For two decades, Vibrant Communities Calgary and the Hamilton Roundtable for Poverty Reduction have been transforming how cities tackle poverty. To celebrate their 20th anniversaries, Tamarack Institute is releasing two case studies that showcase what long‑term, community‑driven systems change looks like in action.
The stories offer practical insights for any community working to reduce poverty: center lived experience, invest in relationships, use data and storytelling to shift narratives, and stay committed for the long haul.
Shifting Systems, Strengthening Communities
Both collaboratives demonstrate how sustained effort can reshape the Waters of Systems Change, from policies and resource flows to relationships, power dynamics, and mental models.
Leadership That Moves Communities Forward
The case studies spotlight how each community built strong, diverse leadership tables. Cross‑sector partners, lived/living experience leaders, and civic champions-to drive shared priorities and long‑term change.
What Made Success Possible
These case studies reveal the local factors that helped each community sustain momentum and adapt to changing conditions.
Tamarack’s Role in the Journey
From coaching and tools to national learning networks, Tamarack supported both collaboratives with the resources, frameworks, and connections needed to accelerate systems change.
View the Case studies
Vibrant Communities Calgary: Two Decades of Collaborative Poverty Reduction
In the early 2000s, Calgary faced rising poverty and homelessness without a unified response. A 2003 City of Calgary report noted that about 12.5% of Calgarians lived below low-income thresholds in 2000, and the 2002 homeless count was 34% higher than in 2000. In response, the question emerged, “What if we could address poverty not at the surface, but at the source?”
Two Decades of Systems Change, Collaborative Leadership, and National Impact in Hamilton
The Hamilton Roundtable for Poverty Reduction (HRPR) stands as a compelling case study in community-driven, systems-level change. Over its twenty-year history (2005–2025), the Roundtable has transformed Hamilton from a city with Ontario's second-highest poverty rate into a national and international leader in poverty reduction advocacy and policy innovation.
Authors:
Kamalpreet Dhillon is an MBA candidate at the University of Calgary with a background in entrepreneurship, innovation, and social impact. She is passionate about exploring how emerging technologies, business strategy, and human-centred design can create more resilient and inclusive systems. She values psychological safety, mental well-being, and creative expression as important foundations for sustainable performance. Her work blends analytical research with creative thinking to translate complex ideas into accessible insights.
Basma Akhter is a manager in Postgraduate Medical Education at the University of Calgary and an MBA candidate at the Haskayne School of Business. She specializes in operational excellence, data-informed decision making, and building sustainable systems that enhance learner and employee experiences. Her leadership is grounded in equity, psychological safety, and knowledge mobilization. She is also a passionate mentor and community advocate, supporting first-generation and equity-deserving students, and is driven by creating positive impact for both organizations and the communities they serve.
Maureen Owens is a Senior Community Animator at the Tamarack Institute, supporting communities to strengthen collaborative leadership, advance systems change, and reduce poverty. She brings expertise in community development, facilitation, and cross‑sector partnership building, helping local leaders close equity gaps and create lasting, community‑driven impact. Her public health background further grounds her commitment to community‑led approaches that advance equity.
Contributors:
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Tom Cooper, Director of the Hamilton Roundtable for Poverty Reduction.
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Laura Cattari, Senior Policy Analyst, Hamilton Roundtable for Poverty Reduction
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Liz Weaver, past Director of the Hamilton Roundtable for Poverty Reduction and former Co-CEO of the Tamarack Institute
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Dani DeBoice, Executive Director, Vibrant Communities Calgary
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Alka Merlin, Director, Communications, Vibrant Communities Calgary
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Tessa Penich, Leader, Organizational Effectiveness, Vibrant Communities Calgary
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