Edmonton Social Planning Council

Category: ESPC Announcements

  • 2024 Annual Report

    Read our Annual Report and learn about who we are, our work in 2024 that shows our continued dedication to encouraging the adoption of equitable social policy, supporting the work of other organizations who are striving to improve the lives of Edmontonians, and educating the public regarding the social issues that impact them on a daily basis. We are already working hard to achieve our mission in 2025 (our 85th anniversary!) and are looking forward to continuing this work! Connect with us for research and data support, to access one of our reports or primary sources, or to share stories of the impact of the ESPC and learn more about our history!

    2024 Annual ReportDownload

  • CM: Our Aging Indigenous Population: A Conversation with Bent Arrow Traditional Healing Society

    Written by Susanne Urbina, Capacity Support Assistant (ESPC)

    Note: This is an excerpt from our March 2025 Community Matters newsletter. You can read the full publication here.

    One in six people in the world will be aged 60 years or over by 2030 (Statistics Canada, 2023). The growing interest in aging often excludes our Indigenous seniors’ voices and experiences from perspectives and comprehension on aging. We broaden our understanding of the diversity in successful aging by including older Indigenous adults in discussions.

    Bent Arrow Traditional Healing Society is a non-profit organization that supports Edmonton’s Indigenous community. Shauna May and Brad Seneca started the Society in 1994 offering services like the Pathways program for youth who wanted to return to school, enter training or find work and later, the province’s child and family services department requested they open a group home. The success of the group home led the organization to develop other programs, resources and services for early childhood, adolescents, adult/parents, and seniors/grandparents. The organization continues to serve our Indigenous population with supports and programs including referrals, family wellness and health programs, soup and Bannock lunches, youth employment programs, family services, housing and financial services (Narine, 2016).

    We interviewed Sophie Laboucan, the Seniors Wellness Coordinator at Bent Arrow, to get a perspective on Indigenous aging.  

    How have Indigenous seniors been supported over Bent Arrow’s 30-year history? 

    We have given support by listening to their needs, offering compassion and making them feel part of the community. Our Indigenous seniors share their life experiences, teachings, and teach us how to have a good life throughout each transition.

    Historical and structural factors have influenced the health outcomes of Indigenous seniors such as the impacts  of colonization, the loss of language and  culture and the ongoing trauma they’ve  experienced. These determinants have  contributed to negative health effects.  What are other factors affecting  Indigenous older adults because of  generational trauma? 

    Exploitation of Indigenous seniors is one of the factors of generational trauma. When seniors are taken advantage of because of ignorance of their rights, this adds to systemic abuse. A lack of trust in the healthcare system causes isolation and detrimental health outcomes for Indigenous seniors. There is also a lack of culturally relevant services and programs in healthcare, which make it difficult for Indigenous older adults to navigate the healthcare system.  

    Safe housing is often a concern for Indigenous seniors. If they indeed find housing, they may be exploited by being overcharged for rent or they may not receive much needed improvements to their living space.  

    Another factor to consider is when living on one’s own is no longer an option. Indigenous seniors are reluctant to move into long-term care facilities as this may retraumatize those who are residential schools’ survivors.

    Many of the Indigenous seniors today  were involved in the Sixties Scoop and in  the Residential Schools. How might their  experience of aging be different from  others who have not experienced such  complex trauma at an early age?

    Physical abuse, sexual abuse, verbal abuse, inadequate nutritious meals and inadequate health care and loss of their culture and family ties negatively impacted life expectancy and quality of life for many, with that trauma being carried into senior hood. It has created issues with mental health, housing, food and financial insecurity, and lower literacy levels. By contrast, seniors who escaped or found a way out of the trauma are very capable today. They have been successful in raising their families having learned domestic skills, and other life skills.

    “Those who can look forward and reach out, have done better and attained a good life.” 

    Aging was often thought of as a period of  decline and dependency. In the 1980’s,  a “successful aging” concept was  designed with the measurement of low   probability of disease and disability, high  physical and cognitive functional capacity, and active engagement with  life. Is there anything that Indigenous  seniors do to ensure “successful aging”  under this model? 

    Kana’wayh’ito’win (kana-wah-KOH-toh-win) translates to “Taking care of each other’s spirits.” In our community e.g.; social senior programs, having a sense of belonging, and a good support system, are the pillars we strive to support the seniors attending the Wahkomatowin senior programs.

    My first position here was as a facilitator/outreach worker, offering programs to adults aged fifty-five plus, which subsequently produced the Wahkomatowin Seniors Wellness Program. My title now is Team Lead with a full time Senior outreach worker and a part-time facilitator working with me. This program launched in 2016, is free of charge and embodies Cree natural law, Wahkomatowin. This refers to the interconnectedness and kinship between people, communities, and nature. Their programs are based on the Medicine Wheel, which helps balance health and well-being for seniors by taking the emotional self, the spiritual self and lastly, the mental self into account. Ceremony, healthy meals, community and positive family connections are our predominant model used for aging well. Every effort is made to look at each person wholistically to address their specific needs.

    Our seniors’ programs help improve and maintain physical health, and in turn, improve cognitive function. Active engagement is achieved through participation in our social groups to foster relationships. This is critical for seniors to avoid isolation, which can lead to disease and a decline in life expectancy. We schedule Kohkom’s (Grandmother’s) TeaTime offering tea, conversation, storytelling, and skill building; Mosum’s (Grandfather’s) Beer Den providing projects to encourage working with their hands and making connections; and Social Hub, a co-ed program with organized outings to places of interest in Edmonton. Crow’s Nest offers informational programing for seniors seeking resources through presentations and discussion to help make better, more informed choices, complete with healthy snacks and a bus ticket home if needed.

    Elders contribute to their community  and culture by passing down knowledge and skills, as well as mentor leaders in traditional ceremonies and ways of life. How does this contribute to the health of Indigenous seniors? 

    Our Elders are often seniors, but not all Indigenous seniors are Elders, and not all Elders are elderly. They have roles as teachers, counsellors, healers, and conflict resolvers in addition to having the responsibilities of passing down our Indigenous teachings, ceremonies, and culture. They support seniors to reconnect to culture and heal through land-based teaching by connecting with nature. The Medicine Wheel and the Seven Sacred Teachings are founding values in our culture. Also known as Grandfather Teachings these guidelines of LOVE, RESPECT, BRAVERY, HONESTY, HUMILITY, TRUTH, and WISDOM focus on the relationships with all of creation, and each other (Alberta Regional Professional Development Consortia [ARPDC], 2024).

    “Successful aging” is often associated with economic or material acquisition, but those who find themselves in less favorable circumstances often experience blame or neglect. How does this mentality affect Indigenous seniors? 

    Indigenous seniors frequently face discrimination which causes social isolation in seniors often being ignored and being discriminated against or overlooked in both their communities and society at large. This marginalization has a significant impact on their mental, emotional, and physical wellbeing, as it leads to the neglect of their basic needs. When these seniors are disregarded, their access to essential resources—such as adequate housing, nutritious food, and a reliable income—becomes compromised. These basic needs are crucial for successful aging, as they provide the foundation for health, stability, and dignity in later years. Without these necessities, Indigenous seniors face heightened vulnerability and diminished quality of life. Indigenous seniors are considered at an elevated risk of experiencing social isolation due to factors such as racism, marginalized language, culture, poverty, and historic negative experiences.

    Statistics show that Canadian Indigenous groups have a lower life expectancy. What critical work about successful aging needs to be done for Indigenous older people to increase life expectancy? 

    Providing supportive, culturally safe health care services, more Indigenous representation via health care navigators, supports for grandparents raising their grandchildren, collaboration with knowledge keepers to provide wholistic and culturally safe spaces for ceremony; example a smudge room. Indigenous speaking interpreters in hospitals, healthy family connections and good community supports such as supportive and welcoming senior programs, safe affordable housing, financial supports, mental health supports, transportation, and food for seniors would help increase life expectancy for seniors.  

    What are the different challenges to Indigenous seniors who reside on reserve or in rural or remote areas? 

    Residents on the reserve often do not have the same access to services as urban seniors. There is little or no access to computers or the internet, which can be an added challenge to senior resource services. Seniors are often unaware that certain services even exist, more needs to be done to disseminate information. Remote residents also face a lack of transportation services. However, I am pleased to share that some reserves in this area now have senior services and programs which offer transportation and lodging for medical appointments out-of-town.

    Although these are some of the challenges that Indigenous seniors face living on the reserve or in rural and remote areas, living on traditional land, with access to traditional food and connection to culture can impact aging in a positive way.

    In some cases, healthcare personnel are not adequately informed about Indigenous culture. What support can be given to this system and other programs to increase the health and longevity of Indigenous seniors? 

    The Medicine Wheel encompasses spiritual, physical, emotional, and mental wellbeing. Knowledge of this holistic worldview would also help healthcare workers take better care of our seniors. Many of the staff at Bent Arrow speak and understand Cree, which builds good relationships. Staff who speak in Indigenous languages would improve communication and one’s ability to heal. Being trauma informed, having cultural awareness, Indigenous navigators in hospitals to help assist the Indigenous seniors would be of significant help to bring a sense of understanding and ease to foster culturally safe health care. Visit Bent Arrow, we have cultural teachings available.  

    What non-medical models of aging can the non-Indigenous community foster to increase the longevity of Indigenous seniors? 

    As a result of how Indigenous people have been treated in Canada, our Indigenous seniors have shared, lived experiences of racism and prejudice. I suggest, building relationships to foster trust, increasing your knowledge of Indigenous culture, understanding Indigenous identity and our way of life, attending a powwow, or ceremony or sitting with elders to listen to their stories. It is important also to foster culturally safe health care and safe space as well as provide appropriate supports needed for the Indigenous senior.

    What provisions of services in  culturally appropriate manners would  assist in the challenges of Indigenous seniors?  

    Culturally providing safety for Indigenous seniors in health care, and society where they are free from prejudices, discrimination, systemic racism. This is essential for Indigenous seniors, providing traditional and holistic care. These draw on their strengths from their identity, their culture and community.  

    What service agencies are available  for Indigenous seniors in Edmonton?

    Bent Arrow Traditional Healing Society, The Aboriginal Seniors, Indigenous Health Centre at Anderson Hall, Red Road healing society, Sage, Ben Calf robe, Metis Nation, and others.  

    Resources

    World Health Organization. (2023). Mental health of older adults https://www.who.int/news-room/factsheets/detail/mental-health-of-older-adults

    Narine, S. (2016, August). School named in honor co-founder of Bent Arrow society. Windspeaker.com. https://windspeaker.com/news/schoolnamed-in-honour-co-founder-of-bentarrow-society

    Alberta Regional Professional Development Consortia {ARPDC}. (2024). Empowering the Spirit: Seven Sacred Teachings. https://empoweringthespirit.ca/cultures-ofbelonging/seven-grandfathers-teachings/

  • Blog: Recognizing the Past, Preventing the Future: April 1st is Genocide Remembrance Day

    By Susanne Urbina

    April 1st is known for many as April Fool’s Day but in Canada, it’s also the day that marks Genocide Remembrance, Condemnation and Prevention Month when we reflect upon the victims of genocide, honor survivors and give thought to how to prevent brutal acts from occurring in the future.

    “Genocide is defined in international law as certain prohibited acts or omissions committed with intent to destroy, in whole or in part, a protected group of people” (Lafontaine, 2021).

    The House of Commons unanimously passed a motion in 2015, declaring the month of April as the time to commemorate the genocides that Canada recognizes (Ukrainian Canadian Congress, 2020) with lives lost: The Holocaust with up to 17 million people exterminated; the Ukrainian Holodomor with an estimated 7.5 million death count; the death of up to 1 million Tutsis Rwandans; the 1915 Armenian Genocide with up to 1.5 million killed (Jones, 2019); the approximate 100,000 killed in The Bosnian Genocide (Montreal Holocaust Museum, n.d.)  and the ongoing atrocities of the Yezidi people of Syria and Iraq where more than 3,000 were unlawfully killed (Amnesty International, 2024).

    We are witnessing more hate in our world today. Racism and discrimination can ultimately lead to loss of life when violence erupts, and it starts with targeting and dehumanizing groups of people (Government of Canada, 2022). We can look back on our own history to see the genocide against our Indigenous Peoples. This colonial genocide is slow-moving as it has evolved over decades and continues still today with the search for unmarked graves at former residential schools as well as, the search for Missing and Murdered Indigenous Women and Girls. The disproportionate rates of poverty, unemployment, lack of housing, incarceration and addiction continue to plague our Indigenous population (Barker, 2025).

    While genocide falls under mass atrocities which are large-scale, systematic violent acts against civilian populations, it is not considered mass killing which is more often driven by revenge, mental illness or ideology. It is consistent with crimes against humanity, war crimes and ethnic cleansing, which all have the same common denominator-hate (United States Holocaust Memorial Museum, n.d.).

    Not all injustices equate to loss of life, but there have been many tragic events where many have suffered throughout history in Canada because of racism. In addition to Indigenous injustice, discrimination was the root for the enslavement of Africans until 1833, for the anti-Asian sentiment from the 1850s to the 1950s, for segregated schools in Nova Scotia and Ontario into the early mid-20th century, and for the anti-Semitism in Montreal in 1914. Post wars, we saw internment camps and hostile sentiments toward Japanese Canadians, Slavic immigrants deemed as revolutionaries, and the rise of the Ku Klux Klan (KKK) and other organizations opposing immigrants and Catholics (Palmer, Driedger, 2011).

    International Day for the Elimination of Racial Discrimination just passed, and you may not have given much thought to hate and its root causes but as we approach April 1st, don’t be the fool who doesn’t recognize that we must do our part to ensure that such unfathomable acts never happen again. We must protect human rights and the dignity of Canadians and people worldwide.

    References

    Lafontaine, F. (2021, June 11). How Canada committed genocide against Indigenous Peoples, explained by the lawyer central to the determination. The Conversation. https://theconversation.com/how-canada-committed-genocide-against-indigenous-peoples-explained-by-the-lawyer-central-to-the-determination-162582

    Ukrainian Canadian Congress. (2020). Genocide Remembrance, Condemnation and Prevention Month: Amid growing instances of online hate, organizations call on the Government of Canada to take action. https://www.ucc.ca/2020/04/14/april-is-genocide-remembrance-condemnation-prevention-month/

    Jones, J. (2019, April 21). 10 Largest Genocides in the World. https://largest.org/culture/genocides/

    Montreal Holocaust Museum. (n.d.). The Bosnian Genocide. https://museeholocauste.ca/en/resources-training/the-bosnian-genocide/

    Amnesty International. (2024, July 31) Syria: Yezidi survivors of Islamic State atrocities abandoned to indefinite detention in north-ease Syria. https://www.amnesty.org/en/latest/news/2024/07/syria-yezidi-survivors-of-islamic-state-atrocities-abandoned-to-indefinite-detention-in-north-east-syria/

    Canadian Heritage. (2022, April 1).  Statement by Minister Hussen on Genocide Remembrance, Condemnation and Prevention Month. Government of Canada. https://www.canada.ca/en/canadian-heritage/news/2022/03/statement-by-minister-hussen-on-genocide-remembrance-condemnation-and-prevention-month.html

    Barker, R. (2025, February 14). What was the native genocide in Canada? NCESC.COM                                      https://www.ncesc.com/geographic-faq/what-was-the-native-genocide-in-canada/

    United States Holocaust Memorial Museum. (n.d.). Definitions: Types of Mass Atrocities  https://www.ushmm.org/genocide-prevention/learn-about-genocide-and-other-mass-atrocities/definitions

    Palmer, H., Driedger, L. (2011, February 10). Prejudice and Discrimination in Canada. The Canadian Encyclopedia. https://www.thecanadianencyclopedia.ca/en/article/prejudice-and-discrimination

  • Community Matters (March 2025) — Seniors, Aging, and Older Adults

    Community Matters (March 2025) — Seniors, Aging, and Older Adults

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    Welcome to the Spring Edition of Community Matters.

    The goal of Community Matters is to keep our community informed about the issues that impact those who live here. This publication provides readers with the knowledge to connect the dots between social issues, research, and policy. We feature contributions from local agencies, ESPC staff, and volunteer writers or professionals who lend their expertise and voices to inform our readers.

    Each edition highlights a specific social issue or topic, exploring its intersectional nature and its impact on equality. Articles are written by individuals with specialized knowledge, research skills, or lived experience, using evidence to provide clear insights into the issues affecting individuals and families.

    For our March 2025 issue, we are focusing on the various aspects of aging, particularly the experiences of seniors and older adults. Topics include aging in an Indigenous context, seniors’ income benefits, mental health care for seniors, transit accessibility, elder abuse, intergenerational connection and learning, long-term care alternatives, and issues in continuing care. While we define seniors as individuals aged 65 and older, the information shared here is also relevant to older adults, family members, and anyone interested in issues and information related to aging and our senior community members.

    The articles in this issue reflect the expertise of our organization’s staff, as well as contributions from other organizations and volunteers who have generously dedicated their time and knowledge to research and communicate these important topics. Our goal is for you, the reader, to walk away with a clearer understanding of the issues at hand and the steps you can take toward becoming more informed.

    We hope this edition provides valuable insights and contributes to the ongoing discourse surrounding seniors and aging in our community.

    Janell Uden,
    Research Services and Capacity Building Coordinator
    Edmonton Social Planning Council

       

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  • Blog: International Day for the Elimination of Racial Discrimination: A Reflection on History and Our Present

    By Kalkidan Tafesse, ESPC Volunteer
    Kalkidan Tafesse is originally from Ethiopia but grew up around the world and now calls Edmonton home. Kalkidan studied sociology with a minor in psychology and works in a non-profit. Most of her writing came from obligatory school papers— which were surprisingly enjoyable! She found her love for writing and believes it sparks change, and is excited to contribute.

    March 21, 2025 marked the International Day for the Elimination of Racial Discrimination, a day recognized by the United Nations to commemorate the tragic Sharpeville Massacre that took place in South Africa in 1960 during apartheid (Office of the High Commissioner for Human Rights, n.d.). This day serves as a stark reminder of the consequences of racism and discrimination, both historically and in our present world.

    For context, apartheid in South Africa was a legally enforced system of racial segregation that oppressed the country’s Black majority while preserving the economic and political power of the white minority. Under apartheid, Black South Africans, as well as mixed-race (Coloured) and Indian/Asian communities, were all segregated into different living areas, denied basic rights, and restricted in their movements (South African History Online, n.d.). Coloured and Indian/Asian individuals faced segregation and discrimination but did not have the same laws imposed on them. Black South Africans were forced to carry passbooks, which functioned as internal passports, regulating where they could work and live. These restrictions made it difficult to find stable employment and led to systemic exploitation (McRae, 2019).

    Although Black South Africans made up nearly 80% of the population, white authorities controlled the country’s wealth, land, and governance (McRae, 2019). Frustrated by these injustices, on March 21, 1960, thousands of peaceful protesters came down to the local police station in the township of Sharpeville to protest apartheid laws, including passbooks. The Pan Africanist Congress (PAC) organized the demonstration to be nonviolent, with music playing in the background designed to increase the crowds. However, tensions escalated when increasing numbers of heavily armed police officers arrived, accompanied by military vehicles and even jets overhead (McRae, 2019).

    Without warning, police opened fire on the unarmed crowd, killing 69 people and injuring 180 more (McRae, 2019). Over 700 bullets were fired, and even the wounded were later arrested in hospitals after being given some time to recover. Following the massacre, leaders such as Nelson Mandela and others within the African National Congress (ANC) responded with the symbolic burning of passbooks, and 30,000 mass protesters took to Cape Town (Hawkins, n.d.). This caught international attention and prompted a response—the United Nations condemned apartheid as a violation of human rights, marking the first time it had been formally addressed at this level. In 1966, the UN officially declared March 21 as the International Day for the Elimination of Racial Discrimination (Office of the High Commissioner for Human Rights, n.d.).

    While apartheid was unique in its legal enforcement, it was heavily influenced by colonial policies in other parts of the world, including Canada’s treatment of Indigenous peoples. South African officials studied policies such as Canada’s reserve system, which confined Indigenous communities to designated lands while limiting their rights and autonomy (National Centre for Truth and Reconciliation, n.d.). The passbook system in South Africa was very similar to Canada’s past pass laws, which restricted Indigenous mobility and forced them to obtain government permission to leave their reserves. Additionally, residential schools in Canada, which sought to erase Indigenous identities served as a model for systems of cultural oppression worldwide (National Centre for Truth and Reconciliation, n.d.).

    These parallels are a sobering reminder that systemic racism has shaped many nations, including Canada. Alberta has its own history of racial discrimination that must be acknowledged. Here in Alberta, the International Day for the Elimination of Racial Discrimination is an important day to reflect on our own history of racial discrimination and the progress we continue to make.

    • Indigenous Discrimination: Indigenous peoples were forcibly relocated to reserves and subjected to residential schools, which aimed to erase their cultures and identities. The intergenerational trauma from these policies still impacts Indigenous communities today. The Truth and Reconciliation Commission (TRC) and the growing Land Back movement seek to address these injustices (National Centre for Truth and Reconciliation, n.d.).
    • Black Immigration Barriers: In the early 1900s, Black settlers from the United States faced racist immigration policies designed to discourage them from coming to Canada. Even those who successfully settled here encountered discrimination in employment and housing (Immigration, Refugees and Citizenship Canada, 2022).
    • Discrimination in Employment & Housing: Black railway porters were paid unfair wages and often given the lowest-ranking jobs. Both Black and Chinese Canadian communities faced barriers to homeownership due to racist housing policies (Immigration, Refugees and Citizenship Canada, 2022).

    While racism has not been eradicated, Alberta has taken steps toward inclusion and justice:

    • Legal Progress: Alberta made steps toward change with the Alberta Bill of Rights (1946) and the Fair Employment Practices Act (1955), which aimed to prohibit racial discrimination in hiring and housing (Immigration, Refugees and Citizenship Canada, 2022).
    • Anti-racism Education and Funding: In 2020, Alberta introduced grants for students from racialized communities facing socioeconomic barriers and invested in anti-racism education initiatives.
    • Violet King’s Legacy: Alberta played a key role in Canada’s civil rights movement through figures like Violet King, who became Canada’s first Black female lawyer and the first Black person to be called to the bar in Alberta (Ruck, 2023).
    • Community Conversations: Edmonton and Calgary mark this day by encouraging discussions on racial inclusion, both locally and globally.

    The International Day for the Elimination of Racial Discrimination is not just about remembering history, it’s about continuing to work toward racial justice in our communities. The courage shown by those who fought against apartheid, as well as those who challenged racism in Alberta and Canada, should inspire us to lead with unity and action. There is still work to be done, but by recognizing past injustices and committing to meaningful change, we move closer to a future free from racial discrimination.

    References

    McRae, M. (2019, March 19). The Sharpeville massacre. Canadian Museum for Human Rights. https://humanrights.ca/story/sharpeville-massacre

    “South African history and heritage are extensively documented on the South African History Online website (https://www.sahistory.org.za/).”

    Hawkins, S. (n.d.). [Review of the book Sharpeville: An apartheid massacre and its consequences, by T. Lodge]. Focus, 65, 85–87.

    https://hsf.org.za/publications/focus/focus-65/14.%20S_Hawkins%20-%20Sharpeville%20Re view.pdf

    Ruck, L. (2023, October 18). Violet King. The Canadian Encyclopedia. Retrieved March 21, 2025, from https://www.thecanadianencyclopedia.ca/en/article/violet-king

    “The National Centre for Truth and Reconciliation provides access to various reports on Indigenous history and reconciliation efforts (https://nctr.ca/records/reports/).”

    Immigration, Refugees and Citizenship Canada. (2022). Racism and discrimination in the context of migrant workers in Canada: A review of the literature (Section 2). Government of Canada.

    https://www.canada.ca/en/immigration-refugees-citizenship/corporate/reports-statistics/researc h/racism-discrimination-migrant-workers-canada-evidence-literature.html#s2

    Office of the High Commissioner for Human Rights. (n.d.). 60th anniversary of the International Convention on the Elimination of All Forms of Racial Discrimination. United Nations.

    https://www.ohchr.org/en/treaty-bodies/cerd/60th-anniversary-international-convention-elimin ation-all-forms-racial-discrimination

  • Blog: Lights Out! Earth Hour and Why it Matters

    By Sophia Jewell, ESPC Volunteer
    Sophia Jewell is a research assistant at the University of Alberta and an independent scholar preparing for a PhD in Earth and Atmospheric Sciences. Her research explores identity, place, and cultural geography in Slavic communities, examining how migration, patriotism, and intercultural belonging shape transnational identities. She is passionate about contributing to the community through research.

    ***

    Earth Hour offers a valuable opportunity to think about the importance of participatory and collective action in helping us reach environmental goals. This post explores the significance of Earth Hour and considers how Edmontonians can play an active role.

    What is Earth Hour?

    Earth Hour, the world’s largest grassroots environmental movement (WWF, 2024), is a global event that takes place on the last Saturday of March from 8:30 to 9:30 pm MST. During Earth Hour, individuals, businesses, and tourist attractions turn off their lights or spend an hour doing activities that benefit the earth to express solidarity in the face of climate change and environmental challenges. Earth Hour began on March 31, 2007 in Australia, where over 2 million people in Sydney turned off their lights for one hour (Baum, 2020). The event was organized by the World Wildlife Fund and quickly became a global phenomenon. Since 2007, millions of people around the world have joined the event, with over 185 countries (Baum, 2020) and over 17,000 cultural and historical landmarks (Kountouris, 2022) around the world, including the Eiffel Tower, the Colosseum, (BBC, 2024) the Tokyo Tower, Christ the Redeemer, the Sydney Opera House, Niagara Falls, and the CN Tower (Mortillaro, 2014) participating by turning off their lights. Earth Hour has been a catalyst for environmental initiatives such as the creation of Argentina’s largest marine protected area, the establishment of a national park in Malaysia, stronger climate legislation in Switzerland and Scotland, and the banning of plastic bags and disposable packaging on the Galápagos Islands (WWF, 2024).

    Why it Matters:

    While the tangible effects of climate change and increased research and advocacy efforts have brought greater awareness to environmental issues in recent times, our society still struggles with denial, inaction, and uncertainty about how to respond. As Robert Glifford, a professor at the University of Victoria, noted, psychological barriers play a big part in preventing climate action (Einarson, 2022). The City of Edmonton has aimed to address some of the structural barriers to climate action through initiatives that encourage recycling and composting as well as renewable energy projects. Nevertheless, in order to increase public awareness and support for these initiatives, it is critical to address some of the psychological barriers around climate action. A survey of Edmontonians found that while people were aware of sustainability issues, they often did not perceive them as relevant to local communities and daily life (City of Edmonton, 2011). Studies have shown that even when people understand the importance of combating climate change in general, they often fail to act because “they do not comprehend the beneficial impact that they can have” (Olexsak & Meier, 2014, p. 160).

    Earth Hour can play a key role in addressing these barriers. Earth Hour is a symbolic, global event which aims to overcome inaction by turning participants “from passive observers, to active participants in the pursuit of environmental goals” (Kountouris, 2022, p. 1). Research studies have documented that in order to create sustained climate action, a supportive social environment and collective participatory action is essential (Olexsak and Meier, 2014). Earth Hour is “part of a public awareness campaign on the importance of community participation” (Rijal, 2021, p. 289). By building a “public awareness to care,” (Rijal, 2021, p. 294) Earth Hour can contribute to broader mobilization efforts. It sends the message that our individual actions matter. It sends the message that collectively, small actions can make a big impact.

    Although “the goal of Earth Hour is not to reduce electricity consumption or carbon emissions for the duration of the event” (Baum, 2020), and although Earth Hour has sometimes been criticized for having a minimal direct impact on overall climate change (Dean, 2011), many countries have documented sustained electricity savings due to Earth Hour, with electricity demands being reduced by as much as 28% in Canada during Earth Hour (Olexsak & Meier, 2014).

    Earth Hour in Edmonton:

    As scholars have noted, climate change is multifaceted and creates disasters which are natural, ecological, and social in nature. In turn, it creates environmental problems which are systemic (Rijal, 2021) and disproportionately affect people around the world, increasing social, economic, and health inequalities. Leif Einarson (2022) reports that “Canada, Australia, and the U.S. are collectively responsible for nearly 20 percent of global greenhouse gas emissions.” This gives Canadians a unique responsibility to reduce our individual impact (Einarson, 2022). Studies have found that the highest intensity of household greenhouse emissions in Canada is in Edmonton, followed by Calgary (Fercovic & Gulati, 2015). Nevertheless, this also means that Edmontonians are in a unique position to make a difference in the global battle against climate change. Our actions can have a powerful impact. As one report highlights, “The average household in Alberta can stop about 790 grams of greenhouse gas emissions for every kilowatt hour of electricity they reduce” (Einarson, 2022). Studies have shown that during Earth Hour, little actions can make a big difference, so let’s take this as an opportunity to become leaders of global change.

    How to Participate:

    This year, participate in Earth Hour on Saturday, March 22 by turning out lights and non-essential appliances from 8:30-9:30 pm. Other ways to participate include:

    – Share information about Earth Hour on social media: #EarthHourYeg #BiggestHourForEarth

    – Spend one hour doing something positive for the environment – you can even log your hour on the WWF website by clicking here: https://www.earthhour.org/take-part/give-an-hour?hsCtaTracking=3f179703-bff9-4a74-aa0a-582a597a6e52%7Ce933db44-6e29-41ff-83dd-6c6b358deb73

    – Try out the World Wildlife Fund’s free action challenges: https://explore.panda.org/zero-to-hero

    – Cast your vote to reduce plastic pollution in rivers and oceans: https://wwf.panda.org/act/plastic_pollution_treaty/

    – Donate to the World Wildlife Fund: https://wwf.panda.org/support_wwf/

    References:

    Baum, K. (2020, March 31). Sydney, Australia, holds world’s first Earth Hour: Moments in time March 31, 2007. The Globe and Mail.

    BBC (2024, March 23). Famous landmarks around the world power down for Earth Hour. https://www.bbc.com/news/av-embeds/world-68648866

    City of Edmonton. (2011). The way we green: The city of Edmonton’s environmental strategic plan. Urban Climate Action Network, https://uccrnna.org/wp-content/uploads/2017/06/42_Edmonton_2011_The-Way-We-Green.pdf.

    Dean, R. (2011). Seeing the light on Earth Hour. Quadrant, 32-33.

    Einarson, Leif. (2022, March 23). GreenUP: How Earth Hour and other small steps can overcome our barriers. Peterborough Examiner, https://www.thepeterboroughexaminer.com/opinion/columnists/greenup-how-earth-hour-and-other-small-steps-can-overcome-our-barriers/article_fdb42ce5-2f19-5520-b3f9-91e3f70af8e7.html?

    Fercovic, J., & Gulati, S. (2016). Comparing household greenhouse gas emissions across Canadian cities. Regional Science and Urban Economics, 60, 96-111.

    Kountouris, Y. (2022). Awareness days and environmental attitudes: The case of the “Earth Hour.” Ecological Economics, 195, 1-17. 

    Mortillaro, N. (2014, March 29). World landmarks participate in Earth Hour. Global News, https://globalnews.ca/news/1236849/world-landmarks-to-participate-in-earth-hour-march-29/

    Olexsak, S., & Meier, A. (2014). The electricity impacts of Earth Hour: An international comparative analysis of energy-saving behavior. Energy Research & Social Science, 2, 159-182.

    Rijal, N., & Widiatmojo, R. (2021). Public awareness campaigns model of global civil society at the local level: Case of Earth Hour Malang. Global Strategis, 15(2), 287-319.

    World Wildlife Fund (2024). Milestones over the years. 60 Earth Hour, https://www.earthhour.org/about/milestones