use the information to form questions to ask candidates how they will support and advance poverty reduction if elected.”
Both quantitative (numerical data) and qualitative (descriptive data) methods were used to create the profiles for each Ward. Calgarians participated in an online questionnaire designed to give insight into some of the top issues and concerns in each ward. Along with information on what is working well and what solutions are needed to address the various aspects of poverty in each ward.
“Poverty is not always visible. Each of the 14 Wards in Calgary have things in common such as a strong sense of community and groups that help community members and residents,” says Meaghon Reid, Executive Director of VCC. “At the same time, these profiles are further evidence that poverty exists in each Ward, where people are struggling with access to affordable housing, mental health, transportation, childcare, access to appropriate cultural supports, and food security.”
Enough for All, Calgary’s community-driven poverty reduction strategy. The strategy is in place to raise awareness, to define, and to reduce poverty in our city and to convene and connect government, organizations, and individuals working in various ways to reduce poverty throughout Calgary.
“We want a community where there is enough for all,” says Reid. “We want to ensure that Calgary is a strong, supportive and inclusive community, where everyone has sufficient income and assets to thrive, where all Indigenous people are equal participants in Calgary's future.”
Resources
- Download the full publication Calgary Municipal Ward Poverty Profiles 2021 or the Poverty Profile of each Ward on our website.
- Consider supporting initiatives outlined in the White Goose Flying Report to better
- understand how Calgary can respond to the TRC Calls to Action.
- Examine the successes of the seven Community Hubs in Calgary that were developed to increase social inclusion, economic participation and reduce poverty.
- Read VCC’s 2020 Poverty Snapshot published in Dec. 2020.
- Enough for All is Calgary’s community-driven poverty reduction strategy which was updated and approved by Calgary’s City Council in 2019.
About Vibrant Communities Calgary
VCC is a non-profit organization that works collaboratively with stakeholders and partners to engage and serve Calgarians and to advocate for long-term strategies that address the root causes of poverty in Calgary. VCC engages the community using a Collective Impact approach to poverty reduction and is the steward of the Enough for All 2.0 Poverty Reduction Strategy. For more information, visit enoughforall.ca or follow us on twitter, Facebook, LinkedIn and Instagram.
About the Canadian Poverty Institute
The Canadian Poverty Institute is an inter-disciplinary institute with a mission to contribute to the healing of poverty through teaching, research and practice. Our vision is a city where the material, social and spiritual gifts and needs of all people are realized.
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For more information, please contact:
Stephanie Rösch
Communications and Marketing Specialist
Vibrant Communities Calgary
Email
Phone: 403-607-5544
Derek Cook
Director
Canadian Poverty Institute
Email
Phone: 403-410-2913
