VCC’s policy and research specialist Lee Stevens reflects on the 2023 Alberta Budget

It’s challenging to write about this day says VCC’s executive director Meaghon Reid

I tried to write a blog post about International Women’s Day...

Lee Stevens says Calgary's high ranking in inequality is not new in a recent interview with Global News

Calgary the second most unequal city in Canada: report

VCC's Lee Stevens discusses a new report on Calgary's well-being with CBC

Amid the rising cost of living, Calgarians are looking out for each other, says new report

VCC discusses how there isn't enough research to track how well kids are doing

Lower-income Calgary students facing additional barriers in recovering from pandemic learning gaps

VCC's latest report examines the multifaceted layers of wellbeing in Calgary

Calgarians are invested in the wellbeing of their neighbours amid the affordability crisis says a new report on the city’s state of wellbeing

News Release: Beneath the Surface, the layers of poverty in Calgary 

Tax filing can often boost income for people in poverty; Rise Calgary’s Nancy Cobber explores why some people don’t file

VCC discusses the ongoing need for affordable housing with Global News

Calgary announces $13.7M for affordable housing initiatives amid surging demand

Poverty Talks!'s Sue Gwynn talks about the difficulties people face when dealing with utility arears and disconnection

The unseen costs of utility disconnection

A chat with AI-driven ChatGPT about poverty

Can technology help create a greater understanding of poverty?

It's type for more affordable housing in our city says VCC's Lee Stevens

Calgarians struggle to find affordable housing as number of low-cost rental units decreases

It's important to examine where systems are keeping some people back

Equity, diversity and inclusion: a pathway to Enough for all

Point-in-time counts provide only a part of the information we need to understand the size of the homeless problem, says researcher Dr. Ron Kneebone

VCC is concerned some people are falling through the cracks

First affordability payments delivered, but long-term solutions are needed

The latest Market Basket Measure numbers show Calgary's cost of living is the second highest in Canada

Canada’s poverty measure shows the high cost of necessities in Calgary

VCC's executive director says Calgarians are being squeezed when they're already facing an affordability crisis

Rental vacancy at lowest levels since 2014, affordability gap grows: CMHC

VCC's executive director discusses the effect of rising costs and some solutions

Inflation’s impact on people living in poverty

Poor mental health and access to affordable housing are intertwined

'Our next pandemic': Calgary's housing fragility takes a heavy toll on mental health

Singles, a group often overrepresented in deep poverty, are mostly left out of Alberta's Affordability Action Plan 

Action to improve affordability leaves some out

Making Decisions for the Future: Ending Poverty Once and for All

Adult Literacy and Foundational Learning 

We live in a community where there is enough for all.

We will create opportunities to align and leverage the work of hundreds of organizations and thousands of Calgarians to reduce poverty in our city.

Engaging voices of people with lived experience in poverty

Mobilizing awareness and empathy of inter-generational trauma

Reducing racism and discrimination and promoting diversity in our practices

Offering relevant, accessible and timely services and supports

Implement the 94 calls to action of the Truth and Reconciliation Commission

Communities are essential to poverty reduction because they enable people to work together to address social and economic challenges. Communities also give people the network of support they need in times of stress, crisis or change. Increasing social inclusion and giving people a place to get together, make friends and be part of their community go a long way toward solving some of the basic problems that keep people in poverty. 

Financial vulnerability affects many people in Calgary. Over the past several decades, wages have not kept up with the rapidly increasing cost of living. Most of those living below the poverty line belong to households in which at least one person is working. Many more are living above the poverty line, yet experience financial vulnerability due to low levels of saving and high levels of debt. To effectively address poverty, we must provide people with opportunities to earn sufficient incomes and build financial assets. This requires both financial empowerment and increased economic participation, as well as adequate income supports for those unable to find work, work full-time or work at all.

The urgency of poverty among Indigenous people in Calgary cannot be overstated. As stated in Article 1 of the United Nations Declaration on the Rights of Indigenous Peoples, “Indigenous peoples have suffered from historic injustices as a result of their colonization and dispossession of their lands, territories and resources, preventing them from exercising, in particular, their right to development in accordance with their own needs and interests.” In addition to the cultural, socio-economic, systemic and psychosocial consequences poverty has on a population, it stymies the long-term potential and progress of individuals and the larger community.

The goals of Enough for All establish a clear line of sight to how we are approaching poverty reduction together. Our strategy is guided by the voices of lived experience with support from the Indigenous Advisory Committee and Poverty Talks!

To achieve its three primary goals, Enough for All includes 10 Levers of Change that represent specific areas of focus that must be addressed if we are to reduce poverty in Calgary. These Levers of Change surfaced during consultations with Calgarians and in research into other poverty reduction efforts across Canada. Each Lever of Change has also been aligned with the calls to action from the Truth and Reconciliation Commission.

Everyone engaged in the strategy’s implementation must consider how these Levers of Change may express themselves uniquely for Indigenous people, women, youth, seniors, newcomers and refugees, and LGBTQ2S people in our community. 

In January 2015, under a four year agreement between The City of Calgary, the United Way of Calgary & Area, Vibrant Communities Calgary (VCC), and Momentum, stewardship of the Enough for All strategy moved from the Calgary Poverty Reduction Initiative Secretariat within The City of Calgary to VCC.

In May 2019, a three-year agreement was signed by The City of Calgary, the United Way of Calgary and Area, Momentum, and VCC to mark the continued implementation of the strategy in partnership with the community and jointly supported and funded by The City of Calgary and United Way of Calgary and Area. VCC continues as the backbone organization stewarding the implementation of the strategy.

Enough For All: A Community-Driven Strategy

In this episode, Jaclyn Silbernagel sits down with Salimah Kassam, leader of Rise Calgary, to explore what it means to move from a scarcity to strength mindset, the concept of designing systems that create slack for people, and what some of the roadblocks are to shifting perspectives on poverty.

Episode 17: Shifting Mindsets – Scarcity to Strength

In this episode, Meaghon Reid sits down with Adam Legge, president of the Business Council of Alberta, to explore what the role of business is in society, how that role is evolving, links between business and a healthy society, and the concept of shared prosperity.

Episode 16: Shared Prosperity – the Role of Business in Society

In this episode, Jaclyn Silbernagel sits down with James Stauch, executive director of the Institute for Community Prosperity at Mount Royal University, to explore social innovation and social purpose, and how systems mapping is a wayfinding tool that helps deepen one’s understanding of a problem.

Episode 15: Social Innovation, Mapping Systems & Building Trust

In this episode, Jaclyn Silbernagel sits down with Jessica Cope Williams, Co-CEO of Kindred Connections Society, to explore how an organization’s name can act as a barrier to those trying to access services and what it means to be a connection first organization. 

Episode 14: Mental Health and Connection First Strategies

In this episode, VCC’s Meaghon Reid sits down with Steacy Pinney, CEO of Calgary Reads, to explore how Calgary Reads is spreading early literacy across Calgary through the Dandelion strategy, and the importance of literacy and prevention in the early years. 

Episode 13: Literacy & the Dandelion Strategy

In this episode, Jaclyn Silbernagel sits down with Sarah Sinclair, a Lawyer who leads the Indigenous justice program Sahwoo mohkaak tsi ma taas (Blackfoot for “Before Being Judged”) at Calgary Legal Guidance, to discuss creating equal access to justice for Indigenous people, how Indigenous Law brings healing, and the need for systemic change in the legal system.

Episode 12: Systemic Change – Indigenous People and the Legal System

In this episode, Jaclyn Silbernagel sits down with Lee Stevens, policy and research specialist with Vibrant Communities Calgary to explore basic income. What a basic income could mean for Canadians and how it could have a positive impact on our social support systems.

In this episode, Jaclyn Silbernagel sits down with Lee Stevens, VCC’s policy and research specialist and this episodes’ co-host alongside Nevena Ivanovic, public policy coordinator with the Women’s Centre of Calgary and Andrea Cox, manager of government relations with YW Calgary. Together they discuss women and the economy, child care in Alberta, and what’s working in regards to policy.

Episode 10: Child Care, Women, and the Economy

In this episode, VCC’s Meaghon Reid sits down with the CEO of The Alex, Joy Bowen-Eyre, to explore what it means to provide dignified services, how food is a convenor and community builder, and how progress comes from investing energy into policy and advocacy. 

In this episode, Jaclyn Silbernagel sits down with Hagir Sail, Community Facilitation and Engagement Specialist with Vibrant Communities Calgary to explore allyship. 

In this episode, Jaclyn Silbernagel sits down with Celestina Akinkunmi with the Calgary Immigrant Women’s Association (CIWA) to explore settlement and integration services in Calgary.

In this episode, Jaclyn Silbernagel sits down with Vibrant Communities Calgary and EndPovertyEdmonton’s Executive Directors to get their perspectives on poverty reduction and the future of Alberta.

Episode 6: No Battle of Alberta when it comes to Poverty Reduction

In this episode, VCC’s Meaghon Reid sits down with Momentum’s Jeff Loomis to talk about financial empowerment, innovations like the QUBER Savings App, skills training for the growing tech industry and more.

Episode 5: Building Assets Brings Opportunity

In this episode, Jaclyn Silbernagel catches up with Sue Gwynn from Poverty Talks! to chat about the importance of engaging with the voices of lived experience. Hear about why Poverty Talks! challenges perceptions around poverty, how models and systems keep people in poverty, and why poverty is a trap.

In this episode, VCC’s Executive Director Meaghon Reid sits down with Mayor Naheed Nenshi. Mayor Nenshi is one of the original champions of the Enough for All strategy and emphasizes how ‘my neighbour’s strength is my strength.’ Listen to them discuss priorities for Calgary and poverty reduction and their optimism for the future. 

Episode 3: My Neighbour’s Strength is My Strength

In this episode, VCC’s Executive Director Meaghon Reid sits down with Karen Young, president and CEO of the United Way of Calgary and Area, to discuss how community partnerships deliver dividends in the poverty reduction space. The United Way is a leader in developing key partnerships that drive results. Get to know what the United Way has learned from initiatives like Community Hubs, how businesses are evolving around social purpose, and how they’re taking community action on mental health.

Literary specialist Berniece Gowan discusses how improving literacy levels can shift the needle on poverty reduction.

Creating a city where poverty cannot exist is an ambitious goal. It means having a city where our health, education, childcare, and transportation systems meet our needs. A city where jobs pay living wages, and our income support programs meet our basic needs. But it’s what Enough for All strives to attain.

We know that poverty is about so much more than just income. In Beneath the Surface - the layers of poverty in Calgary we look beneath the surface of the metrics, and to learn the story behind them. Looking at these multifaceted layers helps us measure what matters and uncover solutions that will chart a better path forward.

View a summary of Beneath the Surface - the layers of poverty in Calgary.

Calgary's living wage is $22.40 per hour. A living wage is a proxy for the cost of living in a community. It is determined by calculating average expenses, taxes, and government benefits for a given household using local costs. A living wage considers the basic needs of an average household, plus the additional costs we all incur from time to time, to allow a household to fully participate, thrive, and build their human and financial assets (e.g., education and savings).

Employment income that is sufficient to cover the cost of living is vital to reducing poverty and building a resilient city and economy. Since 2008, Vibrant Communities Calgary has been updating the living wage figure for Calgary. This brief provides the details of the calculation, which was done in collaboration with the Alberta Living Wage Network.

The onset of the COVID-19 pandemic in March 2020 resulted in shifts in the way that organizations and community-based initiatives provide food and revealed gaps and opportunities within the emergency food system. 

In order to better understand and develop recommendations to improve Calgary’s emergency food assistance program, the Canadian Poverty Institute and Vibrant Communities Calgary published Examining Calgary’s Emergency Food Assistance System in March 2021. The purpose of the research was to explore the scope of food insecurity in Calgary in the context of the COVID-19 pandemic, assess the effectiveness of the current emergency food system, and identify opportunities for improving the effectiveness of the emergency food assistance system. 

More than a year later, challenges and disruptions continue to shape Canada’s food systems. The resiliency and adaptability of the system is continually tested, and it remains unclear which changes to the Canadian food system, from the COVID-19 pandemic, will be permanent. This report serves as an update to Examining Calgary’s Emergency Food Assistance System. The purpose is to follow up on the recommendations developed from the original study, and examine which changes were temporary or permanent. It also seeks to document stories from the community; celebrating innovative projects and lessons learned. 

The State of Calgary's Emergency Food Assistance System

The Social Policy Collaborative outlines three key policy recommendations to help the provincial government meet its commitment to Albertans in need of affordable housing. The brief also highlights recent polling data showing that 70% of Albertans agree that the provincial government has an obligation to invest in building new affordable housing units.

A path to recovery: Growing Alberta's affordable housing stock and recovery-oriented support systems

Mayor Jyoti Gondek proclaimed the month of October 2022 as End Poverty Month.

End Poverty Month was initiated to raise awareness of poverty and to serve as a platform for Calgarians to participate in poverty reduction efforts in the community. It is centered around the United Nations International Day for the Eradication of Poverty held annually on October 17. 

Every year, progress on Calgary’s Poverty Reduction Strategy – Enough for All – is evaluated by an independent third-party. The Enough for All 2021 evaluation was conducted by Dr. Katrina Milaney, who engaged stakeholders in a series of surveys, focus groups and interviews. She also completed a review of Champion research and annual reports to compile indicators across levers, including employment rates, income support caseloads, and program statistics.

The year 2021 marked the third year of the second iteration of the Enough for All Strategy. The effects of the COVID-19 pandemic continue to linger. Despite these issues, there were several highlights in 2021. This report shows progress and identifies gaps in the Goals, Levers of Change, Principles and the evolving role of VCC and Champions in advancing the Enough For All Strategy, all in the wake of a global pandemic. Stakeholders believe that because of growing pressures, several years of learnings, adaptations and long-term community partnerships, investment in and commitment to the E4A strategy is more important than ever. 

More Important than Ever: Enough for All Evaluation Report 2021

In 2022 Poverty Talks engaged the community in a discussion on housing. The key learning was that housing is a human right and everyone deserves a safe, secure home. A summary of the feedback and what needs to change is provided in this resource.

In 2022 Poverty Talks engaged the community in a discussion on public transit. The key learning was that being able to travel easily to work, groceries, school and healthcare is critical in overcoming poverty. A summary of the feedback and what needs to change is provided in this resource.

2022 Community Conversations: Public Transit

In 2022 Poverty Talks engaged the community in a discussion on food insecurity. The key learning was that a lack of income is at the root of food insecurity. A summary of the feedback and what needs to change is provided in this resource.

2022 Community Conversations: Food Insecurity

The Calgary Social Policy Collaborative asked housing expert Dr. Nick Falvo to complete a situational analysis and identify opportunities for housing affordability advocacy at the provincial level. The Affordable Housing Brief lays out general themes, key research and facts as well as the existing policy landscape.

Calgary Social Policy Collaborative: Affordable Housing Brief 

The strength of the Enough for All strategy was highlighted in 2021 as it has continued to be a credible and reliable north star of the system changes that are still needed to make poverty history in Calgary. The 2021 Report to Community outlines some of the key accomplishments and initiatives in the year.

As part of the report, you can also view the audited financial statements for VCC Initiatives Ltd. for the year ended December 31, 2021.

The audited financial statements for VCC Initiatives Ltd. for the year ended December 31, 2021. 

Poverty affects every aspect of your life, not only the ability to meet your basic needs — your health, relationships, how you’re impacted by climate change, even how safe you are while you walk through your neighbourhood. We do the poverty snapshot to understand how people experience poverty and what policy makers can do to help. 

On Nov 1, 2021 the Government of Alberta released Stronger Foundations: Alberta's 10-year strategy to improve and expand affordable housing, intending to outline the action needed to provide more affordable and accessible housing options for Albertans. While some aspects of the strategy are supported by VCC and the Edmonton Social Planning Council, there are also elements that pose considerable risks.

Check out their analysis What you need to know about Stronger Foundations: The Government of Alberta’s affordable housing strategy.

Analyzing the Government of Alberta’s affordable housing strategy

Earlier this year, the Calgary Foundation released its 2021 Vital Signs report, reflecting the feelings of 1,000 Calgarians who shared their unique perspectives and impressions of life over the past year. It struck us that this timely snapshot of life in Calgary touched on some important themes such as quality of life, racism, and how people are coping with the pandemic. Check out our infographic below that shows how Enough for All continues to align with some key issues identified by Calgarians.

Infographic: Enough for All alignment with Calgary Foundation's Vital Signs Report

Since 2008, Vibrant Communities Calgary (VCC) has been updating the living wage figure for Calgary on an annual basis. The framework for calculating a living wage is adopted from the Living Wage National Framework created by the Canadian Centre for Policy Alternatives. 

Income from employment that is sufficient to cover the cost of living in a given region is not only vital to reducing poverty but is a necessary component to a resilient city and economy. People need more than the bare minimum, this includes enough income to cover bank fees, education and training, internet costs, and the ability to save for an unexpected event. Other principles identified by Living Wage Canada include a wage that enables working families to have sufficient income to cover reasonable costs, promote social inclusion, and support healthy child development.

Working in collaboration with other municipalities, VCC has adopted the new standardized methodology to calculate the living wage rate for Calgary. The 2021 living wage is $18.60 per hour, a 10% decrease from the 2020 living wage of $20.69, and a difference of 24% from Alberta’s minimum wage of $15 per hour. The primary reason for the decrease in the living wage is attributed to changes made by the provincial government to Alberta’s childcare subsidy program. 

The year 2020 marked the second year of phase two for Calgary’s Poverty Reduction Strategy, Enough for All. The COVID-19 pandemic was the biggest ‘story’ of 2020 and the impact of the pandemic on community efforts to reduce poverty cannot be understated. Limitations in support services due to closures and reduced capacity because of restrictions due to COVID-19 have likely increased the risk that people in need of support ‘fell though the cracks’. This year’s evaluation report is written within this context. This report shows progress and identifies gaps in the Goals, Levers of Change, Principles and the role of the Enough for All Champions and Vibrant Communities Calgary in advancing the Enough For All Strategy in the midst of a global pandemic.

Building Back Better: Enough For All Evaluation Report 2020

Earlier in the year, Poverty Talks! hosted a series of Community Conversations, engaging people experiencing poverty about what questions they would ask the municipal candidates running for City Council. The Poverty Talks! Peer Connections Team then used the feedback as a framework to create a survey to send to the candidates. Many candidates responded, and the report outlines their responses. 


Vibrant Communities Calgary (VCC) has created its Social Procurement Guidelines to ensure that products and services purchased by the team are in alignment with the goals of the Enough for All strategy, of which VCC is the steward. To successfully implement the strategy, organizational purchasing must flow to companies that are rooted in Calgary, provide living wages, and environmentally friendly products and services that meet our organization’s needs and mission. In doing so, VCC can scale the impact of purchasing decisions, and materially contribute to Community Economic Development. 

We encourage our community partners to consider purchasing from businesses that minimize the impact on our environment, pay a living wage, and are based in Calgary to support the local economy. 

Read Momentum 's Social Procurement for Calgary publication.

Vibrant Communities Calgary’s Social Procurement Guidelines

VCC has identified areas of opportunity for policy change within Calgary City Council and Administration. There are several roles that the local government can play in creating vibrant communities, including exemplary employer, service provider, investor, leader and champion, convener and partner. 

VCC's Policy recommendations for Calgary City Council

Not filing your taxes? You could be missing out!

Test your knowledge of the rich culture, history and language of Indigenous peoples and communities around Alberta

Not surprisingly, the cost of living is up over last year

Calgary’s Living Wage is $22.40 per hour

This End Poverty Month learn how poverty impacts all of us

Every year Enough for All is evaluated by an independent third-party.
The evaluation captures our community's progress towards achieving systems change priorities. The evaluation also provides direction to Vibrant Communities Calgary on its role in successfully advancing the Enough for All Strategy.

More Important Than Ever: Enough For All Evaluation Report 2021

Our collective progress towards achieving Enough for All in 2021

Learn more about the steps taken to advance the development of an Indigenous gathering space within the City of Calgary

Public transit must be connected, convenient, accessible, and affordable

Transit – moving the conversation beyond ‘affordable’

2020 Evaluation Report highlights progress in poverty reduction

Building Back Better – Enough for All in action

Collective impact and collaboration at the centre of reducing poverty in Calgary

Enough for All Changemakers constantly ask ‘what’s possible?’

Highlighting the experiences of poverty in all 14 wards of Calgary

Evaluating our collective progress towards achieving Enough for All in 2020

Laying Bare Inequities: COVID-19, Gender, Race and Precarious Employment

Reflecting on Basic Income Through the Lens of Poverty Reduction

Combating poverty in the earliest stages of life

Overcoming Stigma: Poverty is Not a Choice

Approach

Philosophy

Vision

Mission

Principles

Goals

Levers

Income Support

Justice

Physical and Mental Health

Transportation

Adult Literacy and Foundational Learning

Early Learning and Care

Employment

Financial Empowerment

Food Security

Housing

Income Support

Justice

Physical and Mental Health

Transportation

Adult Literacy and Foundational Learning

Early Learning and Care

Employment

Financial Empowerment

Food Security

Housing

Income Support

Justice

Physical and Mental Health

Transportation

Key Partners