OCTOBER 21ST

10:45 A.M.
BRIEFING – COUNCILLOR AMARJEET SOHI
PUBLIC INTEREST ALBERTA/ CITY OF EDMONTON
WE CAN DO BETTER MEDIA EVENT/FORUM
WEDNESDAY, OCTOBER 21, 2009, 10:45 A.M.
SALON A, CROWNE PLAZA HOTEL – CHATEAU LACOMBE,
10111 BELLAMY HILL, 428-6611‎
PREPARED BY ASHLEY CASOVAN (780) 496-8259

COORDINATOR/CONTACT: Bill Moore- Kilgannon, Public Interest Alberta

DAY TELEPHONE NUMBER: (780) 420-0471
EMERGENCY TELEPHONE NUMBER: (780) 993-3736

EVENT BEGINS: 11:00 a.m.

PLEASE ARRIVE BY: 10:45 a.m.
YOUR DEPARTURE: 4:30 p.m.
EVENT ENDS: 4:30 p.m.

DRESS CODE:
 Business

NOTES:
 Bill Moore-Kilgannon will be looking out for you.
 Other individuals at media event will include:
 Bill Moore Kilgannon, Executive Director, Public Interest Alberta
 Sherri Torjman, Vice President, Caledon Institute of Social Policy
 Mark Cabaj, Lead Coach, Tamarack Institute for Community Engagement
 John Kolkman, Research and Policy Analysis Coordinator, Edmonton Social Planning
Council

YOUR ROLE:
 Spokesperson at media event
 Participant in forum
 Brief thanks at end of program

OTHER DIGNITARIES WHO ARE NOT SPEAKING:

 Councillor Ben Henderson
 Councillors, Members of the Legislative Assembly and their staff have been invited to this
forum.

PROGRAM:
11:00 a.m. Media Event
12:30 p.m. Forum starts
1:00 p.m. Welcome, thanks to sponsors and introduction of keynote
speakers
1:10 p.m. Panel Presentations:
Sherri Torjman, John Kolkman, Mark Cabaj
2:10 p.m. Question and Answer with panel presenters
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2:45 p.m. Breakout Sessions: facilitated discussions on 6 poverty

reduction themes
4:00 p.m. Report back from sessions (3 minutes each)
4:20 p.m. Brief overview of next steps, thanks to partner organizations
and wrap-up
4:30 p.m. Forum ends
Remarks:
o Councillor Sohi
6:00 p.m. Dinner reception starts

BACKGROUND:
 Public Interest Alberta has coordinated, with the help of many partner and sponsor
organizations, a series of seven public forums around Alberta on the theme of poverty and
poverty reduction.
 Through keynote speeches, breakout sessions and public discussion, the forums aim to build
support for the Government of Albert to create, a comprehensive poverty reduction strategy
for the province.
 These forums have been coordinated as a result of a report released in November 2008 by the
Edmonton Social Planning Council, We Can Do Better.
 It showed that 77, 595 children in Alberta live in poverty. Of these, 25, 010 live in
Edmonton.
 The most recent survey in 2008 on homelessness in Edmonton counted 3, 079 people without
a home. That’s an increase of 18% from 2006, and three times the amount from 1999.
 These numbers include people living on the streets and in shelters as well as some, but far
from all, of the hidden homeless: people who couch surf with friends and families.
 Many Edmontonians live in poverty, struggling to make ends meet with low paying work or
multiple part-time jobs. According to Statistics Canada, 131,215 Edmontonians lived in
poverty in 2001.
 Some of the programs, services and initiatives provided by the City to address poverty
include:
• Holding financial information fairs to help people living on a low- income
manage their finances and, in partnership with community groups, deliver a
program to help low-income earners receive the benefits available through the tax
system.
• Working with the Vibrant Communities group on a poverty reduction project in
downtown Edmonton.
• Together with community partners offering low cost or free social and recreation
programs to children in their neighbourhood.
• Linking citizens to employment training and stable housing (Targeted Community
Services – advocating for those who have difficulty advocating for themselves.)
• Family and Community Support Services grants support many organizations to
break the cycle of poverty. For example:
 the Boyle Street Community Services- Inner City Outreach and Liaison –
provides programming to help Edmontonians living in poverty to achieve
independence, become members of a community and enhance their well
being;
 CANDORA Society of Edmonton- The Community Economic Initiatives -
provides opportunities for the unemployed/underemployed community
members by providing community based training leading to employment.
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• The City’s Leisure Access Program provides low-income earners with free access
to City recreation facilities.
 A Place to Call Home: Edmonton’s 10 year plan to end homelessness is a comprehensive
strategy developed by Edmonton’s Committee to End Homelessness.
 Highlights of the report include:
o Creating a Housing First Action Centre to coordinate the delivery of a Housing First
program by securing units in the private rental market, and contracting with social service
agencies for the delivery of around-the-clock services.
o Partnering with private landlords to secure 800 units of supported housing within the first
three years, with 300 additional units of supported housing in place by December 31,
2013.
o Facilitating development of 1,000 units of supportive housing for homeless people with
severe needs and 1,650 modestly sized new housing units.
o Creating a Housing Link that will help people in crisis find safe and suitable housing.
o Developing prevention programs, including an initiative to ensure that no one is
discharged from an institution without a place to live.
o Establishing a Housing Commission: a volunteer, community board to champion the plan
and oversee implementation.
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03/06/2010 07:44:51

SPEAKING NOTES – COUNCILLOR AMARJEET SOHI

WE CAN DO BETTER FORUM
PUBLIC INTEREST ALBERTA/ CITY OF EDMONTON
WEDNESDAY, OCTOBER 21, 2009, 10:45 A.M.
SALON A, CROWNE PLAZA HOTEL – CHATEAU LACOMBE
PREPARED BY ASHLEY CASOVAN (780) 496-8259

o The City of Edmonton supports PIA’s efforts to put

a spotlight on these issues

o Poverty is often a hidden problem that always

adversely impacts the broader community.

o The City works in partnership with non-profit

organizations and other orders of government to

help Edmontonians living in poverty and reduce

the number of people in that situation.

 5

o The City of Edmonton is proud to be a sponsor of

this event.

o The City of Edmonton continues to work with

community partners to reduce poverty for its citizens.

We do this through a variety of financial and

occupational fairs, workshops, offering low cost or free

social and recreation programs to children in their

neighbourhood, providing employment training and

stable housing.

o Reducing poverty and providing housing for those

without homes is one of the most challenging and

important issues we on Council have to face.

o Thank you to all the community groups here today for

getting involved in this project.

 6

o Ending poverty is not something that can be done by

one organization, it requires a multi-faceted approach.

o Now is the time to move beyond the discussion and

take some action to end poverty and homelessness.

o The City of Edmonton offers support to many

community organizations that work to reduce poverty

through the use of Family and Community Support

Services grants.

o . In addition to community groups, all orders of

government need to work together to help those most

vulnerable in our society.

 7

o With the input of everyone at this forum we can

continue to build on the work that we’ve done so far

and achieve our goals of ending poverty and

homelessness.

-30-
 8

Mayor’s Message East Meets West Festival Summer 2009

Welcome to the inaugural East Meets West festival hosted by the Chinatown & Little Italy
Business Association and the City of Edmonton.

This highly anticipated event is sure to entertain audiences of all interests and all ages. The
pairing of these two distinct heritages is a unique and exciting opportunity for all Edmontonians.
The positive impact that both cultures have had on our city is highly significant. We are proud to
be a partner in this extraordinary endeavour!

Thank you to the leaders and community supporters of the Chinatown and Little Italy Business
Association. The contributions you have made to our community continue to shape our collective
history and enhance this great city. Your dedication to the preservation and revitalization of
culture and heritage in Edmonton is admirable.

On behalf of City Council and the people of Edmonton, Alberta’s Capital City, I welcome
everyone to what is the first, of hopefully many, East Meets West festivals!

Yours truly,

Stephen Mandel
Mayor
 9

Proclamation for International Day of Mourning, April 28, 2010

WHEREAS, in 2009, 110 men and women in Alberta lost their lives due to work-related
accidents, and thousands more were injured in the workplace;

AND WHEREAS, the Edmonton & District Labour Council works to remember them and
to raise awareness of workplace safety issues;

AND WHEREAS, the City of Edmonton is committed to maintaining a high standard of

workplace safety for its employees, and encourages other organizations and municipalities
to do the same;

AND WHEREAS, all workplace injuries and deaths are preventable, and employers,
workers and governments must work together to prevent future work-related accidents;

THEREFORE I, MAYOR STEPHEN MANDEL, DO HEREBY PROCLAIM APRIL

28TH, 2010 AS “INTERNATIONAL DAY OF MOURNING” IN EDMONTON,
ALBERTA’S CAPITAL CITY.

Dated this 23rd day of April, 2010

_________________________________
Mayor of the City of Edmonton
 10

Councillor Batty Examiner Article – September 9, 2010

Airpot land to yield vibrant urban community

In my article on May 27, 2009, I discussed the possibilities of alternate land uses for the City
Centre Airport. After extensive debate spanning over a decade, City Council has taken a bold
step towards investing in our future. As Councillor for Ward 4, I am proud to have been part of
this milestone in Edmonton’s history.

Starting in 2008, interest in the closure of the airport re-emerged and Council was faced with a
decision. Through public hearings, emails, letters, community meetings, phone calls and online
messages, citizens expressed their concerns and opinions. We listened, and on July 8, 2009,
Council decided to close the airport with a clear goal to redevelop the land to accommodate
community growth in a mix of residential and commercial uses. I feel that this decision provides
certainty about the future of the site, as it will allow the City, local businesses, organizations and
residents to prepare and create a shared vision for the future.

Representatives from the aviation industry, Alberta Health Services, NAIT, and business groups
and the surrounding communities will work with the City’s newly created Airport Lands
Redevelopment Office to manage the transition. Redevelopment will be achieved in two main
phases. The first phase will be to manage the closure of the first runway and assist the airport
tenants with their relocation efforts. The second phase will be to close the airport completely and
plan, then grow an optimal urban community of vibrant, sustainable neighbourhoods.

Once the GPS system is installed on the east-west runway to assist landing, the closure of the
north-south runway can proceed. It is important to note that Medevac services will not be
disrupted. For the time being, general aviation activities, including business charters and pilot
training will continue.

The development of a long-term vision for this site is very exciting. This 500 acre site in the
heart of the city will enable the development of a walkable community with a vibrant mix of
residential, commercial, parks and recreational opportunities, while ensuring optimal design
standards are met. The redevelopment reflects Council’s desire to ensure environmental
sustainability based on transit-oriented development.

Both short and long-term plans recognize the historical significance of the Aviation Museum.
Remaining as an enriching component of this future urban community, the Aviation Museum
will continue operations on the current site. The City will assist the museum with outreach
opportunities and help to build on the important contributions this landmark has had on our
collective heritage and municipal identity.

If you have any further questions about the redevelopment of the City Centre Airport lands, or
any other issue in Ward 4, I would be happy to hear from you! You can contact me at
jane.batty@edmonton.ca or by calling (780) 496-8140.