Street Talk: This Will Mean the World for People Living With Disabilities
Mental health and disability sector representatives collaborating to develop strategies, to solve complex systemic problems.
October 1, 2008
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Fast Forward Weekly: No One Should Live in Poverty
Ensuring the economic well being of all members of our community requires a commitment from its members — get involved!
September 11, 2008
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Street Talk: School is Cool
Is our hot economy depriving our children of varsity athletics, first kisses under the bleachers, and all the knowledge and opportunity that is imparted by high school experience?
September 1, 2008
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Calgary Sun: Fun, But Ethical
I am proud the Vancouver team is working towards the Olympic movement's vision by being the first Organizing Committee to develop and implement an ethical procurement program. I am especially pleased the Vancouver Olympics is also interested in paying staff a living wage.
August 26, 2008
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Street Talk: New Ideas for Reducing Poverty Can be Found in the Questions We Ask
Instead of considering how we can reduce poverty in Calgary, perhaps we should be asking how we can ensure all Calgarians fully participate in the family, social, economic and political life of our community.
August 1, 2008
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Street Talk: If Life Imitates Art, We Need a Prosperity Monument
Eliminating poverty is a monumental task. We need a prosperity monument.
July 1, 2008
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Re: "Calgary has a spending problem, not a revenue problem," 20 June
Retaining staff by paying wages that keep up with the cost of living is not just smart but, as Danielle Smith says, "it is only fair."
June 23, 2008
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Street Talk: Poverty, is it Your Fault? (June 2008)
Some people are not equitably benefiting from Calgary’s current economic boom – some people are being left behind. This begets the following question, whose fault is it?
June 1, 2008
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Street Talk: Collaboration is a Feeling (May 2008)
Many people focus on the structures, processes or techniques of working together. Connie describes collaboration as a feeling.
May 1, 2008
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Well worth it, Calgary Herald
This Letter to the Editor by Nicole Neve, Project Co-ordinator at VCC,was sent in response to an opinion piece published earlier in the week.
April 14, 2008
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My story of Physical Hardship and Distress and my Living Wage Dream, Calgary Herald
Living Wage Action Team Volunteer Rudy Raduloff shares his story, and dreams for his hometown, in this editorial piece.
April 9, 2008
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Street Talk: Inspired, Determined and Committed Calgarians (April 2008)
Community group of women meet and form group to take action on poverty related issues.
April 1, 2008
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Street Talk: Everyone Deserves A Living Wage! (March 2008)
Ensuring adequate income to gain and maintain housing is a critical component of many successful 10-year plans to end homelessness.
March 1, 2008
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Street Talk: Are you Missing Out on the Boom? (February 2008)
Many people are financially benefiting from Calgary’s economic boom, others are being left behind. Poverty Talks!, a collaborative initiative aims to reverse both these trends.
February 1, 2008
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Calgary Dollars: Poverty and Health (February 2008)
Low-income people have poorer health. One of the quickest ways to increase health and quality of life is for employers to pay a living wage.
February 1, 2008
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Street Talk: A New Year and a Fresh Start (January 2008)
In 2007 not all Calgarians benefitted from the boom, but by collaborating in 2008, multi - sectoral representatives can work together and make changes that engage and inspire all communitiy members to bring forward actions and long term solutions to end poverty
January 6, 2008
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Street Talk: Only one in five Calgarians voted in the last City election: Will you be voting in the next municipal election on October 15th? (September 2007)
Five good reasons to vote in the October 15th, 2007 Calgary General Municipal election.
September 1, 2007
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Street Talk: Everybody Wins with Affordable Transportation! (August 2007)
In 2006 and 2007, Calgary’s Low Income Transit Pass program was funded from The City’s Fiscal Stability Reserve Fund. The Low Income Transit Pass program does not have permanent funding, and it is not known whether City Council will approve funding for the Low-Income Monthly Transit Pass program in 2008.
August 1, 2007
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Street Talk: Vibrant Workplaces (July 2007)
Vibrant Communities Calgary recently decided to showcase the innovative and creative practices that some Calgarian businesses have adopted to help attract and retain staff. Vibrant Communities Calgary’s Vibrant Workplaces guide will be published and distributed for free in summer 2007.
July 1, 2007
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Calgary Dollars: Corporate Transit Pass (May 2007)
The increasing popularity of corporate transit pass programs stems from its wide range of benefits. Corporate transit pass programs, for example, increase the affordability of public transportation and increase transit ridership, which, in turn, reduces parking demands and costs, decreases traffic congestion, reduces green house gas emissions and pollution, and improves employee recruitment and retention.
May 1, 2007
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Street Talk: Social Commitment Does Not Interfere with Business Efficiency (April 2007)
The profitability of all businesses depends on their ability to attract and retain high quality staff. One way to accomplish this is to improve the conditions of work for low income earners. Daylight Cleaning Systems has shown that even modest shifts towards progressive practices can result in significant positive outcomes for both businesses and workers.
April 1, 2007
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Street Talk: Inspiring Individuals Address Poverty (March 2007)
Positive role models such as Cory Booker and Hannah Taylor can inspire all of us to learn more about, and do more for, socio-economically disadvantaged people; however, recent statistics suggest that apathy to the challenges faced by low-income people continues in our city.
March 1, 2007
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Parkland Post: Fair Fares (Winter 2007)
Alberta’s economy is currently the envy of Canada. However, unless the province successfully manages its boom, we will have squandered the opportunity to provide an inclusive, thriving, sustainable economy. Alberta needs an affordable transportation program to realize these goals. It is hoped that the Government of Alberta will partner with municipalities before the end of 2007 to provide equitable access to the economic, social, cultural and family life of our communities.
February 1, 2007
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Street Talk: A Call to Action (February 2007)
If we are to enjoy an inclusive and sustainable community, we must assume a collective responsibility, beginning with each individual doing what she or he can. Most of us can afford to give a few dollars to charity, many of us can find a few hours a month to volunteer, and all of us can find the time to exercise our right to vote.
February 1, 2007
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Street Talk: Poverty and Politics – Federal NDP “End Poverty in Canada” Campaign (January 2007)
Fighting Poverty With Political Will
Over the past couple of years, as Calgary’s booming economy and growing wealth regularly captured national headlines, local agencies, services and advocates have quietly continued to address the growing issues of poverty in our community.
January 1, 2007
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Street Talk: Child Poverty – Families Earning Low Wages (December 2006)
The Ripple Effect – Low Wages Negatively Impact More than Just the Worker
Poverty has many faces. It is seen in Calgary’s growing number of working poor; in the daily line-ups at the Calgary Interfaith Food Bank; and as it overflows from the shelters and churches that used to manage to quietly contain it. Poverty is also evident in the faces of a growing number of children and youth. In fact, one out of every five children in Calgary is living in poverty.
December 1, 2006
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Street Talk: Conservative Leadership Candidates Respond - Question Three (November 2006)
Conservative leadership hopefuls comment on low wages
This fall, Vibrant Communities Calgary (VCC) is offering all Conservative leadership candidates the opportunity to comment on three poverty-related issues, including possible policy solutions to help address these issues. This article focuses on the issue of low wages.
November 1, 2006
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Street Talk: Conservative Leadership Candidates Respond – Question Two (October 2006)
Conservative leadership hopefuls comment on affordable transportation
This fall, Vibrant Communities Calgary (VCC) is offering all Conservative leadership candidates the opportunity to comment on three poverty-related issues, including possible policy solutions to help address these issues. Responses to the first question on homelessness and affordable housing were published in the September issue of Street Talk.
October 1, 2006
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Street Talk: Conservative Leadership Candidates Respond - Question One (September 2006)
Conservative leadership hopefuls comment on affordable housing and homelessness
This fall, the most anticipated election race in 14 years will begin in Alberta. Ralph Klein is stepping down and a handful of contenders will campaign for the Conservative leadership position.
September 1, 2006
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Street Talk: Living Wage – Engaging Business in Poverty Reduction (August 2006)
Calgary Business Seeing the Benefits of Providing A Living Wage
Like many other Calgary employers in the current labour environment, Brian Murphy was struggling to find workers.
August 1, 2006
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Street Talk: 2006 Count of Homeless Persons (July 2006)
Counting the Countless
While many in Calgary’s red-hot economy settle into their warm, cozy beds at night, thousands of others are left searching for somewhere to rest their heads. For a host of Calgarians, the evening is bittersweet, marking one more day survived on the streets and one more night without a place to call home.
July 1, 2006
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Street Talk: Accessible, Affordable Recreation (June 2006)
Summer Recreation and Leisure on a Limited Budget
Think summer is only about longer days, warmer weather and lounging in the sun?
Unfortunately, for thousands of Calgarians summer presents a number of challenges. Not
everybody can afford recreational and leisure programs – and with school getting out, many low-income families are scrambling to find inexpensive summer activities for their children.
June 1, 2006
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Street Talk: Living Wage Initiative – Low Wage Stats (May 2006)
Is Minimum Wage a Living Wage?
For many, it’s hard to believe that in the current red-hot Alberta job landscape, thousands continue to struggle daily just to make ends meet.
May 1, 2006
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Street Talk: Income Support – Increase to AISH (April 2006)
AISH Benefits Increase, But Is It Enough?
What would you do with an extra $1,000 every month? Take a trip? Go out for nice dinners? Pay off some debt?
What if $1,000 a month was all you had?
April 1, 2006
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Street Talk: Sustainable Calgary Society – Citizen’s Agenda Project (March 2006)
Calgarians Living on Low Incomes Speak Out
If you were asked to provide input on how to sustain Calgary as a caring, healthy, vibrant
community, what would you say?
March 1, 2006
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Street Talk: On the Brink (February 2006)
Beyond Appearances
A curious incident happened to me as I was going for my daily jog along the Bow River in early January. It was early morning and still dark and quiet – except for the flashing lights and ringing bells of fellow runners and cyclists commuting to work downtown.
February 1, 2006
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Street Talk: On the Brink (January 2006)
Affordable public transportation no longer a dream
Cathy hasn’t been able to give back to her community by volunteering at a local agency.
Frank hasn’t been able to find a job that will help him support his family.
Mary hasn’t been able to visit her daughter and newborn grandson who live on the other side of Calgary.
What’s keeping these Calgarians from realizing their dreams?
January 1, 2006
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