Municipal Policy Fair 2017

At a time when politics have taken a turn for the absurd and the surreal – does anyone else feel like we’re living out an extended episode of Parks and Recreation? You’ve got to admit, a certain American politician we all love to loathe bears a striking resemblance to Councilman Jeremy Jamm – it’s more important than ever that we have meaningful, constructive conversations about the issues closest to our hearts with those who intend to represent us in government.

Last Wednesday, Vibrant Communities Calgary – on behalf of the Calgary Social Policy Collaborative – invited candidates for mayor, councilor, and school board trustee to attend a Municipal Policy Fair. The Fair was an opportunity for them to learn more about the social service sector, engage with organizations and key stakeholders in the sector, and create dialogue on issues critical to the upcoming election – such as basic income, gender equality, mental health, and poverty reduction.

In Calgary, where the social service sector represents about 1,200 agencies providing over 10,000 services to citizens across the city, it is imperative that our future politicians understand the opportunities and challenges facing us – and, on that note, a heartfelt thank-you to the candidates who braved the early morning start to do just that:

And, of course, to the organizations who brought such wonderful energy and enthusiasm – we couldn’t have done it without you:

If you were unable to attend the event, but are curious about the work being done, please reach out to us! We’d love to hear from you.

For photos of the event, please check out our Facebook and Instagram pages.