History
The Roots of Vibrant Communities Calgary
The first seeds of Vibrant Communities Calgary were planted in April 2002, when representatives from The United Way of Calgary and Area and MCC Employment Development (now Momentum), a community economic development organization, traveled to Guelph, Ontario, for the inaugural national Vibrant Communities face to face meeting. They returned to Calgary excited about embarking on a new way of bringing the community together to reduce poverty.
About one year later, The United Way of Calgary hired a staff member to assist in leading a new sustained poverty reduction initiative. Over time, with increased partners and action teams, pressure developed for the establishment of an appropriate governance structure for the poverty reduction initiative.
In the fall of 2004, representatives from Calgary attended the second national Vibrant Communities face to face forum in Guelph. The result was an increased commitment to strengthening the connection to this national movement. The Sustained Poverty Reduction Initiative changed its name to the Vibrant Communities Calgary Steering Committee.
On December 1, 2004, the Vibrant Communities Calgary Steering Committee submitted a comprehensive community plan to reduce poverty in Calgary to the national Vibrant Communities Steering Committee. Vibrant Communities Calgary incorporated as a Part 9 not-for-profit Alberta company, establishing legal status, whilst allowing Vibrant Communities Calgary to receive charitable funds using a fiscal agent, Momentum.
