Vibrant Communities

Trois Rivières - Économie communautaire de Francheville (ÉCOF) is becoming the latest Vibrant Community. They work in eleven neighbourhoods in Trois Rivières, Québec, focusing on housing improvements, increased employment incomes , development of a learning culture, and support of the social economy. Read more about ECOF initiatives here.

Calgary - Calgary City Council recently confirmed long-term funding for a “Universal Low Income Transit Pass,” largely a result of Vibrant Communities Calgary’s “Fair Fares” efforts. Calgarians living on a low income are now assured of access to affordable transportation.

Saint John - Vibrant Communities Saint John has three year funding of nearly $300,000 for Framework for Employer Specific Essential Skills Strategy, in partnership with the Learning Exchange.

Meanwhile, Learn and Go has commitments for improved lighting and fencing, a better ball park, a homeless shelter and transportation for youth.

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A recent survey by Angus Reid reports that the majority of Canadians think poverty continues to be a problem and governments – often pre-occupied with modest tax cuts or incremental adjustments to overly rigid welfare programs – are not providing the right solution. An overwhelming number of respondents (92%) in an Environics poll said that if Sweden and United Kingdom can substantially reduce poverty, so can Canada.

Is anyone listening?

The Government of Ontario showed that it is, when it released its Strategy to Reduce Poverty on December 4th. The highlights of the strategy include:

A confirmation that reducing poverty is both morally important and a smart way to reduce taxes and strengthen the economy.
A focus on improvements in employment, housing, education, etc.
Special attention to people who experience higher incidence of poverty – including women, Aboriginal peoples, seniors, and persons with disabilities.
A smarter government which includes – among other things – getting rid of rules and regulations in the welfare system that trap people in poverty rather than helping them in their journey out of poverty.
An innovative set of indicators to track the Province’s progress towards its goal.

How big an impact does the Government want to make? Big – their goal is to reduce the child poverty rate by 25% in five years.

At a time when public leadership is so important, Ontario’s bold initiative confirms that governments are up to that challenge.

Read all about Deb Mathews and the Cabinet Committee on Poverty Reduction

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By: Mark Cabaj

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Revitalized structures, new activities and high aspirations have come with the transformation of Opportunities 2000 into Opportunities Waterloo Region (OWR) 2002.

New initiatives are the mark of a creative organization and six years after inception, OWR is busier than ever.

ALIV(e), Awareness of Low Income Voices, ensures that the voices of people living with low income affect decisions at all levels.

Other projects focus on access to recreation for youth, on food security through neighbourhood markets and community gardens, or on secure employment or affordable transportation.

At the same time, research partnerships, education, communication and advocacy campaigns work towards longer term, systemic changes.

The increasingly popular Community Conversations series showcases local research and solutions and gives participants the chance to discuss and apply what they’vse learned to their own experiences and organizations.

Between 1997 and 2000, Opportunities 2000 in Waterloo Region in Ontario garnered awards and created interest in comprehensive poverty reduction strategies. The experience of Opportunities 2000 eventually led to the birth of both OWR and the Vibrant Communities movement across all of Canada.

Using a Sustainable Livelihoods Approach combined with the principles of Vibrant Communities, OWR focuses on all aspects of a person or community -- human, financial, social, personal, and physical – all contributing to Opportunities Waterloo Region’s ultimate goal – “A Community of Opportunity.”

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