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Elle Richards

Elle Richards
Elle has joined the Vibrant Communities team as Manager of Cities, Cities Reducing Poverty. Her experience spans corporate, academic, health and community environments, and working on national, regional and local programs of work, both strategically and operationally. In recent years, Elle has focused her work around issues of food security, poverty and inequalities in health.

Recent Posts

Cities Reducing Poverty Policy Digest: November 2019

Posted by Elle Richards on November 16, 2019

Welcome to the November 2019 edition of the Cities Reducing Poverty Policy Digest, which aims to provide you with timely poverty-related policy updates and resources from across Canada.

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Universal Health?

Posted by Elle Richards on October 29, 2019

We are a country that prides itself on a system of universal health. It is a system which merits are hotly debated by many inside and outside the country, particularly amongst our neighbours to the south. It should mean access for all, but does it?

For the most part it is admirable due to a founding principle being based on need rather than the ability to pay. A system which is free at point of access. But it is imperfect. Its decentralized system makes it hugely varied, and one which is rather expensive and not as efficient as some other models of national health. 

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Building a Common Agenda for Collective Impact

Posted by Elle Richards on September 30, 2019

A common agenda is a common understanding of the problem and a shared vision for change. It is a necessary component of Collective Impact and an important consideration in the development of a poverty reduction strategy that requires an ongoing process of community engagement.

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From Band-Aids to Bridges: Transforming Approaches to Good Food

Posted by Elle Richards on September 17, 2019

In August, we heard from one of our Cities Reducing Poverty members, Jill Umbach, Planning Network Coordinator of the Bruce Grey Poverty Task Force along with Laura Needham, Dietitian and Chair of the Food Security Action Group in Bruce Grey, about how they have successfully transformed approaches to promote food security in the area.

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Cities Reducing Poverty Policy Digest: September 2019

Posted by Elle Richards on September 16, 2019

Welcome to the September 2019 edition of the Cities Reducing Poverty Policy Digest, which aims to provide you with timely poverty-related policy updates and resources from across Canada.

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Resilient Cities

Posted by Elle Richards on July 16, 2019

In June 2019, Toronto and Calgary both unveiled their first ever Resilience Strategies. Montreal’s was released last year, with other cities, such as Hamilton following suit. Vancouver is another Cities Reducing Poverty member, part of a global network of resilient cities. Resilience strategies are becoming ever-more necessary in modern day as a result of urbanization, globalization and climate change.

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