The Latest

Canada Begins Consultations on Poverty Measure

Statistics Canada is engaging in a consultation until January 31, 2019 to improve on the Market Basket Measure (MBM) as a tool to measure poverty in Canada.

In August, the Federal Government launched Canada’s first poverty reduction strategy “Opportunity for All,” focused on creating a Canada without poverty. Importantly, the strategy did not just provide tools for reducing poverty, but instead set targets to reduce the rate of poverty by 50% by 2030.

Read More

Poverty 101: Looking for Answers

Dispel the myths. Present the facts. Inform conversations. Stimulate action.

Living SJ partnered with the University of New Brunswick, Saint John to develop the idea of a “poverty 101” educational tool, into an inviting resource, Poverty 101: Looking for Answers.

The resource is a springboard for individuals wanting to learn more about poverty issues in Saint John, whether working, volunteering (board members, mentors or those involved in the community in other ways) or studying in areas related to poverty reduction. 

Read More

A Reflection on Poverty Reduction Planning: Living the Experience

As a first-time attendee of a Tamarack summit, and as a person with living experience, I really didn’t know what to expect. The irony of only being able to be part of this event because I qualified for a scholarship wasn’t lost on me — while I’ve been a major contributor to the Hastings - Prince Edward Poverty Roundtable and the delivery of its action plans, and read up on Vibrant Communities – Cities Reducing Poverty, I knew very well that there was no way I could have afforded to go on my own steam. People paying what feels like a lot of money to get together and talk about poverty — what might that be like, I mused on the drive to Mississauga.

Read More

Poverty in Calgary: A Picture of the Incidence and Experience of Low Income in Calgary and Area

Vibrant Communities Calgary (“VCC”) is pleased to release a statistical collation of the incidence of low income in Calgary and area. Statistics Canada’s Census 2016 afforded the organization an opportunity to complete this in-depth investigation which VCC hopes to replicate on a regular basis. Additional sources of information included the Government of Alberta’s Open Data program and the Community Data Consortium, to which Vibrant Communities Calgary holds membership. Here is the Report.

Read More

It Takes A Village

“It takes a village” is a phrase that I’ve heard repeated at different fora and conversations in the western world. I heard it used again by Allison Hewitt on the Social Innovation & Poverty Reduction Strategy panel at the recently concluded ‘Cities Innovating to Reduce Poverty’ Eastern summit that took place in Mississauga from September 18 to 19, 2018 and it got me thinking deeply about the original meaning of the phrase and how it applies to the work that attendees at this summit do.

Read More

Highlights from Cities Innovating to Reduce Poverty: Eastern Summit 2018

The Cities Innovating to Reduce Poverty Eastern Regional Summit took place in Mississauga from September 18 – 19th bringing together 206 learners from more than 29 cities and communities from across Eastern Canada. This included government and public sector staff, elected officials, community agency leaders, and interested residents collaborating to learn from one another on how we end poverty in Canada.

Read More