Edmonton Social Planning Council

Author: Web Administrator

  • 2016 Annual Report

    ESPC's 2016 annual report will fill you in on the best parts of our work in 2016. Highlights of our work include the publication of Needs and Gaps in Services of Edmonton's LGBTQ Population, VitalSignsTM, and our two living wage reports: More than Minimum: Calculating Edmonton's Living Wage 2016 and Calculating Edmonton's Living Wage: Other Family Types 2016 Update.

    ESPC staff have also been involved in numerous committees and coalitions, and have volunteered their time at two Homeless Connect events as well as the October 2016 point-in-time Homeless Count.

    Building our success on our new strategic framework, ESPC is proud to continue its work informing social justice work in Edmonton as it fulfills its mission of A community in which all people are full and valued participants.

    Download Edmonton Social Planning Council's 2016 Annual Report today!

  • 2016 Annual Report

    ESPC’s 2016 annual report will fill you in on the best parts of our work in 2016. Highlights of our work include the publication of Needs and Gaps in Services of Edmonton’s LGBTQ Population, VitalSigns, and our two living wage reports: More than Minimum: Calculating Edmonton’s Living Wage 2016 and Calculating Edmonton’s Living Wage: Other Family Types 2016 Update.

    ESPC staff have also been involved in numerous committees and coalitions, and have volunteered their time at two Homeless Connect events as well as the October 2016 point-in-time Homeless Count.

    Building our success on our new strategic framework, ESPC is proud to continue its work informing social justice work in Edmonton as it fulfils its mission of A community in which all people are full and valued participants.

    ESPC Documents/GOVERNANCE/A.02.B Annual Report/ESPC_2016_Annual_Report_V6_FINAL.pdf

  • Low-income families urged to fill out tax returns for benefits

    By: Kevin Maimann Metro Published on Tue Apr 25 2017
    The Alberta government reminded low-income families Thursday that they could miss out on thousands of dollars if they don’t file their taxes.

    Edmonton Social Planning Council Executive Director Susan Morrissey said the Alberta Child Benefit, which the government launched in late 2015, is a “poverty game changer."

    “The bottom line is, regardless of your income, please fill out your tax return,” Morrissey said.

    “You could be leaving money on the table that you could also be using for your families.”

    Coupled with federal child benefit enhancements that took effect last summer, Morrissey said families with two kids could get up to $3,400 a year in tax-free benefits on top of their tax returns.

    She said putting money directly into the pockets of low-income families is the most effective way to reduce child poverty.


    Read the rest of the story in the Metro!

  • ESPC 77th Annual AGM

    Please join the board and staff of the Edmonton Social Planning Council to celebrate our accomplishments of the past year and to hear about upcoming activities of the Council.
    At this event, EPSC will be conducting an election to replace non-returning board members and potentially filling our board complement to a maximum of 12. This year we have four open positions for new board members to be elected to their first 2-year term.

    Also featuring a keynote presentation by Cheryl Whiskeyjack of the Bent Arrow Traditional Healing Society:

    "This is not new"

    The executive director of Bent Arrow Traditional Healing Society is engaged in finding ways of tracking the progress of their programmes to determine how their traditional approach to healing in one area has influenced practices in other programmes. Through traditional ways of being and knowing they help children, youth, and families. These healing practices are not new. They provide insight for other agencies, and government services, to better understand the people they are dealing with by becoming a participant in these healing practices. Cheryl has been a strong voice for change in the ways we all deal with cultural traditions. Bent Arrow's new focus on documenting how these practices have changed the effectiveness of other programmes is revealing new opportunities to expand the scope of their efforts through traditional ways of knowing and doing.

    If you are interested in board service, please go to the ESPC website and fill out the application form.

    Although it is possible to be nominated to the ESPC Board from the floor at the AGM, candidates who fill out the application form by May 11th, 2017, can ask questions of the ESPC Membership and Board Development Committee and will have a short biography included in the AGM hand out. We look forward to hearing from you.

    Please RSVP by May 17th by emailing stephanieh@edmontonsocialplanning.ca or calling 780-423-2031 ext 349.

    25 May at 17:30–19:00

    University of Alberta, Education South Room 158

    Parking is available in the Education Car Park. Transit options are available via bus or LRT.

     

     

  • Alberta Child Benefit makes life more affordable for parents

    The Alberta Child Benefit will make life more affordable for 130,000 families caring for 235,000 children in Alberta. With the tax filing deadline approaching, parents are urged to file their tax returns to be eligible for the Alberta Child Benefit and other financial supports.

    Community organizations across Alberta are holding free tax preparation clinics for lower-income Albertans. Parents are encouraged to take advantage of these resources to ensure they aren’t missing out on opportunities for their children.

    “Filing taxes is one of the best ways to ensure Albertans receive the supports they need, especially with respect to the Alberta Child Benefit, as families can become eligible by filing a tax return. Putting money directly into the pockets of vulnerable families is the most effective way to reduce child and family poverty.”

    Susan Morrissey, executive director, Edmonton Social Planning Council

     

    Read the whole news release on the AB Government website.

  • fACT Sheet: Urban Coyotes: In Conflict or Coexistence?

    Urban Coyotes: In Conflict or Coexistence?
    A Lunch and Learn Companion fACT Sheet
    Edmonton is famous for its River Valley Park System—the largest urban park in North America. However, this is prime coyote territory. Can we coexist?

    Download the fACT Sheet today!