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2019's Top 10 Reads in Cities Deepening Communities

What a year 2019 has been! With all the news around the growing epidemic of loneliness, communities have been leaning into each other, seeking to foster social connection among residents and neighbours. This momentum has catalyzed a Deepening Community movement. Fifteen cities across Canada are leading this movement as founding members of our newly launched Cities Deepening Community membership. We have gleaned numerous insights from our members and our learning community over the course of the year.  There was so much great work that was done this year that we wanted to give you our top 10;

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Top 10 Poverty-Related Policy Changes in 2019

In 2019, Canadians re-elected a Liberal government in October’s federal electionand have seen policies both enhanced and eroded through changes to governments at all levels. Cities Reducing Poverty works with members and across levels of government to support, advocate and influence these policies that make life better for all Canadians. Here are our highlights and lows for the past year:

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Building Our Movement in 2020

December is the perfect time to reflect on the year and to look forward towhat can be built in the next year. In Vibrant Communities, 2019 was a year of growth and impact. We are excited to work with our member networks to build on our growth and impact in 2020.

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Let It Snow

This famous holiday song brings back so many memories and instantly puts one into a joyful seasonal mood. How much has changed since the song was released in 1945? In the last few years the weather has been bringing up fear as thoughts of climate change permeate our thoughts. Happy holidays! That well-regarded greeting seems harder to share as we recognize the need for less excess – a simpler future.

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10 Top News Stories from Cities Reducing Poverty in 2019

In 2019, the Cities Reducing Poverty network grew to 80 cities and communities across Canada and the USA, all committed to local poverty reduction efforts. Even more heartening is to see that this expanding movement is having an impact – we are seeing population-level changes in poverty rates and food security at national, regional and local levels. Coupled with several positive policy announcements, these trends indicate that despite the stubborn nature of poverty, we are moving in the right direction.

Enjoy the top 10 news stories and popular learning resources from 2019.

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The Legacy of the Ontario Healthy Communities Coalition

For twenty-seven years the Ontario Healthy Communities Coalition (OHCC) supported Healthy Communities initiatives across Ontario and beyond. Following the loss of provincial funding in 2018, after careful consideration the OHCC Board of Directors concluded that the work of OHCC had largely been accomplished. On October 19, 2019, OHCC held it final Annual General Meeting at which members unanimously voted to dissolve the corporation and transfer OHCC’s remaining assets to Green Communities Foundation. While all were saddened by this decision, the mood of the event was very positive as members reflected on OHCC’s accomplishments and confirmed their ongoing commitment to Healthy Communities.

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