Community Matters March 2024

Welcome to the Spring Edition of our quarterly publication, Community Matters. Community Matters aims to inform the community about social issues that impact the public and connect the dots between social issues, evidence, and policy. We aim to use this space to give...

“YOU CAN’T CHOOSE YOUR NEIGHBOURS, YOU CHOOSE HOW TO ENGAGE WITH YOUR NEIGHBOURS:” A critical examination of Good Neighbour Plans in Edmonton, Alberta

A Good Neighbour Plan (GNP) is intended to integrate affordable or supportive housing within communities by offering a developer and/or operator-led plan to address potential community concerns and offer a communication mechanism for prospective neighbours to contact...

ESPC in the news: Child poverty rates dipped in the pandemic lockdowns. What are they like now?

On February 27, 2024, Sydney Sheloff, our Strategic Research Coordinator, told Radio Active that the dip in child poverty rates didn't last.

Where is the Money?

Purpose for the project News stories are regularly published about funding being dedicated to affordable housing. Still, there is a lack of clarity about how much money is actually out there and where it is going. Seeing news headlines about what is seemingly a lot of...

Blog post: Taking the Pulse on SDG #5 – Gender Equality and Empowerment

Written by Harman Khinda, ESPC Volunteer.   With heart health month over and International Women’s Day around the corner, it seems appropriate to take the pulse on the United Nations Sustainable Development Goal (SDG) #5 – Gender Equality and Empowerment. SDGs...

fACT Sheet: 2024 Alberta Provincial Budget

Introduction  The 2024-25 Alberta budget, titled A Responsible Plan for a Growing Province, covers finances from April 1, 2024 until March 31, 2025. This is the sixth budget of the governing United Conservative Party (UCP) as they enter their second term in...

Welcome

The Edmonton Social Planning Council (ESPC) is a local, charitable and non-partisan organization that was founded in 1940. ESPC conducts social research on low income and poverty issues in our community. ESPC also provides knowledge and expertise on these issues, raises public awareness and understanding, advocates for social policies and programs, and fosters public participation.

ESPC focus centers on topics related to low income and poverty. Our work includes undertaking research into the nature and magnitude of social issues in our community; public awareness and understanding of current social issues; being an independent voice in the community; encouraging public participation in the development of social policies and the implementation of programs.

The strength of our voice and our role in the community is based on the support of people and organizations concerned about social issues. ESPC conducts research and analyzes data, produces reports, provides recommendations, is a depository of information, provides public education, conducts focus groups, does presentations, and works collaboratively with other social agencies.

We are dedicated to encouraging the adoption of equitable social policy, supporting the work of other organizations that are striving to improve the lives of Edmontonians, and educating the public regarding the social issues that impact them daily.

Upcoming Events

ESPC in the News

Radio Active

Child poverty rates dipped in the pandemic lockdowns. What are they like now?

On February 27, 2024, Sydney Sheloff, our Strategic Research Coordinator, told Radio Active that the dip in child poverty rates didn’t last.

Click to listen

St. Albert Gazette

Canada middle of the pack for child poverty among rich nations

Sydney Sheloff, our Strategic Research Coordinator, discusses the child poverty situation in the province of Alberta in recent years.

 
Click to read

Edmonton Journal

One in five Albertans don’t have reliable access to affordable, nutritious food

Susan Morrissey, our Executive Director, delves into the number of Alberta households experiencing food insecurity.

 

Click to read

Radio Cite 97,9 Interview

LE SALAIRE MINIMUM D’EDMONTON EN 2023 AUGMENTÉ DE PRÈS D’UN DOLLAR

Janell Uden, coordonnatrice des services de recherche et du renforcement des capacités au Conseil de planification sociale, a rencontre Élie Nkulu, notre journaliste pour en discuter.

Click to listen

Edmonton Journal

OPINION – Proposed public spaces bylaws are an attack on Edmonton’s marginalized

Susan Morrissey, our Executive Director, expresses concerns with proposed bylaw changes that aim to regulate the use of public spaces.

Click to listen

630 CHED Afternoons With Bryn Griffiths And Reid Wilkins

Vital Signs Report: Food Security

Nneka Otogbolu, Director, Strategic Initiatives & Equity Advancement with the Edmonton Community Foundation and Susan Morrissey, Executive Director of the Edmonton Social Planning Council discuss the Vital Signs Report on food security in Edmonton.

Click to listen

Latest News

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Check out our Social Well-Being Tracker

We are currently tracking 75 social well-being indicators for Edmonton and the region.

A. Demographics | BA: Income and Income Gaps | BB. Poverty | BC. Cost of Living | BD. Government Transfers | C. Employment and Labour | D. Education and Literacy | E. Built Environment | F. Social Inclusion | G. Health and Health Services

Community Engagement

We’re pleased to open up our Lunch and Learn series to other nonprofits to introduce agencies and their incredible programs and services to other community members.

For those interested in participating, we would love to host you at a future event. Please direct any inquiries to our Executive Assistant. Subscribe to our email newsletter to stay informed about future Lunch and Learns and ESPC news and announcements.

The video is the latest from our Lunch and Learn series. Click on the image to view or visit our YouTube channel for more videos (click here)

Lunch & Learn: Enhancing Impact within Alberta’s Mental Health & Addictions Care Systems

When: Thursday, December 15 @12pm

Speaker: Deborah McKinnon, President & CEO, Mental Health Foundation

Summary: The Mental Health Foundation was founded in 1998 and is dedicated to building better mental health services ...
for people in the Edmonton metropolitan region. They help fund education programs, research, new technologies, and facility enhancements. For this Lunch & Learn presentation, Deborah McKinnon will provide an overview of the Mental Health Foundation and its key priorities, which reflect an exciting evolution and growth over the last two years.[+] Show More
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