VCC discussed the impacts of the cost of living on both taxi drivers and households living on low incomes that rely on their services

Delicate balancing act as Calgary hikes taxi fares by 15%

VCC's Meaghon Reid and Hagir Sail discuss how poverty exists despite being hidden in certain areas of the city with the Calgary Journal

Poverty profile paints a clearer picture of Ward 8 incomes

Vibrant Communities Calgary discusses rising power costs and how some policies are making things worse for those struggling 

Some Albertans could lose power as the province’s moratorium ends Friday

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 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, 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.

At the Business Council of Alberta, we spend a lot of time thinking about shared prosperity—how can we ensure that all those who call Alberta home have the opportunity, security and belonging to live the life that they aspire to? According to recent reports from Vibrant Communities Calgary and End Poverty Edmonton, more than 120,000 Calgarians and 100,870 Edmontonians live in poverty, respectively, and poverty is over-represented in children, women, newcomers, persons with disabilities, Indigenous Peoples, and the working poor.

Meaghon Reid and Erick Ambtman are Executive Directors for Vibrant Communities Calgary and End Poverty Edmonton, respectively, organizations that have a big, audacious goal to end poverty in Alberta. They join BCA president and host of this episode, Adam Legge, to dive into the relationship between poverty and shared prosperity, how COVID-19 has both accelerated the problem but also the opportunity for solutions and how businesses help drive meaningful action in reducing (and eliminating) poverty in Alberta.

Meaghon and Erick share several concrete ways businesses can help reduce poverty in Alberta beyond a cheque, including

Look at or develop social procurement policies to use purchasing power to support local community businesses

Look at vendors and contractors and their practices around paying a living wage and supporting the well-being of employees

Consider your ability to pay a living wage for employees

Assist with innovation for social service agencies and non-profits and look for opportunities to provide knowledge and insight to service agencies

Reach out to service agencies in your community to learn what they need and add supplies or materials to your bulk order

For the complete conversation on these ideas, please go to 43:35.

More Than a Cheque: Reducing Poverty and Building Shared Prosperity in Alberta

Meaghon Reid

Articles & events by this contributor

Delicate balancing act as Calgary hikes taxi fares by 15%

Poverty profile paints a clearer picture of Ward 8 incomes

Some Albertans could lose power as the province’s moratorium ends Friday

Resources by this contributor

More Than a Cheque: Reducing Poverty and Building Shared Prosperity in Alberta